November 2011
2 posts
State Budget Shortfalls -- November 18, 2011
  This week’s update: http://www.statebudgetsolutions.org/the_williams_report/detail/state-budget-update-november-18-2011 Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the...
Nov 18th
State Budget Shortfalls -- November 10, 2011
The Williams Report State Budget Update This week’s update: http://www.statebudgetsolutions.org/the_williams_report/detail/state-budget-update-november-10-2011 California: Deficit may reach $8 billion next year.  Reuters.com. November 3, 2011. Minnesota: State burns $1.1 billion in future tobacco cash for about half as much money now.  Businessweek.com. November 8, 2011. Washington: Voters...
Nov 11th
October 2011
4 posts
State Budget Shortfalls -- October 27, 2011
Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases are the results of...
Oct 27th
2 notes
State Budget Shortfalls --October 20, 2011
October 20, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases...
Oct 21st
2 notes
State Budget Shortfalls --October 13, 2011
October 13, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases...
Oct 13th
State Budget Shortfalls -- October 6, 2011
October 6, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases...
Oct 7th
September 2011
6 posts
State Budget Shortfalls -- September 29, 2011 -...
September 29, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most...
Sep 29th
State Budget Shortfalls -- September 29, 2011
September 29, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most...
Sep 29th
State Budget Shortfalls -- September 22, 2011
September 22, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most...
Sep 22nd
State Budget Shortfalls -- September 15, 2011
September 15, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most...
Sep 15th
State Budget Shortfalls -- September 9, 2011
September 9, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases...
Sep 9th
State Budget Shortfalls -- September 1, 2011
September 1, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases...
Sep 1st
August 2011
3 posts
State Budget Shortfalls -- August 29, 2011
August 29, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases...
Aug 29th
State Budget Shortfalls -- August 19, 2011
August 19, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases...
Aug 19th
State Budget Shortfalls -- August 7, 2011
August 7, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases...
Aug 8th
July 2011
4 posts
State Budget Shortfalls -- July 28, 2011
July 28, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases are...
Jul 29th
State Budget Shortfalls -- July 21, 2011
July 21, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases are...
Jul 21st
State Budget Shortfalls -- July 14, 2011
July 14, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases are...
Jul 14th
State Budget Shortfalls -- July 7, 2011
July 7, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases are...
Jul 8th
June 2011
5 posts
State Budget Shortfalls -- June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases are...
Jun 30th
State Budget Shortfalls -- June 23, 2011
June 23, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases are...
Jun 23rd
State Budget Shortfalls -- June 16, 2011
June 16, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases are...
Jun 16th
State Budget Shortfalls -- June 10, 2011
June 9, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases are...
Jun 10th
1 note
State Budget Shortfalls -- June 2, 2011
June 2, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases are...
Jun 2nd
2 notes
May 2011
3 posts
State Budget Shortfalls -- May 27, 2011
May 27, 2011   Legislators of both parties allow bureaucrats to report a budget shortfall as the difference between what the governor wants to spend (not the current budget) vs the revenue forecast.  We have not found any state that reports a shortfall as the difference between the current level of spending and the revenue forecast.  Thus, most shortfalls are highly inflated and in most cases are...
May 27th
2 notes
State Budget Shortfalls -- May 12, 2011
May 12, 2011   Updates this week:  California; Connecticut; Hawaii; Illinois; Indiana;Kansas: Louisiana; Maine; Nebraska; North Carolina; Pennsylvania;  Texas California has $2 billion in unexpected tax revenue. Tax income has been outpacing forecasts — good news as Sacramento struggles with a $15-billion budget deficit. LA Times. May 5, 2011.             -The California Teachers Association...
May 12th
2 notes
State Budget Shortfalls -- May 5, 2011
May 5, 2011   Updates this week:  California; Hawaii; Maine; North Carolina; Texas California has $2 billion in unexpected tax revenue. Tax income has been outpacing forecasts — good news as Sacramento struggles with a $15-billion budget deficit. LA Times. May 5, 2011. Hawaii: -The Hawaii Legislature has passed a two-year state budget that aims to eliminate the state’s $1.3 billion...
May 5th
2 notes
April 2011
5 posts
State Budget Shortfalls -- April 28, 2011
April 28, 2011   Updates this week: Colorado; Florida; Rhode Island; Vermont; Washington Colorado: Governor Hickenlooper helped lawmakers mold a budget compromise to balance the state budget to help cover a $1 billion state budget shortfall. Canadianbusiness.com. April 21, 2011.  Florida: Legislators settle on budget deal that covers $4 billion state budget shortfall. The agreement will require...
