03/29/2024

News

Public Agencies Bear the Cost of Electricity Rate Increases

California electric rates are among the highest in the country and it is likely that the lion’s share of future rate increases will be borne by commercial and industrial customers, such as public agencies. Why? Because California has embarked upon a significant number of policies that necessarily impact the state’s electricity supply and delivery system. As a result, electric rates continue to rise and ratepayers, including public agencies, are searching for ways to respond to the spiraling costs of this necessary service.

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California Sells $764 Million in Debt

California sold $764 million in debt Tuesday at lower-than-expected interest rates, a vote of investor confidence in the state’s improved finances.

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Tahoe Real Estate: California Rich Seek Navada Tax Haven

Real estate brokers through the Lake Tahoe and Reno markets say sales of upper-end homes have been buoyed since the start of the year by California residents who make no bones about their desire to get beyond the reach of the Golden State taxman.

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$3-billion Proposal to Repair Los Angeles Streets Advances

Los Angeles lawmakers Wednesday agreed to pursue further analysis of an ambitious $3-billion proposal to fix thousands of miles of the city’s most deteriorated streets.

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State Economic Monitor

Underlying these national trends are wide differences in state economic activity. This monitor documents trends at the state level, noting particular differences in state economies. This first brief focuses on employment, state government finances, housing, and economic growth

Research & Studies
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Study: California Economy, State Finances Stronger than Other States

A new report that compares state finances finds California’s budget revenues are soaring higher than all but one other state in the nation. Its economy is growing at an above-average pace as well.

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Manufacturers Happy with State, for a Change

At least one business group is happy with Gov. Jerry Brown’s new economic plan. California’s manufacturers are delighted with the governor’s new reforms, especially the new statewide sales tax waiver for buying new industrial equipment.

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Tax Credits for Military Bases Saved by Lawmakers

In this Friday’s print edition, I take a closer look at whether Gov. Jerry Brown’s decision to kill the state of California’s enterprise zone program will actually work. The controversial decision to phase out the program and replace it with a range of other incentives was a hot topic last week when the California Legislature approved the governor’s reforms.

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State Workers: What They Earn

. . .the newly released data provide an interesting glimpse at how salaries for both public and private sector workers are recovering from the recession. State employee salaries are growing at dramatically different speeds, in comparison to both their peers in other states and private sector workers in their own states.

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Fiscal Headwinds: Is the Other Shoe About to Drop?

. . . three tailwinds that typically help drive strong recoveries—investment in housing, consumer confidence, and discretionary fiscal policy—have been absent or turned into headwinds this time.

Research & Studies
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Dollar for Dollar: California’s Enterprise Zone Program Falls Short

. . . examines the growing cost to the state of the EZ tax breaks, looks at who receives these breaks, and discusses current proposals to reform the EZ Program, including those contained in Governor Brown’s May Revision of his proposed 2013-14 budget.

Research & Studies
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Proposition 13 Revisited

A look at California’s property tax 35 years after passage of Proposition 13.

Research & Studies
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All Businesses Could Get State Tax Perks

Businesses across California could have access to state tax credits similar to those previously limited to economically challenged areas, under a plan by Gov. Jerry Brown. The governor unveiled the proposal in May as part of his 2014 budget revise.

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California and the Economic Consequences of Prop 30

Presentation from December 2012 Economic Outlook Conference

Research & Studies
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Debt and Aging and Healthcare: Ready or Not, Here We Come

Presentation from December 2012 Economic Outlook Conference

Research & Studies
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