Time Machine
California's budget by governor's term
General Fund revenues, spending and ending balance at the start and end of each term, the same way for every governor.
California's fiscal year starts July 1. A Governor takes office in January, partway through a fiscal year whose budget was enacted under the previous Governor and Legislature, so a term's first fiscal year mostly reflects decisions made before it began.
Amounts are in dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation; the share of GDP and the per-person figures help compare years. Many things move these numbers at once: the economy, laws passed by earlier Legislatures, programs that grow on their own, emergencies. The figures show what happened during each term, not who caused it.
The General Fund is the state's main operating account; special funds, bond funds and federal funds are outside it. The Department of Finance's chart (July 2026) gives estimates, not actual figures, for fiscal years from 2025–26 on, so those years aren't shown. Before 2005–06, the chart shows each year's figures as first published in the Governor's Budget.
Governor
Gavin Newsom
2019–present
Start: fiscal year 2017–18 (ended June 30, 2018). End: 2024–25, the latest with actual figures; this term is in progress.
General Fund revenues and transfers
- 2017–18 → 2024–25
- $131.1 billion → $233.6 billion
- Change
- +$102.5 billion (+78.2%)
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- $3,325 → $5,893
- Per household
- $9,896 → $16,723
General Fund spending
- 2017–18 → 2024–25
- $124.8 billion → $231.2 billion
- Change
- +$106.4 billion (+85.3%)
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- $3,164 → $5,831
- Per household
- $9,416 → $16,547
General Fund ending balance
- 2017–18 → 2024–25
- $11.4 billion → $56.7 billion
- Change
- +$45.3 billion
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- $290 → $1,430
- Per household
- $862 → $4,059
The Legislature during this term
- After the 2018 general election: Assembly DEM 57, REP 20, LIB 2 (79 of 80 seats read); Senate DEM 29, REP 11 (40 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
- After the 2020 general election: Assembly DEM 56, REP 21, LIB 1, NPP 1 (79 of 80 seats read); Senate DEM 30, REP 10 (40 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
- After the 2022 general election: Assembly DEM 54, REP 26 (80 of 80 seats read); Senate DEM 32, REP 8 (40 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
- After the 2024 general election: Assembly DEM 60, REP 20 (80 of 80 seats read); Senate DEM 31, REP 9 (40 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
Seats by the winner's party as listed on the ballot, from general-election results. Seats filled by special election or left vacant aren't counted, so totals can fall short of 80 and 40.
Marked events that began during this term
- Recession (NBER business cycle dates): 2020-02 to 2020-04 · Source ↗
- COVID-19 public health emergency (HHS determination): 2020-01 to 2023-05 · Source ↗
Not available: California's GDP (so no share of GDP).
Governor
Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown
2011–2019
Start: fiscal year 2009–10 (ended June 30, 2010). End: 2017–18.
General Fund revenues and transfers
- 2009–10 → 2017–18
- $87.0 billion → $131.1 billion
- Change
- +$44.1 billion (+50.6%)
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- $2,338 → $3,325
- Per household
- $6,924 → $9,896
General Fund spending
- 2009–10 → 2017–18
- $87.2 billion → $124.8 billion
- Change
- +$37.5 billion (+43.0%)
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- $2,344 → $3,164
- Per household
- $6,939 → $9,416
General Fund ending balance
- 2009–10 → 2017–18
- −$5.3 billion → $11.4 billion
- Change
- +$16.8 billion
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- −$144 → $290
- Per household
- −$425 → $862
The Legislature during this term
- After the 2010 general election: Assembly Party not listed 77 (77 of 80 seats read); Senate Party not listed 20 (20 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
- After the 2012 general election: Assembly DEM 47, REP 32, PF 1 (80 of 80 seats read); Senate Party not listed 20, DEM 15, REP 5 (40 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
- After the 2014 general election: Assembly REP 40, DEM 39, NPP 1 (80 of 80 seats read); Senate DEM 26, REP 14 (40 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
- After the 2016 general election: Assembly DEM 48, REP 31 (79 of 80 seats read); Senate DEM 27, REP 13 (40 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
- After the 2018 general election: Assembly DEM 57, REP 20, LIB 2 (79 of 80 seats read); Senate DEM 29, REP 11 (40 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
Seats by the winner's party as listed on the ballot, from general-election results. Seats filled by special election or left vacant aren't counted, so totals can fall short of 80 and 40.
