California Budget

Commentary

Newsom budgets have a lousy track record forecasting California’s tax revenues

The revenue estimates in Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent budgets have been off by as much as $17 billion, fueling skepticism about his outlook on the state's financial reality.

By Dan Walters • January 25, 2024

Justice

As California closes prisons, the cost of locking someone up hits new record at $132,860

Locking up a California state prisoner for one year costs nearly twice as much as tuition at the state’s top private universities. The number surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, and remains high because of inmate medical costs and pay boosts for prison guards and other workers.

By Kristen Hwang and Nigel Duara • January 23, 2024

Commentary

Outsiders love bashing California but residents are souring on the state, too

California is the state that the rest of the nation loves to hate, but a new poll finds that Californians, by a wide margin, are also sour on the state's direction.

By Dan Walters • January 19, 2024

California Divide

Dream for All: Down payment assistance for first-time California homebuyers relaunches with new lottery

State officials hope a lottery and an emphasis on first-generation homebuyers will make California’s most generous down payment assistance program more equitable.

By Felicia Mello • January 18, 2024

Commentary

Will Gavin Newsom confront California’s structural budget problems or leave them to his successor?

California faces the prospect of ongoing, multibillion-dollar gaps for the remainder of Gavin Newsom's term as governor. Will he solve the underlying problems or leave them for his successor?

By Dan Walters • January 16, 2024

Politics

Legislature’s analyst gives mixed review of Newsom budget

The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office says that Gov. Gavin Newsom's initial 2024-25 budget is "optimistic" on revenue and has strengths and weaknesses on spending. The LAO offers guidance to state lawmakers on their version.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • January 13, 2024

Commentary

California’s budget deficit will test if school spending is the key to achievement

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's new budget and the Legislature's budget analyst have widely differing estimates of the state's revenues and deficit. That means they also diverge on how much money should go to the state's schools.

By Dan Walters • January 12, 2024

Health

Newsom OK’d a minimum wage increase for health care workers. Now he wants to delay it

About 500,000 California health care workers were expected to see pay increases under a law that set a new minimum wage for their industry. Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to delay the pay bumps until the state budget has a stronger outlook.

By Ana B. Ibarra • January 10, 2024

Commentary

California has a budget deficit, but there’s disagreement about how big. Who’s right?

Gavin Newsom says California faces a $37.9 billion budget deficit while the Legislature's budget analyst says there's a $68 billion gap. Who's right?

By Dan Walters • January 10, 2024

Politics

Digging out: Newsom outlines plan to cover state budget deficit

Gov. Newsom says the deficit is far smaller than what the Legislature’s analysts projected, and proposes only $8.5 billion in cuts by delaying spending and taking $13 billion from the state’s main reserves.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn and Sameea Kamal • January 10, 2024