From California to Florida, in nearly every state, the economic recovery has produced a surge in tax revenue.

gives more than $1 billion to taxpayers over four years through a mixture of corporate, income, inheritance and financial institutions tax cuts. The spending plan includes increased funding for roads, education and child services.

Gov. Paul LePage reacted to a widespread revolt over elements of his biennial budget proposal that will eliminate funding for towns and cities by challenging local officials to come up with alternatives.

Lawmakers approved the measure with a 25-22 vote, moving to create a 401(k)-style system that workers can use.

With more money to spend, lawmakers are haggling over funding increases, pay raises and local projects supported by individual lawmakers that are now possible in a $74 billion budget.

The Massachusetts House has passed and sent to the Senate a $34 billion state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Leaders in the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate said that they won't consider Gov. John Kasich's proposed expansion of Medicaid as part of the state budget. Instead, senators will study Medicaid reforms separately.

From a repeal of residency rules for local police to softening regulation of rent-to-own stores in Wisconsin, key GOP lawmakers for now are keeping dozens of items in the state budget that don't belong there, according to their nonpartisan budget office.

In the end, Republicans at the Indiana General Assembly decided a tax cut was sustainable. They just didn't endorse the 10 percent cut to individual income taxes championed by Gov. Mike Pence.

State officials have a deep bag of tricks to "solve" budget gaps. In reality, these gimmicks result in state budget that appear at first glance to be balanced, but looking past the smoke and mirrors reveals that they are very unbalanced. This month's updates come from California, Minnesota, New Hampshire and New York.