STATE BUDGETS

State Budget Update May 16, 2012

May 16, 2012

Updates this week:

State Budget Deficit Updates:

States' Running Deficits:

California: $16 billion budget deficit. Sacbee.com, May 13, 2012. 

Colorado: $500 million shortfall. Chronicle, September 20, 2011.

Connecticut: $97.5 million shortfall. Theday.com. March 2, 2012. 

Illinois: $8 billion. Chicago Tribune, September 26, 2011.

Louisiana: $251 million deficit in current budget. Bayoubuxx.com. December 17, 2011.

Maryland: $1 billion shortfall for fiscal year 2012-13. Baltimoresun.com. January 3, 2012

Massachusetts: Senate Chair of Ways & Means Committee predicts a $1 billion deficit for the next fiscal year.Masslive.com. December 12, 2011.

Michigan: $1.2 billion surplus in FY 2011. Detroitnews.com. January 12, 2012. 

Minnesota: $323 million surplus. Minnesotapublicradio.com. February 29, 2012. 

Mississippi: $1 billion shortfall for fiscal year 2012-13.  Clarionledger.com. January 3, 2012. 

Missouri: $750 million deficit projected for fiscal year 2012. Missourinet.com. December 16, 2011.

Montana: State budget surplus expected to reach $426 million. Missoulian.com. February 18, 2012.  

New York: $350 million deficit this year (fiscal 2012) and  $3.5 billion deficit in fiscal 2013.BusinessWeek. November 18, 2011.

Pennsylvania: $500 million shortfall projected for the current year. Post-gazette.com. December 20, 2011.

Rhode Island: $120 million budget shortfall. Boston.com. January 4, 2012.

Vermont: $46 million budget shortfall. VTdigger.org. January 4, 2012.

Virginia: Senate budget committee estimates up to a $1 billion shortfall for FY 2012-14 while the House Appropriations Committee estimates a $1.5 billion shortfall. Washington Post. December 15, 2011.

Washington: $500 million. Seattletimes.com. February 17, 2012. 

Wyoming: $437 million surplus forecasted as of June 30, 2012. Powell Tribune, September 27, 2011.

Information by State:

Alabama

  • Medicaid gaps cause budget scrambling in Alabama. Statebudgetsolutions.org. May 9, 2012. 
  • Senate committee approves budget that contains school cuts. Montgomeryadvertiser.com. April 18, 2012.  
  • House passes budget that will cut the general fund by $345 million. AL.com. April 10, 2012.
  • Legislators will likely need to find a way to cut $400 million from the state's general fund, as federal stimulus money and other one-time revenue sources are running out. Dothaneagle.com. February 5, 2012.
  • A $1.8 billon General Fund budget approved by the Alabama Senate will require most agencies, except prisons and Medicaid, to get by on less money and will wipe out funding for many museums and tourist attractions. The budget provides no raises for state workers and is based on them paying more for retirement and health insurance. Forbes.com. April 8, 2011. 

Alaska

House approves $9.5 billion budget. Alaskapublic.org. March 15, 2012. 

Arizona

  • Legislature approves $8.6 billion budget, an increase of 0.5% ($46 million) over the current budget. Phoenixbusinessjournal.com. May 2, 2012.
  • Legislature passes $8.6 billion budget. Astarnet.com. May 2, 2012.
  • House Republican leaders released budget; Governor says it is dead on arrival. Insidetucsonbusiness.com. February 23, 2012. 
  • Governor Brewer proposes that the state buy back state buildings sold when money was tight. Foxnews.com. January 14, 2012.

Arkansas

  • Medicaid shortfall could hit $400 million in 2013. CBSnews.com. February 23, 2012. 
  • The Arkansas House gave final approval Friday to a $4.6 billion budget for the coming year that increases spending for public schools and prisons but keeps state workers' salaries flat. On a 74-13 vote, the House gave final approval to the Revenue Stabilization Act, which sets spending priorities for the coming year based on expected revenues. Arkansas online. April 2, 2011. 