Apr 28th
5 notes
State Budget Shortfalls -- April 21, 2011
April 21, 2011   Updates this week: NCSL; Alaska; Connecticut; Indiana; Missouri; North Carolina; Texas; Washington; NCSL: A new state budget report from NCSL sheds some light on the shifting fiscal picture for states. NCSL’s State Budget Update: March 2011 shows that state revenues continue to stabilize or even grow, which is a welcome change after some of the most challenging budget...
Apr 21st
1 note
State Budget Shortfalls -- April 14, 2011
April 14, 2011   Updates this week: Alabama; Georgia; Hawaii; Iowa; Minnesota; Montana; Washington Georgia; The General Assembly approved an $18.3 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year and sent it to the Governor.  The budget cuts college funding and borrows from Medicaid to prop up the teacher, employee and retiree health care system.  The measure also borrows $675 million for construction...
Apr 14th
5 notes
California Teachers union plans to spend $1...
The California Teachers union has budgeted $1 million for labor protest to occupy the State Capitol on May  9-13. http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2011/04/11/california-teachers-association-1-million-state-of-emergency-protests-may-include-road-closures-plus-labor-union-flavored-ice-cream/ The union has set up a web site of material for activists at CAstateofemergency.com. The documents ...
Apr 12th
State Budget Shortfalls -- April 8, 2011
April 8, 2011   Updates this week: Alabama; Arizona; Florida; Massachusetts; Washington; and Wisconsin Highlights: -Alabama Governor declares 15 percent across the board cut to solve current fiscal year deficit.  Myfoxal.com. March 31, 2011  -Arizona Governor signs $8.3 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. Arizona Republic. April 8, 2011. -Florida House & Senate pass...
Apr 8th
3 notes
March 2011
5 posts
State Budget Shortfalls -- March 31, 2011
Updates this week: California; Florida;  Hawaii; Kentucky; Maine; Minnesota; New York; Ohio and Wisconsin Highlights: -Budget talks in California breakdown.  NY Times. March 29, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/us/30california.html?partner=rss&emc=rss -Florida  House appropriations committee approved a $66.5 billion budget on March 30 that included deep cuts in education, health care...
Mar 31st
3 notes
State Budget Shortfalls -- March 24, 2011
March 24, 2011   Highlights. California; Colorado; Florida; Maryland; Ohio; Texas; Washington; and Wisconsin   -California cuts budget deficit in half by budget cuts; loans and other accounting gimmicks. Washington Post.  March 18, 2011. California legislature to decide this week on possible tax extensions, the elimination of redevelopment agencies and other tax hikes. MercuryNews.com. March 20,...
Mar 24th
State Budget Shortfalls -- March 17, 2011
March 17, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates: California; Kansas: Ohio; South Dakota; Texas and Wisconsin. Highlights.             -California legislators approved billions of dollars in cuts to welfare, medical programs for the poor and in-home care for the elderly and frail.  Cuts will cover only part of the $26 billion state budget deficit.  Governor Brown is also trying to extend...
Mar 17th
4 notes
State Budget Shortfalls -- March 10, 2011
March 10, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates: Hawaii; Idaho; Kansas; Rhode Island; and Wisconsin Highlights.             -Wisconsin Senate votes to strip union rights.  Fox News.  March 9, 2011. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/09/wisconsin-republicans-plan-pass-budget-democrats-sources-say/             -Idaho votes to phase out teacher tenure, restrict collective bargaining.  FOX...
Mar 10th
State Budget Shortfalls -- March 3, 2011
March 3, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates: Minnesota; Ohio; Oregon; Washington Highlights. –States Mull Shift in Worker Pensions.  WSJ. March 1, 2011. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704444604576172910048864744.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5#printMode             -Wisconsin one of 41 states where public workers earn more. USA Today. March 2, 2011....
Mar 3rd
February 2011
5 posts
State Budget Shortfalls -- February 24, 2011
February 24, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates: Colorado; Idaho; Michigan; North Carolina; Wisconsin.    Changes are indicated in italics. Highlights Wisconsin protests exposes much deeper state budget crises.  Public employees salaries and benefits are financially unsustainable.  To gain control of state budget and develop priorities, the following questions should be...
Feb 24th
why Wisconsin Governor Walker should not negotiate...
WISCONSIN Why Governor Walker should not negotiate with the government unions by BOB WILLIAMS | February 20, 2011 There are numerous reasons why Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker should not negotiate with government unions. Given union actions in the recent past, his move to eliminate collective bargaining makes sense. After Scott Walker won the Wisconsin governor’s race last fall,...
