State Budget Conditions

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The state budget process is central to the administration of state government. As well as allocating resources, budgets set policy, review and evaluate policy, and lay the foundation for future planning and program review. However, state fiscal conditions change throughout the fiscal year. Tracking these conditions is crucial in addressing fiscal challenges that arise.

NCSL conducts periodic surveys and publishes the results in State Budget Updates. These reports address state fiscal conditions in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Based on data collected by legislative fiscal officers in the 50 states and territories, State Budget Update is the definitive source for the current fiscal conditions in the states.

Keeping state budgets balanced has been difficult for state legislators in recent years. Many states continue to face budget challenges due to the lingering effects of the “Great Recession.” In light of this era of constrained state finances, NCSL has compiled information on measures, both proposed and enacted, that states are taking to bring budgets into balance.

Here are the key issues covered in these documents:

• State fiscal conditions as reported in NCSL's State Budget Update;
• Measures to balance budgets;
• Strategies to manage budget shortfalls;
• State funding trends;
• State budget status; and
• Top fiscal issues for legislative sessions.

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