Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Parking that was once free now comes with a meter. Trash pickup costs more, and local ballots continue to carry proposals for new taxes and fees. Across California, people are being asked to pay more as cities, counties, and school districts face pressure to maintain the services residents use every day. Each charge can look like a separate local decision.
The financial reports behind them tell a broader story, and the same pressures do not leave every community in the same position.
John Moorlach, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Public Accountability at the California Policy Center, is a CPA and former state senator who warned about Orange County's bankruptcy before it occurred. He joins us to explain how he compares the finances of California's state and local governments, and what those rankings may show about the condition of a resident’s own community.
00:00 - Introduction
04:33 - Major Liabilities and Pension Plans
06:46 - Impact of Silicon Valley and State Budget Growth
07:51 - Financial Challenges in Los Angeles
09:49 - Pension Plans and Retiree Medical Benefits
13:41 - Impact of AB 218 and Sexual Harassment Lawsuits
20:35 - Financial Transparency and Timeliness
23:44 - Public Employee Unions and Ballot Measures
26:27 - Challenges of Public Sector Employment
30:33 - Rankings and Financial Reporting Errors
📩 Email Us YOUR Story: Siyamak@californiainsider.com
👉 Read California News: californiainsider.com
Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of California Insider.
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🟡 Sign up for our newsletter: californiainsider.com/email-signup-page
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#California #CaliforniaNews #CaliforniaInsider #StateBudget #FiscalPolicy
Parking that was once free now comes with a meter. Trash pickup costs more, and local ballots continue to carry proposals for new taxes and fees. Across California, people are being asked to pay more as cities, counties, and school districts face pressure to maintain the services residents use every day. Each charge can look like a separate local decision.
The financial reports behind them tell a broader story, and the same pressures do not leave every community in the same position.
John Moorlach, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Public Accountability at the California Policy Center, is a CPA and former state senator who warned about Orange County's bankruptcy before it occurred. He joins us to explain how he compares the finances of California's state and local governments, and what those rankings may show about the condition of a resident’s own community.
00:00 - Introduction
04:33 - Major Liabilities and Pension Plans
06:46 - Impact of Silicon Valley and State Budget Growth
07:51 - Financial Challenges in Los Angeles
09:49 - Pension Plans and Retiree Medical Benefits
13:41 - Impact of AB 218 and Sexual Harassment Lawsuits
20:35 - Financial Transparency and Timeliness
23:44 - Public Employee Unions and Ballot Measures
26:27 - Challenges of Public Sector Employment
30:33 - Rankings and Financial Reporting Errors
📩 Email Us YOUR Story: Siyamak@californiainsider.com
👉 Read California News: californiainsider.com
Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of California Insider.
--------------------
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Watch our Documentary "Leaving California" at leavingcamovie.com
🟡 Sign up for our newsletter: californiainsider.com/email-signup-page
💟 Support us: donorbox.org/california-insider-2024-donation
• Facebook - facebook.com/CAInsiderShow
• X (Twitter) - twitter.com/CA_Insider
• Instagram - instagram.com/california.insider
--------------------
#California #CaliforniaNews #CaliforniaInsider #StateBudget #FiscalPolicy