Feb 20th
State Budget Shortfalls -- February 17, 2011
February 17, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates: Georgia; Illinois; Minnesota; Oklahoma.    Changes are indicated in italics. Highlights Governors and Mayors are trying to limit the soaring cost of health benefits for millions of retired state and local workers.  NY Times. February 13, 2011.  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/14/business/14retirees.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print Georgia...
Feb 17th
State Budget Shortfalls -- February 11, 2011
February 11, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates:  Georgia; Minnesota; Nevada; North Carolina; Ohio; Oklahoma; Washington; and Wisconsin.  Changes are indicated in italics. Highlights -Wisconsin Governor Walker released his plans to take on the public employees unions on February 11: 1.      Limit the total wage increases for union public employees to the rate of  inflation, unless voters...
Feb 11th
State budget shortfall -February 4, 2011
February 4, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates:  Delaware; Florida; Idaho; Michigan; Oklahoma; Tennessee; Washington; and Wisconsin.  Changes are indicated in italics. Feds gives states a menu for cutting Medicaid.  Health & Human Services Secretary Kathlessn Sebelius urged states to find savings by charging higher copayments for some services; limiting certain benefit, managing...
Feb 4th
January 2011
5 posts
State budget shortfall -January 28, 2011
January 28, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates:  Arizona; Connecticut; Maryland; Minnesota; New Hampshire; Ohio; Washington.  Changes are indicated in italics. State Budget Reform Tool Kit:  ALEC toolkit provides more than 20 recommendations to modernize state budgeting improve budget transparency, control costs and improve government efficiency. ...
Jan 28th
State budget shortfall -January 24, 2011
January 24, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates: Arizona; California: Indiana; Maryland; Massachusetts; Pennsylvania; Texas; and Washington.  Changes are indicated in italics. Latest budget projections             Arizona $530 million state budget shorfall through June 30, 2011 and another $975 million for FY 2011/20121.5 - $1.8 billion deficit through June 30, 2012.  Daily Miner. January...
Jan 24th
3 notes
State budget shortfall -January 17, 2011
January 17, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates: Arizona; California; Colorado; Illinois; Texas.  Changes are indicated in italics. Latest budget projections             Arizona $1.5 - $1.8 billion deficit through June 30, 2012.  KSTW13news. January 14, 2011.             California. $28 billion -next 18 months LA Times. December 28, 2010             Colorado $1.5 billion. Denver Post. NPR. ...
Jan 17th
State budget shortfall -January 10, 2011
January 10, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates: Georgia; Kansas; Idaho; Nebraska; Nevada; South Carolina.  Changes are indicated in italics. Latest budget projections             Arizona $2.25 billion deficit through June 30, 2012.  AZ Central.com. December 26, 2010             CAL. $28 billion -next 18 months LA Times. December 28, 2010             Colorado $1.1 billion. Denver Post....
Jan 10th
State budget shortfall -January 3, 2011
January 3, 2011 Note:  Following states have updates: California; Idaho; Illinois; Kansas; Michigan; Minnesota; New York; Ohio; and Oklahoma.  Changes are indicated in italics. Latest budget projections             Arizona $2.25 billion deficit through June 30, 2012.  AZ Central.com. December 26, 2010             CAL. $28 billion -next 18 months LA Times. December 28, 2010             Colorado...
Jan 3rd
December 2010
2 posts
State budget shortfall -December 27, 2010
December 27, 2010 Note:  Following states have updates: Arizona; California; Connecticut; Hawaii; Iowa; North Carolina; Ohio; and Virginia.  Changes are indicated in italics. Latest budget projections             Arizona $2.25 billion deficit through June 30, 2012.             CAL. $25 billion –next 18 months             Colorado $1.1 billion             Conn. $3.5 billion             Delaware...
Dec 27th
1 note
State budget shortfall -December 20, 2010
Note:  Following states have updates California; Florida;  Hawaii; Louisiana;Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota;  Nebraska; North Carolina; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Texas; Virginia; and Washington  Changes are indicated in italics. State Face Budget Shortfalls of $26.7 billion in current fiscal year.  WSJ. December 8, 2010.   There will be 29 new governors!  Republicans has a net gain of six...
Dec 20th
November 2010
2 posts
State budget shortfall - November 29, 2010
Note:  Following states have updates: California; Georgia; Idaho; Maine; Mississippi; New Mexico: Maryland; Maine; New York  Oregon; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; Texas; Washington and Wisconsin..  Changes are indicated in italics. There will be 29 new governors!  Republicans has a net gain of six Governor’s.  NCSL.org November 10, 2010.   Republicans made historic gains by adding over 675...
Nov 29th
5 notes