8860 Department of Finance
Program Descriptions

6770 - STATE BUDGET

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. 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.

6775 - 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.

6780 - STATE AUDITS AND EVALUATIONS

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.

6785 - STATEWIDE ACCOUNTING POLICIES, CONSULTING AND TRAINING

The Statewide Accounting Policies, Consulting and Training Unit sets statewide accounting policies and procedures. The unit provides fiscal consulting and training services to departments to help ensure that the state's assets are protected and accurate, and timely financial information is maintained. The unit maintains a uniform and complete accounting system for state departments and participates in the development of other statewide financial systems.

6800 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUDITS AND EVALUATIONS

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.