Bentley, who was elected almost a year ago, said the state had been living on federal stimulus money and "false" budgets for three years before he took office in January.

The financial maneuvers complicate assessments of the state's economic picture. While Gov. Rick Perry's presidential campaign has repeatedly touted him as having six balanced budgets under his belt, others don't agree, especially when looking at the current two-year budget.

Comptroller Susan Combs illustrates the trickery that legislators and Gov. Rick Perry used to balance the budget, assessing fees under the guise that they will be used for a specific purpose - to help low-income residents pay electric bills, for instance - but then leave much of that money unspent to balance the state budget.

Although the state is progress in avoiding one-time funding sources for expenses that recur each year, it is still spending $282 million more than what legislators claim.

Connecticut relied on stimulus money, 'one-time measures' to avoid huge deficit.

Over three years, lawmakers swept most of the ROC's recovery fund money and put it into the general fund. They took $8.4 million and left just $28,000, a negative monthly cash flow, and for consumers an I.O.U. for some time in the future.

The Texas governor has used accounting sleights-of-hand that deferred payments and papered over enormous expenditures that will soon come due.

Minnesota's $700 million shift means millions more in borrowing for districts already on the edge.

As states and municipalities continue to grapple with the recession's fallout, few turned to big, noticeable tax hikes this year. Instead, they're slashing spending and turning to more modest, narrowly crafted increases in fees and fines - nickel-and-diming their way to a balanced budget.

Accord saddles state with more debt and fails to resolve profound split over taxes and spending.

A skirmish between lawmakers breaks out on the California Assembly floor as Democrats and Republicans debate a budget package of taxes, cuts and squishy accounting.

Gov. Mary Fallin and leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature held a joint press conference to announce the deal that will lead to cuts of about 4 percent for common education and 5 percent for the state's colleges and universities. Those cuts will hinge on a separate agreement on $21 million in supplemental funding from excess collections on the gross production tax on oil.

Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford said on Tuesday he would sign-off on a short-term borrowing plan to pay off the state's old bills, but Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka disagreed with the idea.

Republican lawmakers in the House are offering an alternative state budget proposal for the next two years that contains $4.7 billion in cuts, including the elimination of Washington's health program for the poor and most of a program aiding disabled adults.

Although the governor claimed his budget reduced spending, separate analyses show a different result after factoring in existing spending that would be transferred to new quasi-public authorities such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Gov. Rick Perry agreed to spend up to $3.2 billion from the rainy day fund to help address a deficit this fiscal year, ending a politically charged back-and-forth with Republican House leaders.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said the Legislature should keep its hands off the state's Rainy Day Fund, but he declined to say whether he'd veto any move to use the money.

The Legislature's chief budget writers said Monday that rainy-day money ought to be used to cover the state's current operating deficit, but Gov. Rick Perry quickly opposed the idea.

In the first public appearance by a Corbett administration cabinet member, Charles Zogby today blamed budget woes on gimmicks and manipulations executed by former Gov. Ed Rendell.

The film-production tax-credit program emerged as the linchpin in the budget standoff between Gov. Susana Martinez and legislative leaders that delayed the passage by the House of Representatives of a proposed $5.4 billion budget

The phrase “kick the can” has become so used in Minnesota budget discussion as to become a cliche. But it’s true.

It's that time of year again; one by one, states are passing their budgets for the next fiscal year. Shortfalls still loom for some while others have used a variety of tools to balance their books. Some states have taxed, others have cut, and still others have just gotten creative with their accounting.

Though nearly every state is in serious fiscal pain that will almost certainly adversely affect citizens, budget shortfalls are forcing states to rethink and redesign government for the better.

There is virtually no chance a California state budget will pass by the constitutional deadline and absolutely no chance that any substantial reforms will pass - the type of things that do more than kick the can down the road.  Where are the serious men and women? Where are the leaders? Sadly, you won't find many of them in the increasingly unserious state of California.