Budget Blog

Most states saw revenue growth in fiscal 2021 primarily resulting from a strengthening national economy and federal stimulus programs. The revenue gains in fiscal 2021 were in contrast to fiscal 2020, when states saw revenues decline after nine consecutive years of growth. Overall, revenues have outperformed projections from earlier in the pandemic (when most states enacted their fiscal 2021 budgets). Several factors help explain recent improvements in states’ revenue outlooks, including: federal stimulus measures have put a lot of additional money into the economy, which helped to lessen state revenue losses; high-income ... More

As of July 19, 47 states have enacted a full-year budget for fiscal 2022. States have been enacting fiscal 2022 budgets during a time when fiscal conditions continue to strengthen as the economy recovers from the pandemic and additional federal aid flows to state and local governments. As noted in NASBO’s Spring 2021 Fiscal Survey of States , 40 out of 50 states saw revenue declines compared to pre-pandemic projections over the two-year period from fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2021. However, most states’ enacted fiscal 2022 budgets include an increase in both state spending and revenue. Forty-six states began their fiscal ... More

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 was signed into law by President Biden on March 11. The bill includes $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. These State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds are to remain available until December 31, 2024. The legislation details certain eligible use of the funds including responding to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, providing premium pay for essential front-line workers, replacing revenue losses due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband ... More

States’ budget processes, documented in NASBO’s 2021 edition of Budget Processes in the States released today, play a critical role in how spending and revenue decisions are made. Over the past year, various facets of the budget process helped drive how and when states took fiscal actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Does a state budget on an annual or biennial basis? How frequently does the state release official revenue estimates? Does the executive branch have the authority to spend unanticipated federal funds without legislative approval? Can a state carry over a deficit under certain conditions? ... More