California

  • Optimistic projections lead to dramatic surge in budget deficit. Sacbee.com. May 15, 2012. 
  • Governor Brown proposes $8.3 billion in cuts. NYTimes.com. May 14, 2012. 
  • Brown says tax hikes are necessary to balance budget. Recordnet.com. May 14, 2012. 
  • Budget deficit rises to $16 billion. Sacbee.com. May 10, 2012. 
  • Governor Brown tells unions their payroll costs need to come down. Sacbee.com. May 10, 2012.
  • Budget deficit grows as income tax receipts prove underwhelming. SanFrancisco.cbslocal.com. May 8, 2012 
  • Analyst predicts budget gap "a few billion dollars" worse. Sacbee.com. April 25, 2012.  
  • Governor Brown warns of more cuts to state budget. Sanfranciscochronicle.com. April 24, 2012.  
  • Governor says budget deficit will probably top $10 billion. LATimes.com. April 10, 2012.
  • Governor Brown urges lawmakers to ‘man up' on state budget cuts.Timesheraldonline.com. April 14, 2012.
  • Worse than the pension crisis: California's $62 billion retiree health care problem. NBCbayarea.com. March 8, 2012. 
  • State revenues still below projections. The state ended the last fiscal year with a cash deficit of $8.2 billion. The combined current year cash deficit stands at $21.6 billion. Those deficits are being covered with $15.2 billion funded by internal borrowing schemes (temporary loans from special funds) and $6.4 billion of external borrowing. OC-breeze.com. March 12, 2012.  
  • Appearing on Bloomberg last week, Treasurer Lockyer stated that the sale of $1 billion in state revenue anticipation notes to Barcklay's and JP Morgan was to avoid continuing the seven-week cash-flow problems. Controller Chiang has been warning of the problem, largely due to decreased revenue, and plans to issue about $2 billion in general obligation debt. Capoliticalnews.com. February 29, 2012. 
  • S&P raises state's credit rating from "stable" to "positive." WSJ.com. February 14, 2012. 

Colorado

  • House and Senate pass different versions of budget bill. Denverpost.com. April 20, 2012.  
  • House okays $10 billion budget on rare 64-1 vote. Denverpost.com. April 12, 2012.
  • State budget sparing school heads is up for debate in House. Aurorasentinel.com. April 2, 2012. 
  • Denver court decision in education says Colorado is underfunding schools by billions.  Denverpost.com. December 9, 2011.
  • Colorado lawmakers will likely have to cut another $400 million to $500 million next year as the state continues trying to dig out of the economic downturn, the governor's economic team said on September 20. Chron.com. September 20, 2011.
  • Governor Hickenlooper signed the budget compromise bill on May 6 to help cover a $1 billion state budget shortfall. Colorado.gov. May 6, 2011. 

Connecticut

  • Senate approves $20.5 billion budget, but does not implement generally accepted accounting principles. House approved budget early Tuesday; now heads to the Governor. Courantblogs.com. May 8, 2012.  New budget adds $143 million to original budget and leaves a reserve of $86.4 million. Gimmicksinclude diverting $220 million in debt service payments and borrowing $30 million to cover the entire cost of next year's Town Aid Road program. Governor is also delaying the issuance of bonds for transportation project, in turn allowing $24 million slated for finance costs to help prop up non-transportation programs in the General Fund. Ctmirror.org. May 7, 2012.  
  • Governor Daniel Malloy's plans to divert long-term debt payments to close swelling budget deficit.CTmirror.com. May 1, 2012. Deficit is now $275 million. WTNH.com. May 1, 2012.
  • State budget deficit has grown by about $80 million, totaling nearly $142 million. Therepublic.com. April 20, 2012.  
  • State budget deficit is growing, now $97.5 million. Theday.com. March 2, 2012. 
  • Governor Malloy budget is drawing fire for using gimmicks. A $700 million bond sale was used to fix roads and build schools, but also provided a $65 million payment to balance the budget, with high interest. WSJ.com. February 21, 2012.
  • In two months, CT went from a $101 million surplus to a $144.5 million deficit due to excessive spending and less than project revenue. Courant.com. January 25, 2012. 
  • Governor Malloy plans to use budget-cutting authority to trim programs across state government and impose new restrictions on hiring to help cover a projected $73.6M deficit in 2012 budget. Courant.com. January 24, 2012.
  • Moody's downgrades state bonds citing the state's high debt, racked up by substantial borrowing and depletion of the rainy day fund, used to cover deficits resulting from the recession that limited the state's tax collections. Courant.com. January 20, 2012.
  • Twenty-two State Troopers are expected to lose their jobs. Governor Malloy announced $135 million budget cuts to help balance the two-year budget. Blogs.courant.com. September 6, 2011.
  • Unions overwhelmingly ratify concession package to balance state budget. Registercitizen.com. August 18, 2011.

