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. 

After Uintah County used pandemic money on a tubing hill, audit finds its finances ‘concerning’

OCTOBER 15, 2021 | THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE (UTAH) | by Leia Larsen

By Leia Larsen, includes “The Utah Office of the State Auditor has released a report chiding Uintah County for bad accounting practices and improper spending of federal funds meant to address the coronavirus pandemic.”

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.

Attorney General joins lawsuit against Biden stimulus plan

APRIL 6, 2021 | CACHE VALLEY DAILY (UTAH) | by Charlie Schill

By Charlie Schill, includes “Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes has joined 12 other state legal officers in a federal lawsuit over provisions in President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus plan that could potentially prohibit states from providing tax cuts for their citizens.”

Provo finances looking better than expected

JANUARY 26, 2021 | DAILY HERALD (UTAH) | by Genelle Pugmire

During the last regular Municipal City County meeting, Provo leaders were presented with the yearly Popular Annual Finance Report, more commonly known as the PAFR.

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.

Student debt is at an all-time high of $1.5 trillion.

AUGUST 17, 2020 | by Kate Brennan

Student debt is at an all-time high of $1.5 trillion. College is more expensive than ever as it is estimated the cost of tuition has raised about 25 percent in the last 25 years, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

The COVID-19 pandemic is crushing state budgets. A federal bailout is still a bad idea

AUGUST 5, 2020 | REASON | by Eric Boehm

When it became clear that the COVID-19 pandemic was going to wreck the state's tax revenue, lawmakers in Utah got out their scissors.

It takes 3 weeks to escape Illinois

JULY 14, 2020 | MISH TALK | by Mike Shedlock

I am pleased to report we loaded our U-Haul rental yesterday and I am on the road driving to our new home in Utah.

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? 

Amid voter backlash, lawmakers will repeal tax reform package

JANUARY 24, 2020 | DESERET NEWS (UTAH) | by Lisa Roche

 The controversial tax reform package that sparked a referendum to let voters decide whether to raise sales taxes on food, gas and some services while reducing income taxes will be repealed instead by the Utah Legislature, state leaders announced Thursday.

Utah tax reform attracts opposites to referendum campaign

JANUARY 17, 2020 | THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE (UTAH) | by Benjamin Wood

A conservative Trump nominee and a liberal Salt Lake County councilwoman walk into a grocery store

Pressure grows for healthcare to get on the price transparency train

DECEMBER 9, 2019 | SUTHERLAND INSTITUTE (UTAH) | by Derek Monson

National hospital associations are suing the government to stop a federal price transparency rule for hospitals. Undeterred, the federal Department of Health and Human Services has also proposed a price transparency rule for insurers.

Utah transportation leaders get an unexpected gift: an extra $371 million to spend on some big projects

MARCH 25, 2019 | THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE | by Lee Davidson

First, sales taxes that help fund the state’s Transportation Investment Fund produced more than expected amid a healthy economy.

Compromise bill may save police pensions, but with a delay

MARCH 15, 2019 | KSL NEWS RADIO 102.7FM (UTAH) | by Mark Oliver, Paul Nelson, Becky Bruce

“… But the problem, Weiler says, has to do with a little-known rule in our state constitution. Every penny Utah earns through income taxes has to be put toward education. As a result, 80 percent of that budget surplus is tied up in education, leaving the government with little wiggle room for everything else. 'We have to run the whole rest of the state on sales tax, which has not been keeping pace,' Weiler says.”

Is it time to restrict voter initiatives?

FEBRUARY 1, 2019 | DESERET NEWS (UTAH) | by Jay Evensen

It’s a simple one to understand. Voters like having the power to write laws from time to time through petitions and initiatives. Lawmakers hate it.

Republican governors prioritize SNAP work requirements

JANUARY 14, 2019 | WATCHDOG | by Bethany Blankley

Prior to the new rules implemented by the Trump administration to strengthen work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), some Republican governor-led states had already begun implementing restrictions and eliminated the practice of submitting “geographic area waivers.”

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