Patterns in California Government Revenues Since Proposition 13

Publication Date: March 1999

Publisher: Public Policy Institute of California

Author(s): Michael A. Shires

Research Area: Banking and finance

Type: Report

Coverage: California

Abstract:

In June 1978, California voters passed Proposition 13, the first in a long series of ballot initiatives that have constrained state and local governments' ability to raise, allocate, and spend public revenues. This report examines the changes that have occurred in state and local public finance between 1978 and 1995, addressing three questions: 1. How has the share of locally controlled revenues changed? 2. How has the spending flexibility of state and local revenues changed? 3. How has the composition of state and local revenues changed?