Not available: California's GDP (so no share of GDP).
Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger
2003–2011
Start: fiscal year 2001–02 (ended June 30, 2002). End: 2009–10.
General Fund revenues and transfers
- 2001–02 → 2009–10
- $72.2 billion → $87.0 billion
- Change
- +$14.8 billion (+20.5%)
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- $2,080 → $2,338
- Per household
- $6,182 → $6,924
General Fund spending
- 2001–02 → 2009–10
- $76.8 billion → $87.2 billion
- Change
- +$10.5 billion (+13.7%)
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- $2,210 → $2,344
- Per household
- $6,568 → $6,939
General Fund ending balance
- 2001–02 → 2009–10
- −$2.1 billion → −$5.3 billion
- Change
- −$3.2 billion
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- −$61 → −$144
- Per household
- −$183 → −$425
The Legislature during this term
- After the 2002 general election: Assembly REP 39, DEM 38, NP 1 (78 of 80 seats read); Senate DEM 14, REP 5 (19 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
- After the 2006 general election: Assembly DEM 46, REP 33 (79 of 80 seats read); Senate DEM 14, REP 5, LIB 1 (20 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
- After the 2010 general election: Assembly Party not listed 77 (77 of 80 seats read); Senate Party not listed 20 (20 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
Seats by the winner's party as listed on the ballot, from general-election results. Seats filled by special election or left vacant aren't counted, so totals can fall short of 80 and 40.
Marked events that began during this term
- Recession (NBER business cycle dates): 2007-12 to 2009-06 · Source ↗
- 2009 H1N1 influenza public health emergency (HHS determination): 2009-04 to 2010-06 · Source ↗
Not available: California's GDP (so no share of GDP).
Governor
Gray Davis
1999–2003
Start: fiscal year 1997–98 (ended June 30, 1998). End: 2001–02.
General Fund revenues and transfers
- 1997–98 → 2001–02
- $55.0 billion → $72.2 billion
- Change
- +$17.3 billion (+31.4%)
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- Not available → $2,080
- Per household
- Not available → $6,182
General Fund spending
- 1997–98 → 2001–02
- $52.9 billion → $76.8 billion
- Change
- +$23.9 billion (+45.2%)
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- Not available → $2,210
- Per household
- Not available → $6,568
General Fund ending balance
- 1997–98 → 2001–02
- $3.1 billion → −$2.1 billion
- Change
- −$5.2 billion
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- Not available → −$61
- Per household
- Not available → −$183
The Legislature during this term
- After the 2002 general election: Assembly REP 39, DEM 38, NP 1 (78 of 80 seats read); Senate DEM 14, REP 5 (19 of 40 seats read) · Statement of Vote ↗
Seats by the winner's party as listed on the ballot, from general-election results. Seats filled by special election or left vacant aren't counted, so totals can fall short of 80 and 40.
Marked events that began during this term
- Recession (NBER business cycle dates): 2001-03 to 2001-11 · Source ↗
- Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40): 2001-09 · Source ↗
- Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq (Public Law 107-243): 2002-10 · Source ↗
Not available: population for 1997–98; household count for 1997–98; California's GDP (so no share of GDP).
Governor
Pete Wilson
1991–1999
Start: fiscal year 1989–90 (ended June 30, 1990). End: 1997–98.
General Fund revenues and transfers
- 1989–90 → 1997–98
- $38.7 billion → $55.0 billion
- Change
- +$16.2 billion (+41.9%)
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- Not available
- Per household
- Not available
General Fund spending
- 1989–90 → 1997–98
- $39.5 billion → $52.9 billion
- Change
- +$13.4 billion (+34.0%)
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- Not available
- Per household
- Not available
General Fund ending balance
- 1989–90 → 1997–98
- $545.4 million → $3.1 billion
- Change
- +$2.5 billion
- Share of GDP
- Not available: California's GDP isn't in the sources ThePillory reads
- Per person
- Not available
- Per household
- Not available
The Legislature during this term
Not available: the Statements of Vote ThePillory reads start with the 2002 general election.
Not available: population for 1989–90; population for 1997–98; household count for 1989–90; household count for 1997–98; California's GDP (so no share of GDP).