State Budgets

The Williams Report: October 2018

BUDGET:

Alaska: New State Budget Report Predicts State Savings Accounts Will Be Empty by 2021

Alaska’s persistent funding crisis continues as the state is forced to underfund entitlements and state law enforcement. The Alaska Permanent Fund will loom large as legislators flirt with lowering the yearly dividend below what state law requires.

Georgia: State Agencies Mostly Seek More for Pay, Staffing in Next Budget

In budget requests for FY 2020, state agencies requested larger budgets for more staff and higher pay after workers did not receive cost of living adjustments this year. But more money to state agencies will clash with increases in state spending on K-12 education, higher ed, and Medicaid.

Iowa: $127 Million Budget Surplus Thanks to Federal Tax Reform

An increase in corporate income tax receipts has led to $127 million more in state revenue for FY 2018. A growing economy has also led to personal income tax and sales tax revenue being higher than expected.

Maryland: Revenue Projections Increased by $732 Million

Described by Comptroller Peter Franchot as “a tidal wave of new cash,” federal tax reform and the strong economy created a surge in tax revenue beyond what Maryland forecasted for FY 2018. Low unemployment coupled with wage growth also led to higher-than-expected income tax revenue.

Nebraska: Gov. Ricketts Says New State Budget Will Focus on Property Taxes and Public Schools

Governor Pete Ricketts will push for property tax relief and increased aid to K-12 education during the 2019 legislative session. Nebraska may be able to cut taxes and increase education spending through a revenue windfall resulting from economic growth and federal tax reform.

New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy Proposes $500M State-Run Venture Capital Fund

Rather than prioritizing broad-based tax relief, Governor Phil Murphy aims to auction tax incentives to existing corporations and inject the resulting money into targeted tech-related startups.

Pennsylvania: Lawmaker Wants to Get ‘Fake Revenue’ Out of His State’s Budgeting Process

State Representative Seth Grove is pushing for consensus budget forecasting to depoliticize the forecasting process. By moving from three separate revenue estimates to one, from a Joint Revenue Estimation Committee, Rep. Grove expects to increase forecast accuracy and reduce deficits.

Washington: Forecast Shows Another Uptick in Washington State Revenue

At the midpoint of Washington’s two-year budget cycle, the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council revised projections to show a $348 million increase in revenue. If the forecast is accurate and state spending remains at expected levels, Washington will have $3.2 billion in reserves at the end of the current budget cycle.

PENSIONS:

General: How Public Pension Boards Are Making a Crisis Worse

Public pension boards face negative incentives that encourage short-term gains in exchange for much higher long-term costs. Often comprised of political appointees and elected representatives, public pension boards chase high rates of return in exchange for riskier investments that don’t hold up over time.

California: CalPERS hired a CEO without a College Degree. Now the Public Pension Fund is Explaining Why

Hired in 2016, Marcie Frost claimed to be “not degreed yet” when hired as CEO of CalPERS, the nation’s largest public pension fund, and allegedly misrepresented her enrollment at Evergreen State College. CalPERS did not list a college degree as a necessary qualification for the position when searching for the next CEO to replace outgoing Anne Stausboll.

Kentucky: Pension Reform Case Now in Hands of Supreme Court Justices

Pension reform bill SB 151, passed by the Kentucky General Assembly and signed by Governor Matt Bevin, was declared unconstitutional by lower courts as the bill did not follow proper legislative procedure in the Senate. The Kentucky Supreme Court heard oral arguments in late September and the court is expected to announce a decision in late 2018.

New Jersey:  Sweeney Panel Proposes ‘401(k) Pension’ for some State, Local Workers

A key recommendation from Senate President Steve Sweeney to move state employees with less than five years of experience to a new 401(k)-like pension system has public unions mobilizing opposition. The proposal is expected to save New Jersey billions of dollars and help fund a state-estimated $115 billion pension funding gap.

Pennsylvania: Two Biggest Pennsylvania Public Pension Funds Underreported $3.8 Billion in Private Equity Fees

The Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employee Retirement System (SERS) underreported 33 percent of fees paid to private equity firms amounting to $3.8 billion. The fees were paid as a charge for investing in riskier assets that promise higher returns, but tend to be more expensive.


In Depth: State Budgets

Smart budgeting is vital to a state’s financial health. The ALEC State Budget Reform Toolkit offers more than 20 policy ideas for addressing today’s shortfalls in a forthright manner, without resorting to budget gimmicks or damaging tax increases. One way to stabilize budgets over time is to embrace…

+ State Budgets In Depth