Texas Lawmakers Boost Emerging Tech Fund by $50M, Pass R&D Tax Credit
The budget agreement reached by Texas lawmakers earlier this week includes $50 million in new funds to provide grants to technology companies for research and commercialization activities under the Emerging Technology Fund (ETF). A bill to address accountability and transparency of the fund was passed in the House, but later removed from the Senate calendar despite controversy surrounding the decision-making authority of the grants.
Federal Government Transfers By State, 2011
Politics often gets entangled in economic development policy, occasionally around the incendiary argument around who are the “makers” and who are the “takers.” The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) provides data on the amount of government transfers to households including those related to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, income maintenance programs and unemployment insurance.
NASBO Recommends Better Budgeting Practices for States
Knowing when to implement budget cuts or reserve measures and how to reduce expenditures while minimizing service disruption are valuable best practices that can be shared as a result of the recession’s impact to state fiscal conditions. These messages are among several recommendations from the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) outlined in a new report. Modifying the timing of temporary tax increases is one such example.
Finding causes for states’ tax return shortfalls
Many states took another hit to their budgets in April, with income tax revenue falling 4 percent compared to last year according to a new report from the Rockefeller Institute of Government. By the Numbers takes a look at the declining revenue, which it says was worse for April and May this year than had been forecast, but not as large as some states have experienced in recent years.
Many states took another hit to their budgets in April, with income tax revenue falling 4 percent compared to last year according to a new report from the Rockefeller Institute of Government. By the Numbers takes a look at the declining revenue, which it says was worse for April and May this year than had been forecast, but not as large as some states have experienced in recent years. Several explanations are explored.
Tax Revenues Still Lag Behind Pre-Recession Peak in 26 States
U.S. state tax revenues declined for the first time since the recent economic crisis, according to reports from the Rockefeller Institute of Government and the Pew Charitable Trusts. The small drop in revenues is not being viewed as a sign of another fiscal collapse, but does indicate that the recovery may be slowing. For the 26 states in which revenues still have not returned to 2008 levels, the slowdown may suggest that a full recovery could still be years away.
Cities’ Financial Outlook Improves in 2013
City finance officers were better able to meet financial needs in 2013 than in 2012 and, despite national economic indicators pointing to continued slow growth, improved conditions for city budgets are projected for 2014 and beyond. These are among the findings in the National League of Cities annual survey on city fiscal conditions. Sales and income taxes seem to be a bright spot for cities. In 2012, city sales tax receipts increased over previous year receipts by 6.2 percent, similar to growth levels seen prior to the recession.
Surpluses Abound in Many States, but Deficits Projected on the Horizon
An improved fiscal picture emerged for many states in 2013 with several states recently reporting year-end surpluses. Revenue growth and modified tax policies largely contributed to the rebound. Some analysts warn this trend could be short lived, however.
State revenues not hit as hard by pandemic as anticipated
State revenues experienced their steepest plunge in 25 years in the final quarter of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, according to a recent analysis by Pew. It also notes that while some of those revenues were expected to be recovered, nearly half of all states were still projecting revenue declines this fiscal year.
NASBO State Expenditure Report shows increases in spending and revenue collections
The National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) is reporting that total state spending rose in FY 2018, exceeding $2 trillion for the first time. While spending increased in both FY 2017 (3.8 percent) and 2018 (4.6 percent), it was still below the historical average of 5.6 percent, with the strongest growth in spending reported in the far West and Southeast. All program areas experienced an increase in total state spending, with Medicaid showing the largest percentage increase.
NASBO Fiscal Survey shows 14.5% growth in general fund revenues
The National Association of State Budget Officers’ (NASBO) Fall 2022 Fiscal Survey of States, released last month, reflects a more positive fiscal environment than last year and found that F