Delaware

  • Gov. Jack Markells' $3.45 billion operating budget proposal includes additional spending for Medicaid and schools, but no tax or fee increases. The budget represents a 1% increase over this year's operating budget. CBSnews.com, January 27, 2012. 

Florida

Georgia

  • The General Assembly gave final approval to spending plan that borrows $130 million for new college projects in Atlanta and puts big money into economic development efforts. The budget-that increases state spending by about $800 million next year-now goes to Governor Nathan Deal for his signature. AJC.com. March 27, 2012. 
  • House passes $1.92 billion budget. Wsbt.com. March 7, 2012.
  • Governor Deal proposes to implement zero-based budgeting for 10% of programs in 2012. Govgeorgia.gov. January 10, 2012.

Hawaii

  • Legislature agrees on $11.2 billion budget. Kitv.com. April 28, 2012.
  • Senate Ways and Means Committee approves budget. Staradvertiser.com. April 2, 2012. 
  • State plans to tighten spending rather than increase taxes to cover a predicted $19.3 million state budget deficit in 2013. Therepublic.com. January 9, 2012.
  • Moody's downgrades Hawaii's General Obligation Bond Rating. Hawaii Reporter. May 17, 2011.

Idaho

  • Governor calls for $45 million in tax cuts. Spokesman.com. January 10, 2012.
  • Governor raises the budget by over 5 percent. Idahomountainexpress.com. January 10, 2012. 
  • The Joint Finance Appropriation Committee adopted the ending balance projected to be $39.4 million ($10.6 million lower than the Governor's recommended ending balance). The 2011 session included new legislation that provides for transfers from dedicated accounts to the General Fund to help balance FY 2012. The Legislature provided for an overall 2.2 % omnibus General Fund reduction for all agencies and departments. The 2011 Idaho Legislature.

Illinois

  • Backlog grows as state treads water; payment delays expected to persist. Ioc.state.il.us. April 5, 2012.
  • Illinois Policy Institute presents alternative budget that would cut wages for state employees by 10 percent, require retired workers to pay for their own health care premiums, and force local school districts, instead of the state, to fund teacher pensions. CBSlocal.com. March 8, 2012. 
  • House undercuts Governor's budget by approving revenue forecast $200 million below the Governor's. Chicagotribune.com. March 1, 2012. 
  • Governor Quinn to cut budget back to 2008 levels, requiring each state departments to make 9 percent cuts. However, the education budget it larger than last year. SJ-R.com. February 20, 2012. 
  • Governor wants $2 billion in Medicaid cuts. ChicagoSunTimes.com. February 7, 2012. Governor also calls for more spending; legislators wonder where he plans to get the money. Chicagotribune.com. February 2, 2012.
  • IL facing financial disaster under pile of unpaid bills that could reach $35 billion in five years if state fails to reign in pension and other costs, according to the Civic Foundation. Chicagotribune.com. January 30, 2012. 
  • In FY 2012, Medicaid and pension spending is equivalent to 60 percent of the state's base operating budget; by 2017, it increases to 73 percent. Chicagomag.com. January 30, 2012. 

