28 States Didn’t Have Enough Money to Cover Their Bills in Fiscal 2022: Report

DECEMBER 24, 2023 | PENNSYLVANIA DAILY STAR | by Bethany Blankley

"In fiscal 2022, 28 states didn’t have enough revenue to pay all of their bills, according to the 14th annual Financial State of the States report, published by the Chicago-based nonprofit Truth in Accounting.

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the fiscal health of all 50 states based on the latest available data from states’ fiscal year 2022 annual comprehensive financial reports.

New Jersey ranked last for having the worst fiscal health and the greatest taxpayer burden. Not far behind was Connecticut, followed by Illinois, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Kentucky, Delaware, Louisiana, California and Vermont in the bottom ten.

By contrast, 22 states reported surpluses, the majority of which are led by Republican governors."

 

Hot off the Press! The State Report is Out: How Did Your State Do???

DECEMBER 10, 2023

Now Available

Our annual report on state fiscal health. Debt among the states improved slightly. Going from $1.2 trillion down to $938.6 billion. 

What happened? 

How did your state do? Read the full report below. 

https://www.truthinaccounting.org/news/detail/financial-state-of-the-states-2023

Accounting is a methodology for measuring value. It's the process of identifying, measuring, and communicating economic information to enable well-informed assessments and choices for those who rely on the informationgood accounting matters!  

 

Financial State of the States 2022

OCTOBER 24, 2022

This year's report found that 31 states did not have enough money to pay all of their bills.

VIEWPOINT: Lack of focus not funding in Delaware’s budget

FEBRUARY 8, 2022 | DELAWARE BUSINESS TIMES | by Editorial

Includes: "Delaware’s overall financial condition worsened by 21% during the onset of the pandemic, mostly because of post-employment liabilities. A Truth in Accounting report from 2021 revealed that Delaware still has $1.8 billion of unpaid pension debt. With more than an $800 million surplus, it is time to pay down this massive debt."

New study measures financial transparency among state governments

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

Financial Transparency Score 2021

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

To encourage the publication of transparent and accurate government financial information, Truth in Accounting has created a transparency score for financial reporting by the states. 

Majority of state finances worsened during beginning of pandemic

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Financial State of the States 2021

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

Truth in Accounting's twelfth annual Financial State of the States report, a nationwide analysis of the most recent state government financial information.

Delaware’s damning debt

MARCH 30, 2021 | A BETTER DELAWARE | by A Better Delaware

Includes “…Chicago, which also has a pension problem, handled it just how we hope to avoid in Delaware. Mayor Rahm Emanuel initiated numerous taxes, from a large property tax hike in 2014 to a 911 communication tax.”

Thirty-nine states ill-prepared for coronavirus pandemic

SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

The 2020 Financial State of the States report surveys the fiscal health of the 50 states prior to the coronavirus pandemic. This data is released today by Truth in Accounting (TIA), a think tank that analyzes government financial reporting.

State general revenue shortfall projections

JUNE 1, 2020 | by Bill Bergman, Sheila Weinberg

How large could the shortfall in state government general revenues be, amidst the coronavirus and related crises? 

State budget crisis looms in Maine as pandemic rages

APRIL 27, 2020 | PORTLAND PRESS HERALD (MAINE) | by Scott Thistle

The coronavirus pandemic is paving the way for a state budget crisis that will likely be deeper than any Maine has seen in decades.

Student debt per capita fluctuates in Arizona and Delaware

MAY 7, 2019 | WILMINGTON PATCH (DELAWARE

“… In 2018, the 50-state average student debt per capita was $5,438.04, which placed Delaware above average and Arizona below average for student debt. Hypothetically, if every U.S. citizen was willing to pay $5,438.04, we could erase all student debt in the U.S. Unfortunately, money doesn't grow on trees, so it looks like you're on your own for this one.” 

Interview of Sheila Weinberg

SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 | THE RICK JENSEN SHOW, WDEL 101.7FM | by Rick Jensen

Intro includes “… She’s deep into the dark, dark arts of government accounting.”

Second wave of 2017 FSOS now available!

MAY 15, 2018 | by Truth in Accounting

See the financial condition of Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, Utah, Washington and West Virginia.

Sheriff’s sale: Military surplus equipment all over Delaware

MARCH 14, 2018 | DOVER POST (DELAWARE) | by Shannon Marvel McNaught, Craig O’Donnell

Small departments get large amounts. How much is being sold?

Twenty-five states face revenue shortfalls in 2018

JANUARY 12, 2018 | MULTISTATE | by Ryan Maness

Twenty-five states are currently facing a revenue shortfall, which is a marked improvement over our report from last year, when 31 states were in deficit.

10 states with the best pension funding: a tale of two discount rates

JANUARY 4, 2018 | BENEFITSPRO | by Nick Thornton

How trustees of state-sponsored pension plans value the cost of future liabilities, and in turn determine funded ratios, is a touchy subject among retirement policy experts and lawmakers.

A rebuttal to Delaware treasurer's 'misleading' claim

OCTOBER 16, 2017

Delaware officials rebuff report critical of state finances

SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 | WBOC 16 TV | by Tom Lehman

Delaware officials are rebuffing a report from a nonprofit that gave the state an "F" rating over its fiscal health.

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