Most state capitols? Where? Whom? To my knowledge there is not one state in the West [Pacific and Rocky Mt states] that has not cut back on expenditures. So what states is this author talking about....
Examples of total state spending in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 in the following states (figures for 2009 and 2010 are estimates):
California: $141 billion; $153 billion; $169 billion; $187 billion
New Jersey: $45 billion; $48 billion; $51 billion; $54 billion
Ohio: $49 billion; $50 billion; $52 billion; $54 billion
Texas: $69 billion; $75 billion; $83 billion; $91 billion
Do you understand.....budgets are done the year before....so then, the 2008 budget numbers up above were prepared in 2007 before the downturn. He admits athat the numbers for 2009 and 2010 are estimates....presumably his. In WA state, the budget was cut even more in mid year 2009 because revenues had fallen further than originally projected.
As for the numbers he put together up above....there is no link supporting those numbers. So then, why do you trust that they are accurate?
Even More Update: Pity the poor, poor states. In 2005, they had aggregate revenue amounting to $1,049 billion. In 2008, they pulled in a total of $1,251 billion and still were going broke (those are real numbers, btw, not estimates). It's like a disturbing version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's essay, "How to Live on $36,000 a Year," which describes how the author's balance sheet took a beating precisely when the big bucks started rolling in.
From within the article you posted:
States braced to tighten 2010 belts amid $14.8B in shortfalls
By Judy Keen, USA TODAY
States across the nation begin the year facing grim budget shortfalls that could mean a repeat of the service cuts, layoffs or furloughs and higher fees imposed in 2009, a USA TODAY survey shows.
States passed fiscal 2010 general-fund budgets totaling $627.9 billion, 5.4% less than a year earlier, says a study released last month by the National Association of State Budget Officers and National Governors Association.
Despite cuts, shortfalls for the 2010 fiscal year, which in most states began July 1, are $14.8 billion, the study says. The gap in 2011: $21.9 billion.
The liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says new gaps have opened up in at least 39 states' budgets for the current fiscal year. In all, every state except Montana and North Dakota addressed or still faces budget shortfalls for fiscal year 2010. "Very large" shortfalls likely will last through 2012, says Nicholas Johnson, an author of that study.
"One of the big challenges for (this) year is that states have done most of the easy things," he says. Another problem: Federal economic stimulus funds, which helped fill gaps, will soon begin to expire.
"We're going to have to bite the bullet and do some more cutting," says Republican state Sen. Ron Jelinek, appropriations committee chairman in Michigan. He expects to tackle a shortfall of up to $1.8 billion when the session begins Jan. 13.
Illinois' budget shortfall of at least $11 billion "is catastrophic," says state Sen. Donne Trotter, a Democrat who chairs the appropriations committee.
Among other states where sharp revenue drops mean tough decisions in current or 2011 budgets:
•California. The state has a $6.3 billion projected shortfall for the current fiscal year and a $14.4 billion gap in its next budget. "Virtually every aspect of state government is going to be affected by the budget-balancing," says H.D. Palmer, Department of Finance spokesman. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger releases his budget Friday.
•Georgia. When legislators convene Monday, they will debate cuts of about $1.3 billion, says Republican state Sen. Jack Hill, appropriations committee chairman. "We won't have any money to spend for a long time," he says.
•Oklahoma. Revenue fell $729 million short of expectations, and "we still have a $450 million hole," Treasurer Scott Meacham says. Budget troubles are spurring a "fundamental re-examination" of state government's size and services, he says.
•Virginia. Legislators return Jan. 13 to deal with a shortfall estimated to reach $3.5 billion over two years. "We're hoping 2012 might be ... better in terms of revenue performance," says Betsey Daley, Senate Finance Committee staff director.
•Iowa. After government reorganization is in place and surplus reserves are tapped, the Legislature will have "a real budget issue" of up to $250 million when it meets Monday, says House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Democrat.
usatoday.com
Why do you all believe stuff so readily that runs against common wisdom but fits your ideology? Its crazy making. |
