State budgets

States are dealing with budget surpluses with taxpayer rebates, infrastructure projects and debt service.

Gov. Kevin Stitt wants to tap surplus revenue to build up reserves and is once again asking the legislature to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries and pass an expanded school voucher program.

Deposits to reserves that had been planned for fiscal 2024 and 2025 would be completed by the end of the current fiscal year, bringing the total to $24 billion.

The budget "starts and ends with the housing and homelessness crisis because housing is fundamental to everything else in a person's life," said Gov. Tina Kotek.

"Our budget proposal not only builds on the successes of the past four years, but ensures that Florida will continue to thrive," said Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Energy production taxes slowed or fell last month, with the oil tax generating $486 million, which was 14% higher than in January 2022, and natural gas tax revenue falling 13% at $322 million.

Neither Toni Atkins, the Democratic Senate president pro tem, nor Brian Jones, leader of the Republican minority, want to tap the state's reserve funds.

Tim Walz's proposed budget offers a mix of additional spending, tax cuts, new bonds, and an early payoff of bonds issued for the NFL Vikings' stadium.

The popularity of Arizona's universal school choice program, which pays for private schools, brought higher-than-projected costs and future budget impact.

Raising money by participating in carbon credit markets and carbon sequestration schemes would ease Alaska's revenue dependence on oil, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said.

Biennial budget bills filed by the Texas House and Senate include $15 billion in property tax cuts amid a projected $32.7 billion surplus.

Roger Millar, AASHTO's new president and chief of Washington's Department of Transportation, joins Caitlin Devitt to talk about the rollout of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, how a tight labor market and inflation are impacting capital plans, what a divided Congress means for transportation and an update on the Pacific Northwest's high speed rail project. (24 minutes)

Newly-elected Gov. Josh Green outlined the proposals during his State of the State speech on Monday.

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an opinion that blocks Treasury from enforcing the "tax cut ban" against 13 states.

With the Permanent University Fund only benefitting the two biggest public universities in Texas, the state legislature will consider creating an endowment for other higher education institutions.

Michigan's latest revenue forecast boosts prior projections by more than $1 billion annually for fiscal 2022, 2023, and 2024.

"Now our state is blessed with an opportunity for prosperity and growth unlike any before in our history," said Jim Justice.

Janet Mills wants to use $1 billion in federal infrastructure aid and higher-than-expected state revenue to fund billions in transportation improvements.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposal reverses plans laid out in last year's budget to redeem some bonds and use cash rather than bonds for some projects.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation sending a portion of the state's surplus to the budget stabilization fund and raising the target balance.