blog post Budget Takes Baby Steps Toward Special Education Reform By Paul Warren Jul 11, 2019 The new California state budget provides substantial new funding for special education while also making changes to the underlying funding model.
blog post Proposed Budget Prioritizes College Students in Need By Kevin Cook Feb 8, 2019 Governor Newsom's proposed budget increases funding for higher education, including programs that would bolster aid for students in need.
Report The Impact of Budget Cuts on California’s Community Colleges By Hans Johnson, Belinda Reyes, Sarah Bohn Mar 26, 2013 Student enrollment rates in California’s community colleges have dropped to a 20-year low in the wake of unprecedented cuts in state funding. Colleges have reduced staff, cut courses, and increased class sizes—all of which have led to declines in student access. This research was supported with funding from the Donald Bren Foundation, the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, and The James Irvine Foundation.
blog post Declining K–12 Enrollment Forces Major Budget Cuts in Many Districts By Paul Warren Mar 4, 2019 About half of all K-12 school districts in California saw enrollment declines over the past five years, leading to decreased state funding. For many districts, this has meant making cuts in teachers, administrators, and other staff.
Report Budget Practices and State Expenditures: Lessons for California By Jaime Calleja Alderete Mar 5, 2007 This report examines whether the adoption of certain kinds of administrative mechanisms in California’s annual budget process could make that process more efficient. If so, some of these budget practices could help reduce state spending. Six practices are used by other large-population states. But California now uses only one: the May revision of the governor’s budget. The author finds that the adoption of certain practices might indeed reduce per capita expenditures, but that others are unlikely to do so. The May revision, however, produced no significant savings.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on the California State Budget By Mark Baldassare Jun 12, 2003 This survey – the first in a series of special surveys on the California state budget, conducted in collaboration with The James Irvine Foundation – is a special edition of the PPIC Statewide Survey. The intent of this series is to raise public awareness, inform decisionmakers, and stimulate public discussion about the current state budget and the underlying state and local finance system. Some findings of the current survey Nearly all Californians (94%) say that the state's budget deficit is a big problem (73%) or somewhat of a problem (21%). Most Californians are opposed to spending cuts in public programs as well as to increases in taxes or fees. Only 34% of all adults say that they trust the government in Sacramento to do what is right just about always or most of the time. 75% of likely voters disapprove of the way Governor Davis is handling his job, and 57% of the state's residents disapprove of the way the legislature is handling budget issues. Nearly six in 10 respondents believe that the better way to improve the national economy is to reduce the deficit rather than cut tax (58% to 34%).
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on the California State Budget By Mark Baldassare May 27, 2004 This survey is the third in a series of special PPIC Statewide Surveys on the California State Budget and Fiscal System, begun in June 2003 and conducted in collaboration with The James Irvine Foundation. The intent of this series is to raise public awareness, inform decisionmakers, and stimulate public discussion about the current state budget and the underlying state and local finance system.Some findings of the current survey Three-quarters of Californians (73%) say the state budget gap is a big problem. Residents are concerned about the efficiency of their state government. Nearly three-quarters (71%) believe it could spend less and still provide the same level of services. A strong majority of likely voters (60%) support this November’s ballot measure that requires voter approval for any state-level legislation that reduces local government revenue. A large majority of likely voters (69%) approve of Governor Schwarzenegger’s job performance. Only about one-third of likely voters (35%) approve of the California legislature’s job performance. “Partisan gridlock and inaction in Sacramento has been very exasperating for Californians,” says Mark Baldassare, the survey’s director and Director of Research at PPIC.
