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.

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

Pandemic growth led this state to slash taxes, issue rebates

JULY 7, 2021 | ROUTE FIFTY | by Andrea Noble

By Andrea Noble, includes “Some states are concerned they could lose out on federal covid relief funding if they cut taxes. But not Idaho. … Both tax policy experts and state officials believe Idaho’s rapid economic growth will offset the tax cuts, making them feasible under federal funding rules.”

House Bill 73: Local government, uniform accounting

FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | IDAHO FREEDOM FOUNDATION | by Fred Birnbaum

Includes “House Bill 73 provides for uniform accounting practices and establishes a ‘committee on uniform accounting and transparency for local governmental entities.’ … …  Without the will to rein in spending by these local governments and by allowing them to lobby against reform, it is highly unlikely that transparency will reduce spending.”

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.

No amount of government spending will satisfy

JULY 23, 2020 | IDAHO PRESS | by Janice McGeachin

Recently, some organizations in Idaho have been agitating for additional federal spending to finance direct subsidies to individuals. Some have even resorted to publicly displaying banners on a busy street in downtown Boise calling on elected officials to further increase spending.

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? 

Idaho ranked as one of the most financially transparent states

MARCH 4, 2020 | BIG COUNTRY NEWS

 Truth in Accounting, a nonpartisan watchdog group, dedicated to analyzing government accounting data from each of the 50 states, has ranked Idaho one of the most financially transparent states in the U.S.

Brown, McMorris Rodgers disagree on Social Security

SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 | THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW (IDAHO) | by Jim Camden

Congress could consider some comprehensive reforms of Social Security if they improve the program’s solvency and protect the benefits of retirees and those close to retirement, the Republican representing Eastern Washington voters said.

Unfunded state liabilities total $1.5 trillion

FEBRUARY 2, 2018 | NEWSMAX | by Scott Rasmussen

Forty-one U.S. states do not have enough money to pay their bills, collectively they have racked up $1.5 trillion in unfunded liabilities.

People flocking to low-tax states could swing future elections

JANUARY 24, 2018 | THE HILL | by Jonathan Williams

Just a month ago, as friends and families prepared to gather for the holiday season, the men and women at the U.S. Census Bureau were busy releasing their latest annual estimates of population changes across the United States.

State pension funds continue to fall behind. Here’s how much you owe

OCTOBER 19, 2017 | CNBC

Voters worried that Congress and the White House can't tame federal borrowing may be overlooking another big debt bomb closer to home.

Turkish opposition subsidizes scores of state lawmakers' trips

FEBRUARY 10, 2017 | USA TODAY

By Liz Essley Whyte (Center for Public Integrity), includes "More than 150 state legislators from places like Idaho and Texas accepted subsidized junkets from a Turkish opposition group that the country's government now blames for an attempted coup. 

Defusing the debt bomb

JANUARY 4, 2016 | THE WASHINGTON TIMES | by David Walker

Fiscal survey of the states

DECEMBER 16, 2015 | NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE BUDGET OFFICERS

Enacted state budgets for fiscal 2016 represent a sixth consecutive year of spending and revenue growth, according to this report. 

Pension Watchdog: Idaho Needs $3.5 Billion to Fund Pension Promises

JULY 25, 2014 | IDAHO REPORTER

Idaho closes fiscal year with surplus

JULY 23, 2013 | THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The higher-than-predicted tax revenues also triggered legislation sought by Gov. Butch Otter this year to transfer $85.4 million of the year-end balance into the state’s main savings account, the Budget Stabilization Fund.

Detroit not alone under crushing pension obligations

JULY 22, 2013 | USA TODAY

From Baltimore to Los Angeles, and many points in between, municipalities are increasingly confronted with how to pay for these massive promises. The Pew Center for the States, in Washington, estimated states' public pension plans across the U.S. were underfunded by a whopping $1.4 trillion in 2010. … Early this year, the Pew Center released a survey showing that 61 of the nation's largest cities — limiting the survey to the largest city in each state and all other cities with more than 500,000 people — had a gap of more than $217 billion in unfunded pension and health care liabilities. While cities had long promised health care, life insurance and other benefits to retirees, "few ... started saving to cover the long-term costs," the report said.

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