Budgets
Results per page: 50 | 100
Results by year: 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006
-
General Assistance Programs: Safety Net Weakening Despite Increased Need
Updated December 19, 2011
State General Assistance programs, which provide a safety net of last resort for those who are very poor and do not qualify for other public assistance, have weakened considerably in recent decades and are continuing to do so, despite the large increase in need resulting from the recession. This report discusses how General Assistance Programs … -
Slideshow: The State Budget Crisis and the Economy
Updated December 19, 2011
-
TANF Benefits Fell Further in 2011 and Are Worth Much Less Than in 1996 in Most States
November 21, 2011
Cash assistance benefits for the nation's poorest families with children fell again in purchasing power in 2011 and are now at least 20 percent below their 1996 levels in 34 states, after adjusting for inflation. While most states froze benefit levels in 2011, six states and the District of Columbia cut them, reducing … -
The Current Services Baseline: A Tool for Understanding Budget Choices
October 21, 2011
When governors and legislative bodies put forward state budget proposals, they almost always recommend changes in state policies, such as increases or reductions in the number of people eligible for state services, alterations in formulas used to fund schools and local governments, changes in staffing levels, and so on. To … -
New School Year Brings Steep Cuts in State Funding for Schools
Updated October 7, 2011
To view the updated paper see: New School Year Brings More Cuts in State Funding for Schools Elementary and high schools are receiving less state funding than last year in at least 37 states, and in at least 30 states school funding now stands below 2008 levels – often far below. These cuts are attributable, in part, to the failure of the federal … -
PAYGO: Improving State Budget Discipline While Retaining Flexibility
September 22, 2011
States can help policymakers and the public understand the consequences of budget decisions and properly weigh the long-term impact of alternative proposals by adopting important budget management tools that also promote fiscal responsibility. The cornerstone of these tools is "pay-as-you-go" (PAYGO), a requirement that the … -
State Budget Cuts in the New Fiscal Year Are Unnecessarily Harmful
Updated July 28, 2011
The cumulative effect of four consecutive years of lagging revenues has led to budget-cutting of historic proportions. An analysis of newly enacted state budgets shows that budget cuts will hit education, health care, and other state-funded services harder in the 2012 fiscal year – which started July 1, 2011 – than … -
Better-Than-Expected State Tax Collections Highlight Importance of Income Taxes
July 11, 2011
State revenues—especially income tax collections—are beginning to recover from the worst recession since the 1930s, but they still have a long way to go. At least 28 states have reported that tax collections for the just-ended fiscal year will exceed the amount expected when their budgets were adopted last spring. … -
New Fiscal Year Brings Further Budget Cuts to Most States, Slowing Economic Recovery
June 28, 2011
States have enacted deep cuts in education, health care, and other important public services in their budgets for fiscal year 2012 (which begins July 1 in most states). It is the fourth year in a row of budget-cutting for states, and the 2012 cuts are deeper than in past years. Of the 32 states that have enacted budgets, as … -
Camp-Hatch Proposal Would Harm Long-Term Unemployed and Weaken Recovery
June 13, 2011
Legislation from House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch would rescind the federal government’s commitment to provide unemployment insurance (UI) benefits through 2011 to Americans who have been out of work for more than half a year and are still looking for a job. Their bill … -
Promoting State Budget Accountability Through Tax Expenditure Reporting
Updated May 24, 2011
Each year states spend tens, maybe hundreds, of billions of dollars through “tax expenditures.” Tax expenditures are tax credits, deductions, and exemptions that reduce state revenue. They can include everything from poverty-reducing tax credits, to middle-class benefits, to corporate subsidies. Tax expenditures … -
A Common-Sense Strategy for Fixing State Pension Problems in Tough Economic Times
May 12, 2011
Restoring underfunded state and local workers’ pension programs to full fiscal health is a long-term goal for state policymakers that should be accomplished with moderate, common-sense steps, rather than drastic measures that could imperil states’ economic recoveries. Today’s pension shortfalls were caused in substantial … -
Testimony: Iris Lav on the Transparency and Funding of State and Local Pensions
May 5, 2011
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Lewis, and members of the committee, I appreciate the invitation to appear before you today. I would like to make six related points in my testimony: Most state and local employees receive modest pension benefits, for which both they and their employers contribute annually during their working years. … -
Podcast: Governors' Budgets Proposals: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
April 5, 2011
Erica Williams, Policy Analyst with the Center’s State Fiscal Project discusses how proposed budgets put forth by many governors would greatly harm their states residents.