Indiana

  • State officials find $300 million in revenue. TheRepublic.com. April 30, 2011.

Iowa

  • House Speaker says legislative session could end today. Another big item still undone is the state budget bill for health and human services. The $1.6 billion package has been held up over abortion restrictions favored by Republican House but opposed by Democratic Senate. Desmoinesregister.com. May 8, 2012. House passes property tax reform bill. Washingtonpost.com. May 8, 2012.  
  • Governor and top legislators must agree on key details of the budget this week. KCRG.com. April 2, 2012. 
  • State auditor says Governor's budget doesn't cover pay increases for state employees or close the $5.7 billion pension shortfall. CBSnews.com. February 6, 2012. 
  • Governor proposes budget that increases spending 3.8 percent. Iowapolitics.com. January 10, 2012.
  • The Iowa Legislature beat a midnight deadline with hours to spare on Thursday, finishing work on a $5.99 billion state budget and resolving a dispute over taxpayer money that could be used to pay for some Medicaid abortions. DesMoinesRegister.com. June 30, 2011.

Kansas

Kentucky

  • Budget balanced by delaying state workers' paychecks for three days, resulting in $72 million tab for next fiscal year. Courier-journal.com. May 5, 2012.
  • Governor vetoes parts of state budget. Kentucky.com. April 11, 2012.
  • House and Senate reach deal on state budget. Courierjournal.com. March 29, 2012. 
  • Negotiators scramble for a deal on the state budget. Kentucky.com. March 27, 2012. 
  • House passes budget that imposes cuts. Lex18.com. March 7, 2012. 
  • State budget cuts will mean higher tuition and fewer scholarships. Kentucky.com. February 2, 2012. 

Louisiana

  • Revenue forecast declines by $210.5 million. Nola.com. April 24, 2012.  
  • Governor Jindal orders spending freeze. Lsla.com. March 23, 2012. 
  • Senators question the Governor's budget, specifically the $120 million to come from increasing some state employees' contributions to pensions. The pension overhaul would require an 11 percent (up from 8 percent) contribution to the retirement system. The LFO stated the budget also assumes another $28.9 million in "savings" from additional contributions made by correctional officers and DWF officers, though both groups are excluded from the pension overhaul. NOLA.com. March 13, 2012. 
  • Privatizing state prisons will help Louisiana's $900 million deficit. NBC33tv.com. March 13, 2012. 
  • Governor Jindal plans to close a $900 million shortfall by cutting nearly 6,400 state jobs, overhauling the state pension system, and privatizing some prisons and health centers. Nola.com. February 9, 2012. 
  • The $895M shortfall projected in 2012 isn't a surprise: At least 40% of the gap is tied to the use of one-time money used for state Medicaid that propped up parts of the current budget and will expire before the start of the fiscal year in July. CBSnews.com. January 24, 2012.

Maine 

Maryland

  • Senate approves budget retroactively increasing income tax on high-earners and raising some tobacco taxes. Gazette.net. May 15, 2012.  
  • Special session to start May 14 to complete work on budget that left the state with $512 million in cuts. Lawmakers failed to pass income tax package in the final hours of the annual 90-day session, triggering cuts largely at the expense of education and public services. Washingtonpost.com. May 4, 2012.
  • Leaders discuss two special sessions; one to deal with the budget and one to consider expanding casino gambling. Baltimoresun.com. April 24, 2012.  
  • Lawmakers meet to hash out budget differences. Baltimore.CBSlocal.com. April 2, 2012. 
  • House advances tax package targeting six-figure earners. Washingtonpost.com. March 22, 2012. 
  • House committee passes state budget. Gazette.net. March 17, 2012. 
  • Budget passed by Senate includes an income tax increase for most taxpayers. Wjla.com. March 15, 2012. 
  • Senate panel votes to raise income tax and phase in pension split with counties over four years. Washingtonpost.com. March 8, 2012. 
  • State analysts outlined nearly $800 million in potential budget cuts on March 6 in a doomsday alternative plan to that proposed by Governor O'Malley, in case lawmakers fail to agree on a budget. Washingtonpost.com. March 6, 2012. 
  • Governor proposes tax, fees, and rates increases totaling nearly $1 billion to balance the sate budget, all while increasing spending on transportation and environmental projects. Washingtonpost.com. February 4, 2012. 
  • $1 billion shortfall for fiscal year 2012-13.  Baltimoresun.com. January 3, 2012. 

