Pandemic Programs Expire, Leaving States with Major Funding Gaps

OCTOBER 14, 2025

States face a significant loss of federal dollars as temporary pandemic-related programs that were initiated in 2020 come to an end and national fiscal pressures rise.

Virginia posts $21B surplus in new report

SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 | THE CENTER SQUARE | by Shirleen Guerra

(The Center Square) – Virginia ended fiscal year 2024 with more money than it needed to cover its bills, placing it in the top quarter of states reviewed in a new financial report.

Financial State of the States 2025

SEPTEMBER 25, 2025

Our sixteenth annual Financial State of the States (FSOS) report provides a comprehensive analysis of the fiscal health of all 50 states. 

Financial Transparency Score 2025

JULY 8, 2025

In the spirit of promoting clear and accurate fiscal information, Truth in Accounting has once again assessed the transparency of state governments’ financial reporting. While state budgets receive most of the public and media’s attention, their outcomes are detailed in each government's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), which is audited annually by certified public accountants. Our transparency score is based on key criteria outlining best practices, offering government officials and citizens a roadmap to enhance fiscal transparency and accountability.

Financial State of the States 2024

OCTOBER 3, 2024

Our fifteenth annual Financial State of the States (FSOS) report provides a comprehensive analysis of the fiscal health of all 50 states.

Financial Transparency Score 2024

APRIL 23, 2024

Truth in Accounting has once again created a transparency score for the financial reporting by state governments to encourage the publication of transparent and accurate government financial information.

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.

City of Norfolk seeks public input for American Rescue Plan funding use

FEBRUARY 1, 2022 | 13NEWS NOW – NORFOLK, VA | by Editorial

“The city of Norfolk was given $154.1 million in funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and leaders are seeking community input on how the money should be spent. If you're a resident who has ideas, there are a few ways you can make your voice heard. There are several drop-boxes across the city where you can submit your thoughts.”

Reason Foundation Vermont explores pension and OPEB reform

NOVEMBER 30, 2021 | REASON FOUNDATION | by Marc Joffe

By Marc Joffe, includes “The Pension Benefits, Design, and Funding Task Force created by the Vermont General Assembly is expected to release its findings in December.  … Truth in Accounting recently ranked Vermont 43rd of the 50 states based on its measure of ‘Taxpayer Surplus or Burden’ with a per capita burden of $24,000. ”

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.

Virginia public pension funds seek Bitcoin exposure

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 | INVESTING.COM | by Editorial

Includes “… The majority of the fund will be invested in blockchain firms, with only 15% going into cryptocurrencies themselves. … Back in December, JPMorgan predicted that pension funds could pull $600 billion into Bitcoin. … PORS is convinced that crypto markets are not showing the true value of cryptocurrencies.”

Can insurers be a pension safety net?

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | NASDAQ | by Alina Tugend

By Alina Tugend, includes “Pensions are complicated enough without employers passing the buck onto someone else, but increasingly, that is what's happening. … When an insurer takes over the plan, that pension is no longer protected by federal law, but rather state law, which regulates insurance companies."

Virginia sees improvement on U-Haul ranking of states people are moving to

JANUARY 11, 2021 | INSIDE NOVA (VIRGINIA)

Ranking 28th out of 50 on any list may not be something to brag about, but for Virginia, it represents a degree of improvement.

Virginia lawmakers reach compromised deal on state budget

OCTOBER 16, 2020 | NBC-TV 12 NEWS (VIRGINIA) | by Henry Graff

Virginia Republican lawmakers are crying foul over a deal reached this week on the state’s two-year budget. 

Virginia gets a ā€˜C’ grade for future debt in unfunded public pensions

OCTOBER 9, 2020 | VIRGINIA PUBLIC RADIO

Virginia prides itself on being a state that has a balanced budget. But, that doesn’t mean the Commonwealth is without debt. Michael Pope reports.

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.

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