The Center analyzes state budget issues including multi-state trends, the adequacy and equity of tax policies, structural budget issues, and budget transparency. Click here to view the Center's State Fiscal Policy Reports by Category

Facing Deficits, Many States Are Imposing Cuts That Hurt Vulnerable Residents
Updated 11/12/08
Nicholas Johnson, Elizabeth Hudgins and Jeremy Koulish
HTML, PDF, 11pp.

State Budget Problems Worsen
Updated 11/12/08
Elizabeth McNichol and Iris Lav
HTML, PDF, 8pp.

State Revenues Plummet: July-September Revenue Numbers Are Worst in Years
Updated 11/12/08
Nicholas Johnson and Andrew Nicholas
HTML, PDF, 5pp.

Budget Cuts or Tax Increases at the State Level: Which is Preferable During an Economic Downturn?
Updated 11/6/08
Nicholas Johnson
HTML, PDF, 3pp.

Many States Tax Working-Poor Families Deeper into Poverty
10/29/08
Jason Levitis and Andrew Nicholas
Full Report: HTML, PDF, 25pp.
Press Release: HTML, PDF, 2pp.

Testimony: Iris Lav on “Economic Recovery: Options and Challenges”
10/20/08
HTML, PDF, 10pp.

States Face Two Immediate Financial Issues: Short-Term Borrowing and Big Budget Deficits
Updated 10/10/08
Nicholas Johnson
HTML, PDF, 2pp.

State Earned Income Tax Credits: 2008 Legislative Update
Updated 10/8/08
Jason Levitis and Jeremy Koulish
HTML, PDF, 7pp.

Key Components of House and Senate Economic Recovery Packages Would Boost the Economy and Provided Needed Relief to Struggling Families
9/26/08
Sharon Parrott, Chad Stone, Edwin Park, and Dottie Rosenbaum
HTML, PDF, 12pp.

House Stimulus Plan Effectively Targets Relief to States
9/26/08
Iris J. Lav, Jason Levitis, Edwin Park
HTML, PDF, 10pp.

North Dakota's Measure 2 Is Imbalanced and Would Harm Efforts to Secure State's Economic Future
9/18/08
Nicholas Johnson and Elizabeth Hudgins
HTML, PDF, 10pp.
Press Release: HTML, PDF, 2pp.

Caution: The Tax Foundation’s State and Local Tax Rankings Are Unreliable
Revised 8/13/08
Nicholas Johnson
HTML, PDF, 4pp.

29 States Face Total Budget Shortfall of At Least $48 Billion in 2009
Updated 8/5/08
Elizabeth C. McNichol and Iris J. Lav
HTML, PDF, 6pp.

States Can Opt Out of the Costly and Ineffective “Domestic Production Deduction” Corporate Tax Break
7/29/08
Jason Levitis, Nicholas Johnson, and Katherine Lira
HTML, PDF, 18pp.

Economic Data Can Be Used To Target State Fiscal Relief Effectively
Updated 7/9/08
Iris J. Lav, Jason Levitis, and Elizabeth McNichol
HTML, PDF, 12pp.

Proponents' Case for a Federally-Imposed Business Activity Tax Nexus Threshold Has Little Merit
6/26/08
Michael Mazerov
HTML, PDF, 14pp.

Proposed "Business Activity Tax Nexus" Legislation Would Seriously Undermine State Taxes on Corporate Profits and Harm the Economy
6/24/08
Michael Mazerov
Summary: HTML, PDF, 2pp.
Full Report: PDF, 13pp.
Appendix: PDF, 11pp.

Property Tax Limitation in the Senate Housing Bill Is Unnecessary, Impractical, and Likely To Cause Harm
6/23/08
Iris J. Lav and Nicholas Johnson
HTML, PDF, 5pp.

