State budgets

COVID-19 stimulus and related infrastructure spending are causing state expenditures to reach a 35-year high, according to NASBO’s 2019-2021 State Expenditure Report.

The state has an estimated $31 billion budget surplus to work with as the governor preps this fall for his January budget reveal, the Legislative Analyst’s Office said.

State economies are generally stronger than anticipated in the first half of 2021.

Turnout was less than 14% during Saturday's voting where only one constitutional amendment out of four was approved.

Gov. Phil Murphy’s narrow re-election win and Senate President Steve Sweeney’s stunning loss to an unknown resonate well beyond the Garden State.

The state's fiscal 2022 update and five-year forecast offers a brighter near- and mid-term budget picture thanks to federal relief and strong revenues.

A study by the Reason Foundation attempts to solve the problem of paying both tolls and fuel taxes on the same highway and offers a blueprint for how states can allocate toll revenue.

If commuters continue to work from home more often than in the office, their normal spending patterns on things like coffee and lunch will shift and impact business districts, neighborhoods and ultimately tax revenues.

Wisconsin reported healthier-than-expected fiscal 2021 results that should benefit a new money deal planned for next month.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's finance team laid out plans to tap more than half of $9 billion of existing and proposed borrowing authority through 2022 to refinance debt for savings and fund infrastructure and pandemic recovery efforts.

Even with a balanced fiscal 2022 budget in place, Michigan still has billions in federal aid and additional state funds to spend at a later date.

With a record $3 billion going to education, Oklahoma is facing stricter accounting in the wake of charter school funding abuses.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott shifted more taxpayer money toward a border wall and called for redistricting state legislative and congressional districts in a third special session.

Fitch analysts discussed the relationship between the soveriegn rating and state and local credits.

Despite two COVID-19 waves and a crippling winter freeze, Texas general revenue was up 6.2% for the year that ended Aug. 31.

Illinois' tardy fiscal 2020 financial statements offer a view of COVID-19's early impact on the state's finances.

State lawmakers will have funds to work with as they has out details of the budget they enacted earlier this summer.

The drenching of several regions exposed vulnerabilities that vary by state, and recurring problems that could jeopardize municipal credit.

Production companies making films, TV series and commercials may offer North Carolina $409 million of revenue this year.

In his annual revenue speech, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam highlighted the state’s record reserves, budget surplus and optimistic economic outlook.