State Revenues Are Up, So Is Rainy Day Fund And Debt Repayment
Warning that a recession is inevitable, Governor Brown dampened spending expectations even as higher revenues have poured into state coffers. Overall, the Administration’s latest revision to the proposed state spending plan envisions $6.7 billion in new General Fund revenues compared to the January budget. Most of the additional spending will reflect priorities enshrined by the […]
In SD7 Race, Isn’t the Top Two Grand?
I’ve been so critical of the top two, but what was I thinking? In the SD 7 race, the top two is demonstrating what it can do. Isn’t it grand? First, look at all that money. More than $6.2 million at last count, much of it from independent committees. We simply wouldn’t have that kind […]
Spend Unexpected Revenues In Ways That Will Make Money In Lean Times
Editor’s Note: Part 5 of the ‘Boom, Bust, Repeat?’ Series, which explores how the state can smartly manage recent revenue gains to strengthen public programs for the long-term. CA Fwd encouraged lawmakers this week to be cautious over the next month as they hammer out next year’s budget. Revenues are up—too much to be […]
Fulfilling the Promise of New Water Storage
With the passage of Proposition 1, the Water Bond, in the Fall of 2014, Governor Brown, the state legislature, and California voters made clear the vital role new storage projects play in addressing the needs of the environment, economy, jobs and a population now twice the size since the state’s last major water infrastructure project […]
Rolls Royce Health Care Plans for L.A. County Public Agencies
Introduction Despite the warning from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of the impending burden to state and local governments from rising healthcare costs, many Los Angeles governments are purchasing wildly exorbitant health insurance for their employees, at taxpayers’ expense. Last year the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) paid $42,942 for a single employee’s health insurance plan. Nearly half […]