8860 Department of Finance
Program Descriptions

10 - ANNUAL FINANCIAL PLAN

To ensure the financial integrity of the state through the planned allocation of state resources, the Department of Finance advises the Governor on the fiscal condition of the state and prepares the annual Governor's Budget. The Governor's Budget contains past year actual expenditures and revenues, current year estimated expenditures and revenues, and proposed expenditures and estimated revenues for the next fiscal year. After the budget is enacted, the Department of Finance assists in the administration of the budget. The Department of Finance also provides fiscal analyses of bills introduced in the Legislature and makes recommendations to the Governor.

15 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR CALIFORNIA (FI$Cal) PROJECT SUPPORT

The Department of Finance is one of four partner agencies responsible for the development, implementation, utilization, and maintenance of an integrated statewide financial management system, FI$Cal. This program includes Department of Finance subject-matter experts assigned to the FI$Cal Project.

20 - PROGRAM AND INFORMATION SYSTEM ASSESSMENTS

The Department of Finance systematically reviews and evaluates state-administered and financed programs. The Office of State Audits and Evaluations assists the Director of Finance in fulfilling the statutory responsibilities for supervision over all matters concerning the financial and business policies of the state by conducting financial audits and by performing critical examinations of state programs and policies.

30 - SUPPORTIVE DATA

This program includes a variety of information systems and services. The budget support systems provide information to decision-makers throughout the budgetary process. The operation and management of the automated California State Accounting and Reporting System (CALSTARS) is intended to provide a uniform and complete accounting system for state agencies. The Fiscal Systems and Consulting Unit develops and maintains statewide fiscal and accounting policies and provides fiscal and accounting advice and consultation to all state departments. Basic and applied economic and tax research functions support the revenue estimates required for the development of the state financial plan, for the analysis of financial legislation, and the evaluation of economic trends or other fiscal developments which affect the state. Basic and applied demographic research functions provide data to support the workload estimates of state agencies.

37 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT

The Department of Finance is responsible for the oversight activities associated with the dissolution of redevelopment agencies. To facilitate this effort, the Department of Finance established a Local Government Unit whose objective is to protect core public services and ensure proper collection of former redevelopment agency tax increment and liquidation of property assets for distribution to local taxing entities.