COVID-19

State spending growth topped 18.2% in FY 2022, the highest annual increase in state spending since the National Association of State Budget Officers began recording the data in 1979.

Tribal governments have invested in 344 infrastructure and affordable housing projects as a result of $20 billion received from the American Rescue Plan Act.

A separate report showed the state's workforce declined by 1% between 2011 and 2021 while the workforce increased 5.1% nationally during that time frame.

A combination of federal funding and rising tax collections has filled the coffers.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has filed to extend G-27 relief to give dealers an extra six-month window for remote inspections

American Rescue Plan Act dollars amounted to around 22% of states' annual general fund budgets, according to a court filing from a trio of southern states fighting ARPA's restriction on tax cuts.

In its analysis of primary market data from 2019 to 2021, the MSRB showed that market participants fled competitive offerings during the COVID period and preferred private placements.

Illinois will pay down another $450 million of the $1.8 billion outstanding from a $4.5 billion federal loan to pay pandemic-related unemployment claims.

A Reason Foundation study found K-12 debt steadily rising since 2014.

The bulging surpluses are a result of $5 trillion in economic stimulus from the federal government including American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds which boosted economic activity and tax revenues.

The future outlook now is much more fragile, the Citizens Budget Commission said.

Court decisions are highlighting the complexity of controlling how states spend money allocated them by federal law.

Public sector employment remains low despite the influx of federal aid, and governments dangling high wages and benefits could face long-term credit challenges, panelists said at Brookings Municipal Finance Conference.

Republicans contend the $1.9 trillion injection of cash sparked inflation while Democrats say it saved lives and a collapsing economy.

Hiring qualified candidates for many positions within state and local governments has reached its worst period in 50 years, panelists at the 116th annual GFOA conference said on Sunday.

The finance director of Aurora, Colorado, takes over as the association's president amid an uncertain post-pandemic landscape.

Bryant spent much time working to empower finance departments trying to pull their respective states, cities and localities out of the pitfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

An April COVID hospitalization surge, along with a continuing labor shortage and inflationary and supply chain costs, hurt hospitals' bottom line.

The December 2020 supplemental aid package provided $9.8 billion directly to state departments of transportation, the only direct stimulus that DOTs received.

The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority's hotel taxes are on the rebound but Chicago is on the hook for a $28 million debt service gap this year.