Massachusetts

  • House approves $32.3 billion budget. Boston.com. April 26, 2012.
  • Gov. Patrick unveils $32.3 billion state budget that increases state spending by approx. 3 %. CBSlocal.com. January 25, 2012. 
  • Governor Patrick's top budget official said the Governor would offer "modest and limited new revenue proposals" for next year's budget. Boston.com. January 13, 2012. 
  • Chairman of Senate Ways & Means Committee predicts $1 billion deficit in FY 2013. Masslive.com. December 2011.

Michigan

  • Governor Rick Snyder released his $48.2 billion budget designed to continue the fiscal overhaul he began last year. Detroitnews.com. February 9, 2012. 
  • $1.2 billion surplus in FY 2011. Detroitnews.com. January 12, 2012. 
  • Funding model rewards higher education institutions.
  • Detroit prison to close and 2,000 face layoffs to fill state budget shortfall. DetroitFreePress.com. September 29, 2011.

Minnesota

  • House agrees to reduce education shift to 30% (to reduce budgeting gimmicks). Stateline.org. March 23, 2012.  
  • House Republicans proposed dipping into the state's budget reserve to start paying back $2.4 billion owed to public schools. The legislation that shifts $430 million from rainy-day funds to repay K-12 schools also includes ending the practice of firing teachers based on seniority rather than performance. Twincities.com. March 8, 2012.
  • Budget forecast shows $323 million surplus. MinnesotaPublicRadio.com. February 29, 2012. 
  • State asks consultants to ferret out savings. Startribune.com. December 12, 2011.
  • $876 budget surplus projected for the current biennium that ends June 30, 2013, but $1.3 billion deficit projected for next biennium. Lakeville.patch.com. December 2, 2011. 
  • Finalizes sale of $757 million in tobacco bonds - a move that comes with substantial costs. Duluthnewstribune.com. November 17, 2011.
  • Lawmakers okay changes that could drop 65,000 from Medicaid. JSonline.com. November 10, 2011.

Mississippi

  • Lawmakers approve most parts of $5.6 billion budget. Hattiesburgamerican.com. April 28, 2012.
  • Governor revises budget due to increased revenue forecast. Clarionledger.com March 27, 2012. 
  • House votes to alter budget process. Lawmakers adding money to a program must cut the same amount from another program. Clarionledger.com. February 13, 2012.
  • Governor Bryant's first budget proposal recommends $26 million less in state spending by cutting departments and agencies by 5.5%, but fully funding education. Commercialappeal.com. February 1, 2012. 
  • New Governor Bryant plans to restructure state budget process to performance-based budgeting. Commercialappeal.com. January 11, 2012.
  • State facing $1 billion state budget shortfall in next budget clarionledger.com. January 3, 2012. 

Missouri

Montana

  • State budget picture improving; Forecast $500 million surplus next year. Greatfallstribune.com. April 27, 2012.
  • State budget surplus expected to reach $426 million. Missoulian.com. February 18, 2012. 

