Insights For Local Governments
Browse HdL thought leadership articles, press releases, legislative updates, economic forecasts, industry headlines and more.
California Sales Tax Trends and Economic Drivers Report – Q1 2026 Data
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Recent sales tax analysis continues to diverge from broader economic sentiment, even as consumer confidence reached a low point in May. Despite this, spending on taxable goods and services is projected to finish FY 2025–26 approximately 3% above prior-year results, with modest growth expected in the coming year. Across sectors, inflation, interest rates, and price increases remain key factors influencing future revenues. While spending patterns vary across household income levels, recent trends point to a resilient economy. Overall, the near-term outlook remains positive heading into FY 2026–27.
Municipal Revenue as a Service: A New Model for Local Revenue Administration
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Across hundreds of local government agencies nationwide, the same pattern kept appearing; local revenue programs were becoming more complex, while the operating models behind them remained fragmented across staff roles, spreadsheets, software tools, vendors, and department handoffs.
California Legislative Update 2026
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Learn the status updates on 2026 legislation related to business license, cannabis taxation and regulation, economic development, local revenue authority measures, lodging tax, property tax, sales and use tax, utility users tax, and other legislation that HdL is currently tracking.
Incomplete Lodging Tax Data Affects More Than Compliance
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Top Takeaways
- Lodging tax reporting often reflects what’s filed, not necessarily all taxable activity.
- Gaps in compliance, reporting, or platform visibility can distort both revenue totals and forecasts.
- Cities that address these gaps improve revenue reliability and forecasting confidence.
California Sales Tax Trends and Economic Drivers Report – Q4 2025 Data
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Amid ongoing global events, political volatility, and consumer uncertainty surrounding both the California and national economies, near-term sales tax revenues are still expected to post modest growth. Fiscal year 2025–26 projections are consistent with expectations set in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting a broadly stable outlook, and gradually improving statewide sales tax revenues. Consumers remain attentive to inflation trends, tariff-related price changes, interest rate movements, and fuel costs. Despite these pressures, overall spending patterns have demonstrated resilience. Household demand is expected to remain steady, supporting moderate gains over the coming year even as pockets of unpredictability persist across numerous sectors.
More Articles …
- The Revenue Impacts of Regional Events
- California Legislative Update for Property Tax-Related Measures
- California Legislative Update 2025
- Rethinking Business Tax: A Strategic Guide for Local Government Revenue Optimization
- California Sales Tax Trends and Economic Drivers Report - Q1 2025 Data
- Best-Fit Software vs. ERP: 5 Reasons Local Governments Should Switch
- Why Cities Struggle with Rental Registration Data—and How to Fix It
- Property Tax Revenue Impacts of Palisades and Eaton Fires
- Public Safety Staffing in Crisis: How Outsourcing Can Ease the Burden
- California Q3 2024 Local Sales and Use Tax Declines 2.3% YOY
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