January 5, 2011

2011 Cal Facts Index of Graphs and Tables

• California's Economy

  • California Ranks Among the World’s Top Ten Economies
  • California's Employment Base Is Diversified
  • Construction Jobs Hit Hard During Recession
  • Personal Income in California Declined in 2009
  • Trade—An Important Source of California Economic Activity
  • Baby Boomers Will Swell Over–65 Population
  • California Is Very Diverse, Racially and Ethnically
  • California Housing Prices Have Fallen Substantially From Peaka

  State–Local Finances

  • California's Tax Burden Is Somewhat Above Average
  • California's Governments Rely On a Variety of Taxes
  • Ballot Measures Have Had Major State–Local Fiscal Implications
  • Votes Required to Increase Taxes, Fees, Assessments, or Debt
  • Allocation of Property Tax Has Varied Over Time
  • Extensive Use of Redevelopment by Local Agencies in Some Counties
  • Paying for County, City, and Special District Services
  • Five State Mandates Account for Much of the State’s $1 Billion Backlog
  • Significant State Budget Shortfalls Since 2001
  • The Composition of Revenues Has Changed Over Time
  • Top 1 Percent of Income Earners Pay Up to One–Half of Income Taxes
  • Sales and Use Taxes Levied for State and Local Purposes
  • Education, Health, and Social Services Dominate Spending
  • Real Per Capita State Spending Typically Dips During Recessions
  • Large Seasonal Cash Flow Deficits Each Summer and Autumn
  • Higher Education Represents Over One–Third of State Employment
  • State Costs for Retirement Programs Have Increased Substantially
  • Cost Per Participant for Major Government Programs

  Program Trends

  • K-12 Education
    • State Is Primary Source of Revenue For K–12 Schools
    • One–Third of K–12 Funding Comes With Strings Attached
    • Programmatic Per K–12 Pupil Funding Has Fallen in Recent Years
    • K–12 Enrollment Trends Vary Greatly By County
    • California's Public Schools Serve Diverse Population
    • Student Achievement Rising Over Time
    • More California Schools Making State Accountability Targets, Fewer Making Federal Targets
    • California's State School Rankings Are a Mixed Bag
    • Total Spending on Child Care Has Not Changed Significantly
    • Mix of Child Care Providers Varies by Age of Child
  • Higher Education
    • Per–Student Higher Education Funding Has Declined in Recent Years
    • Growth in College Enrollment Focused at Community Colleges
    • Higher Education Costs Are Shared By Students and the Public
    • Fees Comprise Only a Portion of Student Costs . . .
    • . . . Many Sources of Financial Aid Offset These Costs
    • Student Completion Rates Vary Significantly by Segment
  • Social Services
    • Caseload Growth for Major Social Services Programs
    • SSI/SSP Grant Is Near Poverty Level . . .
    • . . . While CalWORKs Grant Is Significantly Below Poverty Level
    • Number of In–Home Supportive Services Hours Varies
    • One Year After Entering Foster Care, One–Half of Children Remain in Care
    • Within Three Years of Entering Care, Most Reunite With Their Families
  • Health
    • Health Coverage, 2009
    • Medi–Cal Inflation–Adjusted Costs Per Person Relatively Stable
    • Disproportionate Share of Medi–Cal Spending for Seniors and Disabled
    • Smoking Rate Levels Off,While Obesity Rate Climbs
    • Regional Center Spending Up Significantly
  • Criminal Justice
    • Crime Rate at Historic Low
    • California Prison Incarceration Rate Similar to U.S. Average
    • Most Inmate Costs Related to Security and Health Care
  • Resources
    • Addressing Rising Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    • Total Energy Demand Outpacing Renewable Development
    • Delta Is at the Heart of California's Water System
    • Various Factors Raising Wildland Firefighting Costs
    • Deferred Maintenance in State Parks Is Substantial and Growing
  • Transportation
    • Transportation Funding Comes From Multiple Sources
    • Annual Spending on Highway Repairs Falls Short of Needs
    • Minimal New Highway Capacity, Mixed Traffic Impacts
    • Phase One of High–Speed Rail System Development Underway
  • Infrastructure
    • Debt–Service Ratio Rising
    • Most State Infrastructure Spending Is for Transportation and Education

Acknowledgments. The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) is a nonpartisan office which provides fiscal and policy information and advice to the Legislature.

LAO Publications To request publications call (916) 445-4656. This report and others, as well as an E-mail subscription service, are available on the LAO's Internet site at www.lao.ca.gov. The LAO is located at 925 L Street, Suite 1000, Sacramento, CA 95814.

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