State budgets

A state economist reviewed a litany of problems lawmakers will face developing the state budget.

Budget officers in another 14 states have reported early fiscal 2019 revenues running within a half percentage of projections with only five telling the National Association of States Budget Officers they were collecting less than projected.

Pension and other retirement benefits still pose a stiff challenge, the organization said in its annual report card on the states.

“We have starved our state of a fundamental economic investment and job creator,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker will inherit $133.7 billion of unfunded pension liabilities, according to a nonpartisan state commission.

Four states will become the latest to require out-of-state e-commerce retailers to collect sales tax on Jan. 1 while 10 others aren’t expected to do so until later in 2019.

A $2 billion reserve may spur debate over the need for a gas tax hike for transportation projects.

Americans place almost $150 billion in illegal sports bets annually, according to the American Gaming Association.

The commonwealth's rainy-day fund exceeds $2 billion for the first time in 11 years, state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg said.

A Fitch Ratings looks at the credit implications of ideas pitched by Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker.