Key takeaways
- California state government spent $452.7 billion in fiscal 2024, the 1st most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the Department of General Services, Procurement Division, and vendors register and find bids in Cal eProcure.
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2028 budget proposal usually comes Jan. 10.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Dec. 7, 2026 and is scheduled to adjourn Sept. 10.
- A new governor, Xavier Becerra, takes office Jan. 4, 2027.
California government at a glance
| Fact | California |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $452.7 billion (1st of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028 · proposal usually Jan. 10 |
| 2027 legislative session | Dec. 7, 2026 to Sept. 10 (278 days) |
| Governor-elect | Xavier Becerra, takes office Jan. 4, 2027 |
| Central procurement office | Department of General Services, Procurement Division |
| Bid and vendor portal | Cal eProcure |
| State CIO | Chris Given, State CIO and Director |
| Local governments | 4,494 total, including 2,949 special districts and 1,006 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 47 public power utilities and 4 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 95,962 (end of 2023) |
How California buys
- Central purchasing. The Department of General Services, Procurement Division handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. Cal eProcure is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our California vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Purchase thresholds
| Tier | Rule |
|---|---|
| Little or no competition | Under $10,000 (one quote) |
| Informal quotes | Non-IT goods: $10,000 to under $100,000 |
| Formal solicitation | Non-IT goods: $100,000 and above. Non-IT services: competitive bidding at $10,000 and above |
Source: State Contracting Manual 3.06. Agency and local thresholds can differ; see our state procurement thresholds guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. California's fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released Jan. 10. Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Dec. 7, 2026 and is scheduled to adjourn Sept. 10. Two-year session begins in December. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
- New administration. Governor-elect Xavier Becerra takes office Jan. 4, 2027. New administrations often bring new agency leaders and priorities; see new governors in 2027.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Chris Given, State CIO and Director, leads the California Department of Technology. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts 5 executive orders, 1 law and 4 agency policies on government AI use. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in California
The biggest California entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | City | 3,869,089 residents (2025) | 2 of 100 largest cities |
| San Diego | City | 1,406,106 residents (2025) | 8 of 100 largest cities |
| San Jose | City | 989,814 residents (2025) | 13 of 100 largest cities |
| Los Angeles County | County | 9,694,934 residents (2025) | 1 of 100 largest counties |
| San Diego County | County | 3,282,248 residents (2025) | 5 of 100 largest counties |
| Orange County | County | 3,149,507 residents (2025) | 6 of 100 largest counties |
| Los Angeles Unified | School district | 435,958 students (fall 2021) | 2 of 100 largest districts |
| San Diego Unified | School district | 95,233 students (fall 2021) | 29 of 100 largest districts |
| Fresno Unified | School district | 69,873 students (fall 2021) | 51 of 100 largest districts |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Public university | 47,335 students (fall 2024) | 31 of 40 largest |
| University of California-Berkeley | Public university | 45,882 students (fall 2024) | 34 of 40 largest |
| Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) | Community college | 124,054 students | 1 of 18 largest |
| Los Angeles County Metro. Transp. Auth. | Transit agency | 276,302,400 trips (2023) | 3 of 50 largest |
| City and County of San Francisco | Transit agency | 139,127,700 trips (2023) | 8 of 50 largest |
| Los Angeles International | Airport | 36,497,303 passengers boarded (2025) | 5 of 100 busiest |
| San Francisco International | Airport | 26,251,850 passengers boarded (2025) | 10 of 100 busiest |
| Los Angeles Department of Water and Power | Water utility | 3,856,043 people served | 2 of 208 largest |
| East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) | Water utility | 1,442,800 people served | 12 of 208 largest |
| Los Angeles Department of Water & Power | Public power utility | 1,510,995 electric customers (2024) | 2 of 50 largest |
| Sacramento Municipal Utility District | Public power utility | 666,235 electric customers (2024) | 6 of 50 largest |
| Los Angeles (CA) Police | Police department | 9,870 sworn officers (2016) | 3 of 50 largest |
| San Francisco (CA) Police | Police department | 2,356 sworn officers (2016) | 14 of 50 largest |
| Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department | Sheriff's office | 9,351 sworn personnel (2016) | 1 of 50 largest |
| San Francisco Department of Public Health | Public hospital system | $3.38 billion department budget (FY2025-26 proposed) | — |
| Santa Clara Valley Healthcare | Public hospital system | — | — |
| Port of Los Angeles | Port | 10.24 million TEUs (2025) | 1 of 16 largest |
| California Department of Health Care Services | State agency | $226.3B budget | 1 of 16 largest |
| California Department of Transportation | State agency | $16.6B budget | 15 of 16 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 4,494 local governments. That includes 2,949 special districts and 1,006 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 47 public power utilities and 4 electric cooperatives serve 3,467,758 customers, 35% of the state. See California utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
California state holidays in 2027
Besides the 11 federal holidays, California state offices close on these days in 2027:
- Farmworkers Day: Wednesday, March 31
See the full 2027 federal and state holiday calendar.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research California buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
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