press release Where The Rubber Meets The Road: Will Governor’s Popularity Translate Into Political Capital? Jan 15, 2004
Report Fiscal Effects of Voter Approval Requirements on Local Governments By Pedro Cerdan, Kim Rueben Jan 27, 2003 This report investigates the ways local governments in California have used the ballot box to raise taxes, assess fees, and pass bond measures. It notes sharp increases in school bond proposals, especially after 2000, when Proposition 39 lowered the voter approval threshold from two-thirds to 55 percent. It also shows how voter reaction to fiscal measures varies according to region, election timing, the type of measure proposed, and the service to be funded. Finally, it suggests that dedicated taxes for popular programs are more likely to garner voter support than a general tax, despite the fact that special taxes require a supermajority for approval. It also notes, however, that this approach may leave some traditional government services, such as libraries and parks, with inadequate funding.
blog post Californians Are Worried about Wildfires By Lynette Ubois, Mark Baldassare Aug 16, 2023 An overwhelming majority of Californians say the threat of wildfires is a problem in their part of the state. Around one in three residents have a great deal of confidence in government readiness to respond to wildfires.
press release PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians And The Future: What Election? Candidates Skirt the Issues, Voters Tune Out Oct 25, 2006
blog post In Memoriam: Dave Cogdill By Mark Baldassare, Ellen Hanak Jul 26, 2017 A tribute to Dave Cogdill--a valued friend and trusted advisor to PPIC and a respected member of the PPIC Water Policy Center’s advisory council.
Report California’s Water: Paying for Water By Ellen Hanak, Dean Misczynski, Jay Lund, Brian Gray ... Nov 12, 2018 Sustainable solutions by state and local leaders are needed to close serious funding gaps in a number of critical areas of water management—including floods, water quality, and aquatic ecosystems. This brief describes the state’s major water funding gaps and proposes ways to fill them.
Report Fiscal Rules and State Borrowing Costs: Evidence from California and Other States By Kim Rueben, James M. Poterba Dec 1, 1999 Because most of California’s new infrastructure spending will be financed with long-term debt, the state’s borrowing costs are a key fiscal issue. In this study, James Poterba and Kim Rueben analyze bond market data over the last two decades to calculate the effects of three variables on state borrowing costs. Noting that a rise in unemployment increases a state’s borrowing costs, the authors maintain that fiscal rules play an equally important role. States with expenditure limits typically borrow at lower rates than others, but those with tax restrictions, or that require supermajorities to increase taxes, face higher borrowing costs than other states. Unexpected budget deficits are also associated with higher bond yields especially in states with large outstanding debts.