Suozzi’s Statement Ignores Truth About Massachusetts’ Property Tax Cap
5/28/08
Iris J. Lav
HTML, PDF, 6pp

Hidden Consequences: Lessons From Massachusetts for States Considering a Property Tax Cap
5/21/08
Phil Oliff and Iris J. Lav
HTML, PDF, 17pp
Press Release: HTML, PDF, 2pp.

Eliminating Louisiana's Income Tax Will Harm the State's Budget Outlook, Competitiveness
Revised 5/12/08
Jason Levitis, Elizabeth C. McNichol and Iris J. Lav
HTML, PDF, 4pp.

Fixing TABOR’s "Ratchet" Will Not Repair TABOR: Deterioration in Colorado Largely Attributable to Formula
4/10/08
Iris J. Lav
HTML, PDF, 4pp.

Pulling Apart: A State-by-State Analysis of Income Trends
Jared Bernstein, Elizabeth McNichol, Andrew Nicholas
4/9/08
Full Report: PDF, 74pp.
National Press Release: HTM, PDF, 5pp.
Mississippi Press Release: HTM, PDF, 2pp.
State Fact Sheets
State Data Tables

CBPP Statement: Statement by Iris Lav, Deputy Director, on Provision in Bipartisan Senate Housing Package Affecting Local Property Taxes
4/3/08
HTML, PDF, 1pp.

Almost All Large Iowa Manufacturers Are Already Subject to “Combined Reporting” in Other States; Fears of Job Flight from Reducing Corporate Tax Avoidance Are Unwarranted
4/3/08
Michael Mazerov and Katherine Lira
Full Report: HTML, PDF, 9pp.
Press Release: HTML, PDF, 1pp.

A Response to Americans for Prosperity’s Misleading Claims about Florida’s TABOR (CP 45)
3/25/08
Iris J. Lav
HTML, PDF, 3pp.

The Tax Commission’s TABOR: A Path to Deterioration in Florida
3/21/08
Iris J. Lav
HTML, PDF, 10pp.
Press Release: HTML, PDF, 1pp.

Facing Deficits, Many States are Imposing Cuts That Hurt Vulnerable Residents
3/13/08
Iris J. Lav and Elizabeth Hudgins
HTML, PDF, 6pp.

Four Helpful Hints for States Dealing With Deficits
3/12/08
HTML, PDF, 3pp.

Accounting For the Cost of Retiree Health and Other Benefits (GASB 45)
3/11/08
Elizabeth C. McNichol
HTML, PDF, 13pp.

How Much Would a State Earned Income Tax Credit Cost In 2009?
3/5/08
Jeremy Koulish and Jason Levitis
HTML, PDF, 5pp.

Fiscal Stimulus at the State Level?
2/29/08
Nicholas Johnson
HTML, PDF, 5pp.

Idaho Is the Only State to Exclude Low-Income Families from Its Grocery Tax Credit
2/28/08
Phil Oliff and Nicholas Johnson
Full Report: HTML, PDF, 3pp.
Press Release: HTML, PDF, 1pp.

New Federal Law Could Worsen State Budget Problems: States Can Protect Revenues by "Decoupling"
Revised 2/28/08
Nicholas Johnson
HTML, PDF, 6pp.

Using Income Taxes To Address State Budget Shortfalls
2/21/08
Elizabeth C. McNichol and Andrew Nicholas
HTML, PDF, 11pp.

Is It Raining Yet? Yes, And It’s Time for Many States To Use Their Rainy Day Funds
2/21/08
Elizabeth C. McNichol
HTML, PDF, 7pp.

Now Would Be a Good Time for States Still Granting Net Operating Loss "Carryback" Deductions To Eliminate Them
2/21/08
Michael Mazerov
HTML, PDF, 8pp.

State Low-Income Tax Relief in the Absence of an Income Tax
2/14/08
Iris J. Lav And Phillip Oliff
HTML, PDF, 6pp.

Federal Grants To States and Localities Cut Deeply in Fiscal Year 2009 Federal Budget
Iris J. Lav And Phillip Oliff
2/4/08
HTML, PDF, 6pp.