Duration: 3:17
-
Governors are Proposing Further Deep Cuts in Services, Likely Harming Their Economies
Updated March 21, 2011
All of the 48 states releasing initial budget proposals for fiscal year 2012 (which begins July 1 in most states) have done so, and for the fourth year in a row, these budgets propose deep cuts in education, health care, and other important public services — in many cases, deeper than previous cuts. [1] These cuts will delay the … -
Podcast: Basic Facts About State and Local Workers
March 17, 2011
Liz McNichol, Senior Fellow with the Center’s State Fiscal Project discusses the facts about state and local workers: who they are, what they do, and how their pay compares to their private sector counterparts.
Duration: 3:37
-
Proposed Public Employee Pension Reporting Requirements Are Unnecessary
March 15, 2011
In February, Congressmen Devin Nunes and Darrell Issa (both California Republicans) and Paul Ryan (R-Wis) introduced legislation (H.R. 567) to require states and local governments to report their pension liabilities to the federal government using what is known as a “riskless rate” — an interest rate tied to … -
Podcast: Tax Cuts Worsening Wisconsin’s Budget Problems
March 1, 2011
Nick Johnson, Vice President for State Fiscal Policy discusses the budget situation in Wisconsin.
Duration: 4:18
-
A Balanced Approach to Closing State Deficits
Updated February 25, 2011
As states head into their fourth year of fiscal crisis, most continue to face severe revenue shortfalls that require closing huge deficits. [1] As they prepare and consider budgets for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2011 in most states, the choices they make about how to close those deficits have serious … -
Press Release: State Unemployment Insurance Systems Need Major Reforms to Avoid Employer Tax Increases, Deep Benefit Cuts for Jobless Workers
February 9, 2011
Issued Jointly With Many states’ systems for financing unemployment insurance (UI) are broken and, without major reforms, will remain broken, requiring years of high federal taxes on employers and threatening UI’s role as a key economic stabilizer during recessions, according to a major new report … -
Testimony: Iris Lav, Senior Advisor, Before the House Oversight Committee Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs
February 9, 2011
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Quigley, and members of the committee, I appreciate the invitation to appear before you today. A spate of recent articles regarding the fiscal situation of states and localities have lumped together their current fiscal problems, stemming largely from the recession, with longer-term issues relating to debt, … -
An Update on State Budget Cuts
Updated February 9, 2011
See the following reports for more up-to-date data: State Budget Cuts in the New Fiscal Year Are Unnecessarily Harmful, July 28, 2011 New School Year Brings Steep Cuts in State Funding for Schools, October 7, 2011 With tax revenue still declining as a result of the recession and budget reserves largely drained, the vast majority of states have … -
Podcast: Troubling Trends in Governors’ Budget Proposals
February 8, 2011
Erica Williams, policy analyst with the Center’s State Fiscal Project, discusses troubling trends in governors’ new budget proposals.
Duration: 4:16
-
Rebuilding the Unemployment Insurance System: A Deficit-Neutral Plan That Limits Tax Increases and Maintains Benefits
February 8, 2011
Issued Jointly With The systems for financing unemployment insurance (UI) in many states are broken and, without major reforms, they will remain broken through this decade and beyond, requiring years of high federal taxes on employers and threatening the system’s role as a key economic stabilizer during … -
Why and How States Should Strengthen Their Rainy Day Funds
February 3, 2011
The roller-coaster economy of the last decade has highlighted the importance of state “rainy day funds” — budget reserves designed to respond to unexpected revenue declines or spending increases caused by recessions or other events. Between 2001 and 2004 and again starting in 2007, states … -
Podcast: Misunderstandings About State Debt and Pensions Create Unnecessary Alarm
January 25, 2011
Senior advisor Iris Lav discusses misconceptions concerning bond debt, pensions and other challenges facing states.
Duration: 4:42
-
Media Briefing: Misunderstandings Regarding State Debt, Pensions, and Retiree Health Costs Create Unnecessary Alarm
January 20, 2011
Iris Lav discusses misconceptions about state and local bond debt, pension obligations, and retiree health costs that have lead to misguided calls for drastic, immediate measures that are not necessary and could prove harmful.
Duration: 14:49
-
Misunderstandings Regarding State Debt, Pensions, and Retiree Health Costs Create Unnecessary Alarm
January 20, 2011
A spate of recent articles regarding the fiscal situation of states and localities have lumped together their current fiscal problems, stemming largely from the recession, with longer-term issues relating to debt, pension obligations, and retiree health costs, to create the mistaken impression that drastic and immediate measures are needed to avoid an imminent fiscal …
