Tag: Budget

Tag: Budget

  • A Spark of Hope for New Jersey’s Growing Debt Problem image

    A Spark of Hope for New Jersey’s Growing Debt Problem

    So long as there are those willing to have “hard and honest conversations” about unfunded liabilities, there is hope for reform.

  • The Williams Report: January 2019 image

    The Williams Report: January 2019

    BUDGET Arizona: Gov. Ducey’s Budget Proposal Adds to Arizona Education Spending Gov. Doug Ducey’s first budget since re-election contains a substantial increase in education spending. Arizona can…

  • The Williams Report, August 2018 image

    The Williams Report, August 2018

    Budget: Illinois: State Admits to Billion-Dollar Budget Hole The Rauner Administration acknowledged a $1.2 billion structural deficit in an offer to sell $920 million in state bonds.

  • Federal Funds Commission Act image

    Federal Funds Commission Act

    Model Policy {Title, Enacting Clause, etc.} Section 1. This Act may be cited as the Federal Funds Commission Act. Section 2. {Definitions.} (A) “Commission” means the {insert state}…

  • Committee to Reduce Government Waste & Nonessential Expenditures image

    Committee to Reduce Government Waste & Nonessential Expenditures

    Model Policy Section 1 {Commission created; purpose; composition; compensation and expenses; office space} There is hereby created the Joint Commission on Reduction of Nonessential State Expenditures in the legislative branch…

  • Trouble in Paradise: Hawaii Governor Ige Acknowledges  Livability Concerns image

    Trouble in Paradise: Hawaii Governor Ige Acknowledges Livability Concerns

    The governor took note of several pressing concerns—energy, affordable housing, education, and income growth. However, many of his solutions threaten to aggravate the underlying problems.

  • Oklahoma State of the State: Governor Fallin Delivers Stern Tax and Spend Message image

    Oklahoma State of the State: Governor Fallin Delivers Stern Tax and Spend Message

    Despite early promise of being a bold reformer, the governor now zealously possesses the tax and spend mantle. And the spending extends beyond education. She promises a cornucopia of spending courtesy of the tax hikes on “initiatives that each of you are passionate about.”

  • New Mexico State of the State: Governor Applauds Economic Diversification and Pushes for Comprehensive Tax Reform image

    New Mexico State of the State: Governor Applauds Economic Diversification and Pushes for Comprehensive Tax Reform

    The governor’s proposals for comprehensive tax reform, economic diversification, infrastructure spending prioritization, and education reform can generate longer-term opportunities. However, additional changes are needed. The state’s tort system and worker’s compensation costs remain economic drags. The relative lack of tax and expenditure limits and 8th highest number of state employees per capita contribute to a bloated state government.

  • Alaska State of the State: Governor Calls for Expanded Energy Production along with Higher Taxes image

    Alaska State of the State: Governor Calls for Expanded Energy Production along with Higher Taxes

    Governor Walker's wholehearted support for a continued energy production renaissance, energy infrastructure development, and expanded international trade bode well for an Alaskan economic rebound. However, the continued advocacy for income taxes and sales taxes combined with lack of acknowledgement of much-needed operational reforms threatens to negatively counter those pro-growth actions.

  • Wyoming State of the State: Fiscal Soundness Despite Setbacks in Energy Sector of Economy image

    Wyoming State of the State: Fiscal Soundness Despite Setbacks in Energy Sector of Economy

    Wyoming enjoys the 8th best economic outlook in the nation, according to Rich States, Poor States. This outlook has failed to translate into performance largely due to numerous macroeconomic factors and regulatory measures. The governor’s commitment to state regulatory reform, bureaucratic downsizing, and budget reform has resulted in the state weathering this storm with a strong balance sheet and low taxes. Rather than resort to higher taxes or centrally planned economic development, the continuation of a business-friendly climate is needed to incentivize further diversification and future growth of the economy.

  • Utah State of the State: Acting Today with the Future in Mind image

    Utah State of the State: Acting Today with the Future in Mind

    Even with the modest changes to property taxes and a possible increase in the gas tax, Utah’s overall pro-business status remains unrivaled. Economic growth and jobs growth over 10 years are 5th highest and 3rd highest, respectively. Perhaps Utah has indeed “become that shining city on a hill for our nation.”

  • New Hampshire State of the State Address image

    New Hampshire State of the State Address

    One of the youngest governors in the nation, Governor Chris Sununu, recently delivered his second State of the State address. He focused on New Hampshire’s unique strengths and commented,…

  • New Jersey Inauguration: Governor Murphy Claims the Moral High Ground in Bid to Expand Government image

    New Jersey Inauguration: Governor Murphy Claims the Moral High Ground in Bid to Expand Government

    Governor Murphy failed to recognize that those on the other side of the aisle may share the same ultimate policy outcome goals—justice, fairness, and growth—albeit with far different policy preferences. This threatens to block pragmatic bipartisan progress on numerous pressing issues.

  • Joffe: Florida Leads The Way on Budget Transparency with Municipal XBRL image

    Joffe: Florida Leads The Way on Budget Transparency with Municipal XBRL

    By Marc Joffe @ Reason Foundation Spiraling pension costs and several municipal bankruptcies have heightened interest in local government financial conditions. Unfortunately, municipalities and special districts are…

  • The Williams Report image

    The Williams Report

    Budget National: S&P finds tariffs could hurt state, city budgets Alabama: The Alabama Senate delivers a general fund budget to the governor’s office. Alaska: To avert shutdown…

  • Colorado State of the State:  Hickenlooper’s Pursuit of Taxes image

    Colorado State of the State: Hickenlooper’s Pursuit of Taxes

    The governor is right that “by almost any measure, we’ve become one of the best places for business in America.” But expanding crony capitalism and increasing the tax burden make maintaining this coveted status more difficult. Following five consecutive years in the top 10 for economic outlook in Rich States, Poor States, Colorado dropped to 16th in 2013 and has failed to fully recover. A sharpened focus on regulatory reform and pension reform are required to guarantee continued success in the Centennial State.

  • Kansas State of the State: Gov. Brownback Resists Tax Hikes, Calls for Constitutional Amendment on Ed Financing image

    Kansas State of the State: Gov. Brownback Resists Tax Hikes, Calls for Constitutional Amendment on Ed Financing

    The governor’s rejection of a tax increase is welcomed news for taxpayers. Just last year, legislators overrode his veto in order to enact an enormous tax increase of $1.2 billion over the next two years alone. This tax hike on individuals and businesses wiped out much of the tax reductions from the 2012 reforms. Avoiding a new tax increase, pushing for a voter-approved constitutional amendment on school financing, and demanding educational reforms will help avoid compounding the damage from last year’s tax hikes.  

  • The Williams Report image

    The Williams Report

    Budget Alabama: The Alabama Senate passed a $2 billion dollar general fund budget. The increase is due primarily to $51 million dollars of additional appropriations to the Department of…

  • Arizona State of the State: Confidence and Conviction, Promise and Possibility image

    Arizona State of the State: Confidence and Conviction, Promise and Possibility

    Arizona Governor Doug Ducey delivered a sunny State of the State address, highlighting the “capacity of our state, and its people, to always be ahead of the…

  • South Dakota Legislative Proposals Would Dramatically Reform Spending, Provide Stability, & Deliver Tax Relief image

    South Dakota Legislative Proposals Would Dramatically Reform Spending, Provide Stability, & Deliver Tax Relief

    Two pieces of legislation working their way through the South Dakota legislature could provide spending restraint along with property tax relief for residents. The first is SJR 5, which is…