Nebraska

  • Governor agrees and signs budget. Omaha.com. April 3, 2012. 
  • Budget bills sent to the Governor. Journalstart.com. March 28, 2012. 
  • Lawmakers headed into the homestretch as possible showdown with Governor Heineman nears to debate tweaking the state budget. Journalstar.com. March 13, 2012. 
  • The Appropriations Committee advanced three budget bills totaling $7.2 billion to the Legislature on March 6th, leaving only $17.6 million for bills still waiting for debate. Forty-nine Senators will begin deliberating the package next week. Journalstar.com. March 6, 2012. 

Nevada

Gov. Brian Sandoval and legislative leadership reached a budget deal to extend the so-called sunset taxes, called that because they were meant to sunset in 2011, to help fill the state's $2 billion state budget shortfall for the next two-years. The deal also eliminates part of the modified business tax, which was one of the sunset taxes. In this deal, the taxes and fee changes will stay in place until July 1, 2013. It is expected to bring $620 million to the state. August 1, 2011.

New Hampshire

New Jersey

  • S&P reviews Christie's budget and issues warning that NJ may have difficulty weathering economic setbacks. S&P cited the use of one-shot revenues, the small $300 million surplus, the pension fund hole, and roughly $530 million in losses due to tax cuts. Revenue-growth estimates of more than 7 percent defy conventional wisdom. NJ.com. February 25, 2012. 
  • Gov. Christie proposes $32.1 billion budget, increasing spending by 8.2 percent by relying on optimistic revenue projections and reserving less than 1 percent. Christie dedicated $1.07 billion to the pension fund, 70 percent less than the annual contribution requirement. App.com. February 21, 2012. 
  • Citing the state's failure to make full pension payments and its sluggish economic recovery, Fitch Ratings downgraded New Jersey's bond rating a notch, ranking it among the lowest in the nation. The move could make it more costly for the state to borrow. Nj.com. August 18, 2011.
  • Gov. Christie vetoed $900 million from the $29.7 billion budget including vetoing Democrats efforts to restore funding to public assistance programs. NJ.com. July 1, 2011.

New Mexico

New York

  • Legislature passes budget on time. Examiner.com. March 30, 2012. 
  • Cuomo considering fare hikes. NYPost.com. March 30, 2012. 
  • Governor curbs state spending, for now. Newsday.com. March 28, 2012. 
  • Proposed $133 billion budget passes major obstacles. WSJ.com. March 27, 2012. 
  • The state budget is reduced from $134.8 billion (2010-11) to $132.7 billion (2011-12) to $132.5 billion (2012-13). Pressrepublican.com. January 22, 2012.
  • Tax plan passed, legislature faces smaller budget gap. NYTimes.com. December 9, 2011.
  • Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders announced they had reached an agreement to overhaul New York State's income tax, creating a higher tax bracket for the highest-income residents and reducing the tax rate for millions of middle-class residents. NYTimes.com. December 6, 2011.
  • Gov. Cuomo estimates federal "sequestered cuts" could cost the state $5 billion loss in federal funds over the next 10 years.  Timesunion.com. November 21, 2011.
  • Governor Cuomo's office now projects up to a $3.5 billion state budget shortfall for the next fiscal year. Bloomberg.com. November 14, 2011.
  • Medicaid overhaul saves $600 million in six months. TimesUnion.com. October 6, 2011.

North Carolina

  • Lawmakers return to consider budget and controversial issues. Journalnow.com. May 14, 2012.  
  • Senate voted 31-19 to override Governor Perdue's veto of the budget on June 15.  Earlier the House had voted 73-46 to override the Governor's veto. CharlotteObserver.com. June 15, 2011.

North Dakota

  • The budget increased general fund spending by 20 percent over the next two years due to an accounting maneuver. The biennial budget that lawmakers approved includes several big-ticket spending items, such as $370 million in road repairs and another $342 million to reduce local property taxes. But those projects were paid for through a special account financed by excess oil-tax revenues - rather than the general fund - allowing Governor Jack Dalrymple and the Legislature to mask their effect on overall spending until after lawmakers had approved a two-year general fund budget on April 28. Stateline.org. May 2, 2011.

