Aero-base budgeting appeals to a serious and widespread desire to look at public budgeting in a fresh new way, free of old assumptions, not letting past experiences control the future. The zero-base budgeting bill in 2011 show, in various ways, a greater desire for information on how state agencies operate and how their work can be evaluated, and reflect lawmakers’ concerns that their budget enactments be well-informed.

In a way, the very idea of state budget reform presumes some basic level of government transparency. Many simply take for granted the premise that access exists to information like budget documents and state expenditures. Yet the amount of information related to the spending of tax dollars provided by each of the state governments varies wildly.

Overall, Gov. Butch Otter is projecting $2.7 billion in revenue for 2013, an increase of 5.8 percent from 2012. The governor's office expects fiscal year 2012 to yield $2.55 billion in revenue. If the 2012 revenues hit that target, the state would end up with an overage of about $103 million, which Otter already has plans for in the 2013 budget.

Debate over whether Idaho state judges should keep retirement benefits that are about twice as generous as those of other state workers has kept legislators and court officials at the negotiating table since January. 

Current projections peg a state surplus at about $130 million when fiscal year 2012 ends in June.

A 24-state survey by the Environmental Council of States, the national association of state environmental agency leaders, showed agency budgets decreasing by an average of $12 million in 2011.

New reports indicate that both Alabama and New York have seen revenue drops in recent years, while Hawaii reports a jump and Idaho reports holding steady.

No further cuts likely necessary; reserves may be replenished.

Idaho's General Fund receipts for August were 4.4 percent below the projected $199 million.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is promising more of the same from his administration: tight budgeting that may underestimate state revenues, forcing budget cuts that later prove unnecessary, to avoid mid-year holdbacks.

Overall, Gov. Butch Otter is projecting $2.7 billion in revenue for 2013, an increase of 5.8 percent from 2012. The governor's office expects fiscal year 2012 to yield $2.55 billion in revenue. If the 2012 revenues hit that target, the state would end up with an overage of about $103 million, which Otter already has plans for in the 2013 budget.

Idaho public schools are expected to receive about $51 million to protect teaching positions as part of a job-saving measure signed into law by President Barack Obama on Tuesday. Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said the education money is expected to be distributed to states within 45 days and that it appears school districts will have up to 27 months to spend their portion.

Idaho public schools appear poised to receive about $51 million in federal funding to help offset painful cuts made while dealing with state budget shortfalls. The funding for Idaho is part of a $26 billion spending bill that the U.S. House of Representatives approved 247-161. The other $16 billion in the bill will extend by another six months the increased level of federal Medicaid funding that states began receiving through the 2009 federal stimulus act.

Public schools chief Tom Luna told lawmakers Thursday he wants to siphon more than $52 million from state endowment fund reserves to soften a financial blow to Idaho's K-12 education budget next year.

Aero-base budgeting appeals to a serious and widespread desire to look at public budgeting in a fresh new way, free of old assumptions, not letting past experiences control the future. The zero-base budgeting bill in 2011 show, in various ways, a greater desire for information on how state agencies operate and how their work can be evaluated, and reflect lawmakers’ concerns that their budget enactments be well-informed.

Debate over whether Idaho state judges should keep retirement benefits that are about twice as generous as those of other state workers has kept legislators and court officials at the negotiating table since January. 

Cities tap homeowners for revenue as workers' retirement, health costs rise.

This all boils down to who gets to pick taxpayers' pockets first, public pensioners or municipal bond investors? More people are waking up to the hard reality that when it comes to state and local government, somebody has to lose money over the next few decades. The National Association of Bond Lawyers is worried enough about it to issue "Considerations" for advising clients who think they're getting safe investments.

Despite an organized campaign to stop public pension reform, reality is beginning to break through.  One recent report outlines a possible path to long-term solutions and another details the necessity of states and municipalities finding their own way because federal bailout is impossible.  And Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel released a plan that could have been based on both reports.

Hey, young public employees, what are you going to do when your pension checks bounce after you paid in for decades? That is what will happen in many - maybe all - states and municipalities sooner or later if they do not reform right now. If you want to see the future, just look at Illinois. One citizen there did, and came up with a real reform plan that might work.

Public employees should take their pension money now and run to avoid risk of getting reduced benefits - or nothing - in the future. It's the best deal for them and for taxpayers. A growing chorus of credible voices including the Government Accountability Office, a Federal Reserve bank and now the Harvard Kennedy School Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government confirm state and local government finances are "spiraling out of control" and even draconian reforms only make it "more likely" that future benefits will paid in full.

Hey, young public employees, what are you going to do when your pension checks bounce after you paid in for decades? That is what will happen in many - maybe all - states and municipalities sooner or later if they do not reform right now. If you want to see the future, just look at Illinois. One citizen there did, and came up with a real reform plan that might work.

This is what it sounds like when the Federal Reserve Bank screams: "Much has been written about the various headwinds restraining economic activity over the near term. However, our economy also has other headwinds to confront over the medium- to-longer-term. ... the finances of some state and local governments are also under stress and in need of serious adjustments."  - Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Sandra Pianalto

The recession continues to haunt state legislators as they attempt to balance growing demands for state services with stagnant revenues.