Size of State Budgets 1917 – 2022

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Up until 1941, state budgets were biennial. Chapter 145, Statutes of 1941 (Senate Constitutional Amendment 7) changed this process to become an annual one. However, in the below figures 1945-46 is the first annual budget; annual reports were not available.

Most amounts prior to 1965-66 are “actuals and estimates” of the fiscal year in progress taken from subsequent governor’s budget proposals. Starting in 1965-66, amounts are enacted totals from the “California State Budget History” compiled by the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. A full summary is available in Appendix – State Budget History.