This series of six reports is intended to help policymakers think about how climate change will impact various sectors and, consequently, what key corresponding policy and fiscal issues the Legislature will face in the coming years. They are intended as framing documents to help the Legislature adopt a “climate lens” across policy areas. See the Executive […]
Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO)
Posted inCalifornia
LAO Report | Reducing the Destructiveness of Wildfires: Promoting Defensible Space in California
The state faces large and growing risks of potentially devastating wildfires. A key way to mitigate the destructiveness of wildfires is to make homes less likely to ignite, including through the maintenance of an area free of excess or dead vegetation (known as defensible space) around homes. Under existing state and local laws, homeowners in […]
Posted inCalifornia
LAO: The 2021-22 Budget – Multiyear Budget Outlook
This report presents our office’s independent assessment of the condition of the state General Fund budget through 2024‑25 assuming the economy continues to grow. The first section of the report presents our analysis of the budget condition under two different revenue forecasts. Throughout this analysis, we use our own forecast of expenditures assuming May Revision […]
Posted inCalifornia
The 2021-22 Budget: Initial LAO Comments on the Governor’s May Revision
The Legislative Analyst’s Office has just published the following report: The 2021-22 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision We have released our initial comments on the Governor’s 2021-22 May Revision. Here are our key takeaways: We Estimate the State Has a $38 Billion Surplus to Allocate. We estimate the state has $38 billion in […]
Posted inRegional
LAO Report: Improving CA’s Response to the Environmental and Safety Hazards Caused by Abandoned Mines
August 4, 2020 – Abandoned Mines Can Cause Environmental and Safety Risks. There are an estimated 47,000 abandoned mines spread throughout every county of California. Many of these mines present threats to the environment–including water quality, fish and wildlife, soils, and air quality–and the physical safety of individuals. Key Challenges to Remediating Abandoned Mines. This report discusses […]
Posted inCalifornia
The 2020-21 May Revision: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision by LAO
May 18, 2020 – On May 14, 2020, Governor Newsom presented a revised state budget proposal to the Legislature. (This annual proposed revised budget is called the “May Revision.”) In stark contrast to the January budget proposal—which anticipated the state would have a surplus to allocate for 2020‑21—the public health emergency associated with the coronavirus […]
Posted inCalifornia
LAO: The 2020-21 Budget Report: The Governor’s Wildfire-Related Proposals
Feb. 21, 2020 – In this report, we assess the (1) state’s overall approach to addressing wildfire risks and (2) Governor’s wildfire-related budget proposals. State Should Develop Strategic Wildfire Plan to Address Risks. In assessing the state’s overall approach to addressing wildfire risks, we find that several factors contribute to increasing risks, including increased development […]
Posted inCalifornia
LAO: Assessing Vulnerability of State Assets to Climate Change
January 9, 2020 – In this post, we discuss current efforts being made by state departments to assess the potential for severe risks to state facilities posed by climate change, such as sea level rise and more wildfires. In summary, we find that most state agencies are only at the early stages of conducting such […]
Posted inCalifornia
The 2020-21 Budget: California’s Fiscal Outlook
November 21, 2019 – Executive Summary Does the State Have Enough Resources to Pay for Next Year’s Commitments? The first aim of the Fiscal Outlook is to answer whether the state will have sufficient resources to pay for its existing commitments in the upcoming budget year (in this case, 2020‑21). As has been the case in recent […]
Posted inCalifornia
LAO Report ‘Allocating Utility Wildfire Costs: Options and Issues for Consideration’
June 21, 2019 – Catastrophic Wildfires Caused by Utilities Increase Costs for Utility Ratepayers. Recent catastrophic wildfires caused by utilities in California have caused tens of billions of dollars in property damage. Under current legal standards, these damages will directly lead to increased costs for utilities, which could be passed on to ratepayers. Moreover, the […]
Posted inCalifornia
LAO: The Salton Sea: A Status Update
Aug. 29, 2018 – The Legislative Analyst’s Office has just published the following report: The Salton Sea: A Status Update The Salton Sea is California’s largest inland lake. Although the Sea is located in an area of Southern California with a relatively sparse population, changing conditions in and around the Sea have statewide importance. This […]
Posted inCalifornia
LAO report: A Long-Term Outlook, Disability Among California’s Seniors
November 29, 2016 – The senior population (adults aged 65 and older) in California is projected to increase more than twofold—from roughly 5 million in 2015 to nearly 12 million in 2060. The demographics of the senior population are also projected to change during this period. For example, the senior population is projected to shift […]