State Budget Process Overview

The Governor releases the state budget proposal in early January, which kicks off the state and Cabrillo budget processes.

The Governor's budget proposal is a baseline of funding upon which we build our annual budget planning assumptions. Per Title 5 mandates, it usually is approved mid-June in order to have a spending plan in place for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Mid-January

The Governor's Budget Proposal is released.

Public input to the governor, legislative members, and subcommittees.
The Legislative Analysts Office (LAO) prepares an analysis of the budget bill.
Testimony is taken on the Assembly and Senate Budget Committees on the proposed budget.

May

Department of Finance updates revenues and expenditures with Finance Letters and May Revision.

- Assembly and Senate Budget Committees divide into several subcommittees to review specific details on the budget. Majority votes are required for passage.
  - A Budget Conference Committee may be convened to work out differences between the assembly and the state version of the budget--also amending the budget in an attempt to get votes from each house. A simple majority vote is required to adopt the spending plan.
- Assembly and Senate Budget Committees review the conference report and attempt to reach an agreement.
- Leadership (Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, and Senate President Pro Tempore and minority leaders) may meet to work out a compromise to get the votes required in each house.

June

The final budget package, after the necessary majority vote in each house, is submitted to the Governor for signature. The Governor may reduce or eliminate any appropriation through the line-item veto. The budget package also includes trailer bills necessary to authorize and/or implement various program or revenue changes.

End.

Source: California Community College Chancellor's Office Budget News Webpage: 2024-25 Enacted Budget Joint Analysis Links to an external site.