LAO – California Globe

Report: California Faces $18 Billion Budget Shortfall

November 19, 2025 1:51 pmNovember 19, 2025 1:51 pm

The nonpartisan California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) today released a grim fiscal outlook for the 2026-2027 budget year (see below), warning “budget problem now larger than anticipated” with an $18 billion shortfall. Their estimate is $5 billion more than what...

Proposed Ballot Measure Making it Harder for Insurers to Deny Claims Approved For Signature Gathering

June 3, 2025 2:45 amJune 3, 2025 6:20 am

A newly proposed California ballot initiative previously named after Luigi Mangione would make it illegal to “delay and deny” healthcare coverage, was given the green light by the state over the weekend to begin gathering signatures. According to the proposed...

Another $10-$14 Billion Needed to Fund High Speed Rail Line Bakersfield to Merced

May 20, 2025 2:45 amMay 20, 2025 2:46 am

The funding gap to complete the Bakersfield to Merced segment of the California High-Speed Rail Line grew on Monday following consultants to the project raising estimates from the original $7 billion gap to a now $10.2 billion gap. According to...

May Budget Revise 2025-2026 Grows to $322 Billion, with $12 Billion Deficit

May 14, 2025 5:04 pmMay 14, 2025 5:13 pm

Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his revised 2025-2026 budget on Wednesday, proposing a $12 billion deficit in California alongside his $321.9 billion budget. In his speech, and later in a statement, Newsom primarily blamed President Donald Trump for the $12 billion...

President Trump Confirms California’s High Speed Rail System Will No Longer Receive Any Federal Funds

May 7, 2025 7:00 amMay 7, 2025 2:45 pm

In a joint conference with newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that the federal government would not put any more money towards the California High-Speed Rail system, all but ensuring further budgetary gaps...

Faltering California High-Speed Rail Pushes Private Funding To Fill Massive $7-$11 Billion Funding Gap

April 30, 2025 1:24 pmApril 30, 2025 1:24 pm

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri announced Wednesday that he will be pushing the state to start accepting more private funding for the rail project, especially with a $7 billion funding gap set to come into play in mid-2026,...

California High-Speed Rail Needs $7 Billion for Bakersfield to Merced by 2026

March 27, 2025 2:45 amMarch 27, 2025 2:46 am

The California Legislative Analyst’s Office told lawmakers in an Assembly Transportation budget hearing Wednesday that California High-Speed Rail needs $7 billion in funding by June 2026 or else the first Bakersfield to Merced leg of the system could be delayed...