Report Parcel Taxes as a Local Revenue Source in California By Jon Sonstelie Apr 15, 2015 Local government authority is growing in corrections, school funding, and other areas in California, putting pressure on localities to diversify revenue sources. As a result, the parcel tax may become an increasingly important fiscal tool in the state. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Donald Bren Foundation.
Report Policy Priorities for Managing Drought By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle ... Mar 16, 2015 State, federal, and local water managers have worked diligently to reduce the economic, social, and environmental harm from the current drought. But as the drought continues, the challenges will grow more acute. California can learn from experiences to date—and from Australia’s response to its Millennium Drought—to better prepare both for the year ahead and for future droughts. State leaders should address weaknesses in four areas of drought preparation and response, by: 1) improving water use information, 2) setting clear goals and priorities for public health and the environment, 3) promoting water conservation and more resilient water supplies, and 4) strengthening environmental management.
blog post California–State of Change By Mark Baldassare Dec 8, 2014 As leaders from government, business, and philanthropy gathered last week to discuss California’s future, we were reminded once again that these are exciting times in our state.
blog post How Does UC Compare in Enrolling Nonresident Students? By Jacob Jackson Nov 19, 2014 Record-high numbers of out-of-state students are enrolling in the UC system. About one of every five freshmen starting at a UC campus this fall will be a student who attended high school in a state outside of California or outside of the U.S.
Report California’s Need for Skilled Workers By Sarah Bohn Sep 17, 2014 If recent trends continue, California is likely to face a shortage of workers with some college education but less than a bachelor’s degree by 2025. State and federal policymakers have increased their focus on boosting educational opportunities for this segment of the workforce. This report examines labor market outcomes among workers with some college training to shed light on the types of jobs that hold the most promise for future workers and the state economy.
blog post Drought Watch: Crises as Catalyst for Policy Change By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount Sep 16, 2014 Today Governor Brown signed three bills that require portions of the state to start managing groundwater sustainably. These bills are historic.
press release Strong Support for Global Warming Law Tempered by Concerns About Gas, Electricity Prices Jul 23, 2014
Report Key Factors in California’s Jail Construction Needs By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin May 7, 2014 Now that California has shifted responsibility for many criminal offenders to the counties, county jail systems face greater capacity challenges. This report highlights two important factors in addressing jail capacity constraints: aging jail facilities and long-term needs. We show that a number of facilities are old and likely in need of costly updates or replacement and that growth in the state’s population is likely to exert significant pressure on the county jail system. Our analysis suggests that a thoughtful combination of further jail construction and decreased reliance on incarceration is needed, given the magnitude of the current and future jail needs.
blog post Reforming Proposition 13 By Mark Baldassare Mar 19, 2014 In the current legislative session there has been a movement toward making changes in the Proposition 13 tax limits that voters approved in 1978.
blog post Drought Watch: Roadblocks to Efficient Funding By Ellen Hanak, Caitrin Chappelle Mar 13, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought.Looming legal challenges may limit the ability of local agencies to make continued investments in modern, integrated water management—investments that would better prepare us for population growth, climate change, and future droughts.