Ohio

  • Governor Kasich clashes with House Republicans over budget. Cleveland.com. April 25, 2012.
  • Governor rolls out mini-budget with tax, education initiatives taking center state. Cleveland.com. March 14, 2012. 
  • Ohio privatized a portion of the state's prison system for $72.7 million. Rueters.com. September 1, 2011.

Oklahoma

  • Governor to push for reducing state personal income tax. NewsOK.com. December 27, 2011.

Oregon

  • Legislators reach compromise on budget to eliminate shortfall and Governor agrees. Oregonlive.com. February 23, 2012. 
  • Key legislators reach budget deal, avoid cuts to K-12 education and programs for seniors and the disabled, and create a cushion to cover future revenue declines. Mailtribune.com. February 1, 2012. 
  • Oregon legislations to take on $300 million budget shortfall. NWCN.com. January 25, 2012. 
  • Governor plans to order a hiring freeze for all state agencies, suspend new enrollments in the Oregon Health Plan and halt all "non-critical" government spending because of the state's budget woes. The governor signaled Tuesday that he will act quickly to impose a statewide hiring freeze of state workers and move forward with several other belt-tightening measures recommended by legislative budget leaders. The intent is to save money and prune spending before lawmakers come back to Salem in February for a short legislative session that promises to be dominated by budgetary concerns. December 14, 2011. 

Pennsylvania

  • Senate sends budget to House. Mcall.com. May 9, 2012. 
  • $27.6 billion budget poised for Senate vote. Pennlive.com. May 9, 2012 
  • Tom Corbett proposed $27.14 billion budget that funds K-12 education but steeply cuts higher education spending, while maintaining "no new taxes" pledge. The proposal is 0.1% less than 2011 budgets. Bizjournals.com. February 7, 2012.
  • Fiscal office expects $500 million shortfall by June. Bizjournals.com. February 6, 2012.
  • Governor reduces $160 million in state spending. Thetimestribune.com. January 5, 2012. 

Rhode Island

  • New taxes proposed as an alternative to cuts. Boston.com. January 4, 2012.
  • Governor considers tax proposal as 2012 session nears.  boston.com.  December 30, 2011.  

South Carolina

  • Budget plan up for debate in Senate. Dailycomet.com. May 12, 2012. 
  • House approves budget with more funds for schools, less for roads. Wjbf.com. March 15, 2012. 
  • Corporations and residents will get a break on income taxes while public workers go for a fourth year in a row without pay raise under Haley's budget proposal. Businessweek.com. January 13, 2012. 

South Dakota

Tennessee

  • Lawmakers reach agreement on governor's budget. Jacksonsun.com. April 27, 2012.
  • Thousands of Tennesseans will get an extension of their unemployment benefits under the $30.78 billion budget approved by the General Assembly on May 21. The Senate voted 32-0 and the House passed it 96-0. The budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 also includes $71 million for disaster relief from recent storms and flooding and a hospital assessment fee supported by the industry that would raise $449 million. It is designed to draw another $871 million in federal matching funds. June 8, 2011. 

Texas

  • Governor promotes plan to control state budget spending. Statesman.com. April 16, 2012.
  • Texas Conservative Budget presents budget and policy reforms to preserve Texas jobs engine and defend state's economic success. Saves $1.1 billion in current biennium budget and $8.3 billion in 2014-15. Gawtp.com. March 20, 2012.
  • State Budget Solutions' statement on the Texas budget deficit. Statebudgetsolutions.org. February 22, 2012. 
  • Texas' 2012-2013 budget: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly. Texas Public Policy Foundation. February 2012. 
  • Texas budget shortfall continues as Medicaid and social programs drain the budget. The state is short more than $4.1 billion. WTAW.com. February 21, 2012.
  • State agencies began to lay off employees, with almost 6,000 jobs expected to be lost in the current two-year budget cycle. UPI.com. July 13, 2011.

