General Budget Timetable

  • Early January
    Departments submit approved (updated) BCPs to the Department of Finance (Finance).
  • January 10
    Governor (and Finance) submits Governor’s Budget and Budget Bill to the Legislature by this date.
  • February 1
    Finance provides to the Legislature all proposed statutory changes (Budget Trailer Bills), as prepared by the Legislative Counsel, that are necessary to implement the Governor’s Budget.
  • Early-February
    Departments submit Spring Finance Letter requests to Finance.
  • February to Mid-May
    Legislative budget subcommittee staff hold budget pre-hearings with LAO, Finance and departments.
  • Early February to Early March
    Finance releases Salaries and Wages Supplement (Sch. 7A).
  • Late February to Mid-March
    Finance budget staff discuss Finance Letter requests and meet with departments.
  • February to Late-May
    Legislative Budget Subcommittees hold budget hearings.
  • March
    Finance finalizes non-May Revision proposals for April 1.
  • April 1
    Finance submits non-May Revision (April 1 Finance Letters including Capital Outlay) to the Legislature. Finance budget staff analyze May Revision requests and meet with departments.
  • Late April
    Finance begins issuing technical budget instructions for the fiscal year following the upcoming one.
  • May 14
    Finance issues May Revision update of General Fund revenues and expenditures, including Finance Letters.
  • Late May to Early June
    Budget Subcommittees report to Full Budget Committees; Budget Bills sent to the Floors.
  • June 15
    Constitutional deadline for Legislature to pass Budget Bill.
  • Mid-June to Late June
    Assuming the Budget Bill reflects a two-party agreement (Senate and Assembly only) and does not include an agreement with the Governor (Administration), the Assembly and Senate will then work with Finance to prepare and pass a Trailer Bill amending the Budget Bill, also known as Budget Bill Jr, Governor signs Budget Bill and Budget Bill Jr. Governor decides on vetoes, if needed.
  • Late June
    The Budget Act and Budget Trailer Bills are published.
  • July 1
    State’s fiscal year begins.
  • Mid-July
    Finance issues budget policy budget letter.
  • Mid-July to Late July
    The State Controller’s Office (SCO) issues Schedule 8 Tabulation and supplemental Schedule 8 tabulations for Schedule 7A to departments.
  • Late July
    Departments submit to the SCO and State Treasurer’s Office (STO) year-end financial statements for the General Fund, feeder funds and a few other funds.
  • Early August
    Current Service Level is rolled over in budget system and available to departments.
  • Early August
    Finance transmits Sch. 7A spreadsheet to departments.
  • 3rd Week August
    Departments submit year-end financial statements for all other funds (those not due by the end of July).
  • Late August to Early September
    Departments submit incremental past-year information to Finance.
  • August to Early September
    Assembly and Senate work with Finance to prepare and pass potential subsequent Budget Bill Jrs.
  • September to Early October
    Departments submit current year, budget year, and out-year information to Finance.
  • September to Late October
    Departments submit completed 7As to Finance.
  • Early September to Mid-September
    Departments submit Budget Change Proposals (BCPs), including proposed Budget Bill Language changes, to Finance.
  • September to Mid-October
    Finance budget staff hold budget discussions and meetings with departments.
  • Mid-October
    Finance issues assessments for General Administrative Charges (Pro Rata) to Special Fund departments, and the Statewide Cost Allocation Plan (SWCAP) to departments with federal funds.
  • Late October to Early November
    Departments submit Enrollment, Caseload and Population (ECP) data to Finance.
  • Early November to Late November
    Departments start flowing updated BCPs and supporting documents, and updated budget information that have decisions and no open issues.
  • Early December to Mid-December
    Governor holds budget meetings and makes decisions.
  • Mid-December to 3rd Week of December
    Departments submit updated BCPs and supporting documents, and updated budget information to reflect Governor’s decisions.
  • Late December to Early January
    Finance finalizes Governor’s Budget, Governor’s Budget Summary, and Budget Bill.