State budgets

Texas closed out a record year of sales tax collections with a strong kick in December, state Comptroller Glenn Hegar said.

Analysts expect Tuesday's $325 million competitive pricing will garner strong demand from investors seeking higher yields.

Deborah Goldberg succeeds Utah State Treasurer David Damschen as president of the National Association of State Treasurers.

The authority approaches next week’s planned $2.5 billion of issuance buoyed by clearance of its five year, $51.5 billion capital program.

The state's budget and rating momentum may hinge on economic growth, which has not presented a pretty picture.

State government issuers are expected to sell $4.68 billion of new money bonds in fiscal 2020, a 6.5% increase, according to the Texas Bond Review Board.

Funding for resilience is a challenge for municipal issuers, including many in a budget squeeze.

The better than expected forecast has added fuel to the debate between Republicans and Democrats over how to use the extra money.

Opponents to the under-the-radar provision say its harshness could impede the execution of the MTA's new capital program by deterring contractors.

State Treasurer John Schroder said he will go to court to stop Louisiana’s state government from spending the money.

The agreement includes a $125 million increase in Community Development Block Grants and a $245.5 million increase in grants to state and local law enforcement.

A new survey by the National Association of State Budget Officers reports these reserves had a median balance of 7.6% of a state’s general fund in fiscal 2019, compared with 4.7% in fiscal 2007 before the onset of Great Recession in December of that year.

Observers say the deal with the Transport Workers Union could strain the authority's operating and capital budgets.

Democrat Gretchen Whitmer will sign a supplemental bill restoring more than half of the funding she vetoed in a policy dispute with the GOP-led legislature.

John Hicks has left his position as executive director of NASBO to become Kentucky's budget director.

Fitch Ratings raised Hawaii to AA-plus from AA.

New York State lawmakers may raise taxes to combat a looming $6.1 billion budget deficit.

Gov. Tim Walz wants to use some of the extra funds for a bonding bill to fund infrastructure investments in the state.

State funding hasn't kept pace with expenses, and will continue to be constrained by other fiscal priorities.

A stagnant energy economy has different effects in two neighboring states that are among the nation's top oil and gas-producers.