State budgets

Hawaii lawmakers made changes to the budget this week in response to a flurry of vetoes from Gov. David Ige.

General fund receipts increased to record surplus as road fund receipts gained 10.1% in the Bluegrass State.

A strong resurgence from last year's pandemic-driven recession is reflected in record revenue for June and the fiscal year in Oklahoma.

Hawaii lawmakers approved the budget before Treasury guidance banned the use of federal funds for debt payments or reserves.

With the effects of the pandemic fading, Texas tax collections showed strength across all sectors, Comptroller Glenn Hegar said.

Gov. Jim Justice said strong revenue collections during fiscal 2021, amid the pandemic, left the state with with a $413 million surplus.

Joseph Krist, publisher of Muni Credit News, explores state budgets, federal aid, climate change and cybersecurity. Paul Burton hosts. (34 minutes)

Michigan's fiscal recovery led S&P Global Ratings to lift its rating outlook to stable from negative. Fitch boosted its outlook to positive earlier this month.

S&P Global Ratings gave California an elevated risk in the environmental category on an ESG scorecard, partly because of wildfire risks.

The amended budget bill approved by lawmakers Monday remains opaque on high-speed rail and broad band.

A $3.7 billion transfer from the general fund would cover $2.5 billion for retiring and defeasing state debt, and $1.2 billion to backstop capital construction projects.

The U.S. Department of Transportation secretary and elected leaders from New York and New Jersey pitched the $11.6 billion project, citing economic and safety concerns.

With just a few days before the new fiscal year, Arizona lawmakers passed a $12.8 billion budget that largely neutralizes a tax measure voters passed in 2020.

According to State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, the brighter outlook could prompt increased rain-day deposits.

One big area of spending growth has been Medicaid health services for the poor, which is on track to jump by 12.5% in the current fiscal year.

Under Hawaii's system, the governor, David Ige, signals his intent to veto and then negotiates with lawmakers before making them formal.

Governor expected to call for more crackdowns on voting, teaching of race theory in public schools.

John Hallacy, founder of John Hallacy Consulting LLC, talks with Chip Barnett about the pandemic’s lingering credit impacts on state finances in a wide-ranging discussion of the many issues affecting the municipal market today. (17 minutes)

The agreement over middle-class tax relief could set the stage for passage of the fiscal 2022 budget.

Texas entered a new state of uncertainty when Gov. Greg Abbott cut off funds for the legislature while launching an online fundraising scheme for a controversial border wall.