By Erica MacKellar, includes “… As states began 2020, they anticipated strong revenue growth and legislatures across the country were working on their priorities for the coming year. Those priorities quickly changed as COVID-19 swept across the country … Since then, the federal government has provided billions of dollars in aid to state and local governments, and state revenues have rebounded more quickly than anticipated …  Deciding how best to spend the federal aid will be a major fiscal priority … These funds are a one-time windfall for states, and legislators are carefully planning the best way to use these funds.”