Utah

The approved budget adds back all but 1 percent of the 7 percent in cuts made earlier in the session. SB2, sponsored by Senate Budget Chairman Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, was approved by both the Senate and the House and now goes to Gov. Gary Herbert for his action on the estimated $12 billion spending plan. Some areas of state government including higher education will see spending sliced by 2 percent or more, but public education emerged not only intact but with additional funds for enrollment growth. Deseretnews.com. March 8, 2011.

Vermont

Virginia

  • Legislators reject key budget amendments. WAshingtonpost.com. May 15, 2012.  
  • Senate passes two-year $85 billion budget after senior Democrat breaks ranks. Washingtonpost.com. April 18, 2012.  
  • Senate Democrats defeat compromise budget. Richmondtimesdispatch.com. April 17, 2012.
  • House rejected Senate budget and lawmakers are working on a compromise. Roanoke.com. March 29, 2012. 
  • Virginia Senate approves state budget. It provides and additional $60 million to help schools hire staff. The House budget includes $24 million cost-to-compete money. The Senate version includes an estimated $100 million-to be financed by bonds-to delay the imposition of tolls on Hampton roads, pay for 10 vacant judgeships, give a 2% raise to state employees, and restore a $500,000 cut to public broadcasting. It directs Virginia's share to the federal mortgage settlement to localities to be spent on schools. There are cuts, including a $20 million fund from Gov. Robert McDonnell to prepare for potential federal cuts. Washingtonpost.com. March 26, 2012. 
  • General Assembly adjourns without budget, but will return March 21st to finish negotiations. Timesdispatch.com. March 11, 2012.
  • Still no budget, but lawmakers are talking. Richmondtimesdispatch.com. March 7, 2012. 
  • Virginia's Senate gets another chance to pass revived budget; Lawmakers still upset over bitterly contested elections in January. March 2, 2012. 
  • Virginia's fiscal future is in limbo as Senate Democrats kill state budget. CBSlocal.com. February 29, 2012. 
  • House & Senate budget committees approve proposals granting pay raises for state employees, more money for K-12 education, restore funding for health care, and help cover increasing pension costs. Fredericksburg.com. February 19, 2012.

Washington

  • Governor begins bargaining process on state worker contracts. Thenewstribune. May 6, 2012.  
  • State liquor auction nets $30.75 million. Thenewstribune.com. April 23, 2012. State budget would let liquor employees cash out sick leave if they stay through transition. Theolympian.com. April 18, 2012. 
  • A closer look at the state budget deal. Freedom Foundation. April 11, 2012.
  • Another special session? theNewstribune.com. March 29, 2012. 
  • SBS statement on Washington budget. Statebudgetsolutions.org. March 9, 2012.
  • No agreement on budget: special session is called. Seattletimes.com. March 8, 2012. 
  • Special session will be held if no budget deal is reached by March 8, 2012. Seattletimes.com. March 5, 2012. 
  • Senate Republicans take over budget procedure and push budget through Senate. Budget includes no tax increase, cuts more from state programs, but avoids delaying payments to schools. Spokesmanreview.com. March 3, 2012. 
  • House Democrats pass budget that relies on $400 million in delayed payments to K-12 and reduced support for local government. Komonews.org. February 29, 2012. 
  • Washington state Democrat legislators propose to band together against future revenues to help close a $1.5 billion deficit. WAstatewire.com. February 10, 2012
  • Moody's lowers WA outlook to "negative" based on revenue shortfall. WSJ.com. January 30, 2012. 
  • Fitch warns WA state over budget gap. Chicagotribune.com. January 27, 2012. 
  • Washington State Supreme Court rules that state has not adequately funded K-12 education. Additional costs of "adequate funding" could be between $6.9-8.9 billion per biennium. Myfreedomfoundation.com. January 6, 2012. 
  • Governor wants to dump tax-vote requirement. Seattletimes.org. January 5, 2012.
  • Legislators propose income tax overhaul. Newstribune.com. Jan. 6, 2012.

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming