OVERVIEW OF CALIFORNIA'S STATE BUDGET PROCESS-PREFACE - 6110

The budget process for the State of California defies a simple definition. It consists of the development of the Governor's Budget, the Legislature's enactment of a budget, and the executive branch's administration of the budget, including all the ramifications and influences of political interactions, relationships with federal and local governments, public input, natural events, legal issues, the economy, initiatives, and legislation, etc.

Although the size and complexity of California, and the dynamics of the budget process, make it challenging to establish and maintain an orderly and predictable state budget process, an effective state budget process is essential for the important work of many indispensable state government programs to continue. The following sections summarize the major steps and procedures of California's state budget process.