// BEGIN editorial data
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AJ_StateBudgets090526.ID = "AJ_StateBudgets090526";
AJ_StateBudgets090526.ID_WB = 30889726;
AJ_StateBudgets090526.sPubDate = "5/27/2009 10:53:23 PM GMT";
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AJ_StateBudgets090526.appHeader = "state-by-state| State of the states";
AJ_StateBudgets090526.appDeck = "Most states, nearly all of which face steep projected deficits, have yet to finalize their budgets even though the new fiscal year starts July 1 in most of the country. Click on a state to see how it is handling its budget problems. (All data through May 25.)";
AJ_StateBudgets090526.appFooter = "Alex Johnson/msnbc.com. Sources: State budget offices; local NBC stations; National Council of State Legislatures; Associated Press";
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AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","STATE OF THE STATES","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Alabama","","","","", "", "AL", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Up-to-date figures are not available because Alabama's October-October budget is still in midyear. The state constitution prohibits running a deficit; Gov. Bob Riley has cut 12.5 percent from education spending through the rest of the fiscal year.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Alaska","","","","", "", "AK", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Sharply declining oil revenue forced lawmakers to cut the state operating budget for next year by more than 14 percent.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Arizona","","","","", "", "AZ", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a proposed budget that would cut more than a quarter of anticipated spending to close a $3 billion deficit.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Arkansas","","","","", "", "AR", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Arkansas balanced its budget by dipping into surplus funds, raising tobacco taxes and changing state unemployment law to qualify for more federal stimulus funds.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","California","","","","", "", "CA", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The state faces a potential $42 billion deficit by the end of the calendar year after voters rejected five ballot measures to address the budget process. Deep cuts in education, health care and public safety are likely.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Colorado","","","","", "", "CO", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The budget includes about 7 percent in cuts, suspends a previously approved property tax cut for senior citizens and authorizes the governor to use as much as $150 million from the state's reserve fund.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Connecticut","","","","", "", "CT", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Negotiations have stalled on a budget as the state is running a $1 billion deficit, which is projected to grow to $8.7 billion over the next two years.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","D.C.","","","","", "", "DC", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The District passed a $5.4 billion budget in May that cuts city jobs and raises fees to make up a projected $800 million deficit.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Delaware","","","","", "", "DE", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Negotiations are under way to resolve a projected $800 million deficit in the state's $3 billion budget.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Florida","","","","", "", "FL", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Lawmakers have approved a plan to close a $6 billion deficit by using stimulus money, cutting funds for transportation and schools and authorizing spending from state savings accounts.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Georgia","","","","", "", "GA", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The budget approved in May cuts 12 percent in state spending, raises health insurance costs and builds in state employee furloughs. ";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Hawaii","","","","", "", "HI", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The Legislature’s $5 billion spending plan would cut some departments' budgets by more than 20 percent, raise taxes on oil and Internet purchases, and restrict technology investment tax credits.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Idaho","","","","", "", "ID", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Lawmakers closed a projected gap of nearly $1 billion in the budget by reducing spending on schools, killing an ethanol tax credit and incorporating $1.2 billion in federal stimulus funds.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Illinois","","","","", "", "IL", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
With a projected deficit of $11.6 billion, Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed a 50 percent state income tax increase, 7,000 teacher layoffs and cuts in health care and higher education.
";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Indiana","","","","", "", "IN", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The Legislature is scheduled to convene in special session to reach a budget compromise that would close a projected $1 billion shortfall.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Iowa","","","","", "", "IA", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Lawmakers balanced the budget largely with federal stimulus money. The state auditor calculated that the budget will run a $1 billion deficit in 2011.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Kansas","","","","", "", "KS", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Lawmakers cut 4 percent in spending, most heavily in schools, and relied on half a billion dollars in federal stimulus money to balance their $13 billion budget.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Kentucky","","","","", "", "KY", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Gov. Steve Beshear has projected a $1 billion shortfall next year and may call the Legislature into special session later this year to resolve the gap.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Louisiana","","","","", "", "LA", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The Senate is considering a House-passed budget that would cut higher education and health care spending and lay off about 3,500 state workers to close a projected $1.3 billion gap in next year's $28 billion budget.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Maine","","","","", "", "ME", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The Legislature is considering the House Appropriations Committee's rewrite of Gov. John Baldacci's budget. The new plan would rely heavily on federal stimulus money, shut down the state government for 10 days over the next two years, freeze merit pay increases and force state workers to pay some of their health insurance costs.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Maryland","","","","", "", "MD", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The state is seeking $200 million in midyear budget cuts because of unexpected drops in revenue figures that were used to develop the fiscal 2010 budget in April. Gov. Martin O'Malley called on state departments to \"eliminate whole programs.\"";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Massachusetts","","","","", "", "MA", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The Senate has approved higher sales, alcohol, hotel and meal taxes to close a projected $1.5 billion gap. Republicans are proposing to freeze state wages.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Michigan","","","","", "", "MI", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
With revised figures projecting state revenue to fall 26 percent next year, Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed budget is being reworked. She has ordered most state departments to cut 8 percent from their budgets, but Republicans are seeking larger cuts. ";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Minnesota","","","","", "", "MN", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is exercising his authority to unilaterally cut spending after he and lawmakers failed to work out a compromise budget. He must find $2.7 billion in cuts, which he plans to announce July 1.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Mississippi","","","","", "", "MS", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
With state revenue down nearly $400 million, the Legislature remains divided on a $5 billion budget. Gov. Haley Barbour has sought a $90 million tax increase on hospitals to pay for Medicaid, while the Senate has proposed cutting education and public safety spending.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Missouri","","","","", "", "MO", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Lawmakers passed a $23 billion fiscal 2010 budget that it balanced with $785 million in federal stimulus money. To make ends meet this year, the state cut agency spending, borrowed from its cash reserves and delayed tax refunds. ";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Montana","","","","", "", "MT", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Lawmakers cut agency spending by 2 percent and relied on $900 million in federal stimulus money to balance the $8 billion budget that covers the next two years.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Nebraska","","","","", "", "NE", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
A $6.2 billion budget for the next two years was balanced with funds from the state's cash reserve and about $500 million of federal stimulus money.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Nevada","","","","", "", "NV", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Gov. Jim Gibbons and the Legislature are working on deep cuts in a $6.8 billion spending plan for the next two years. Gibbons has proposed cutting higher education funding by 36 percent, while lawmakers have approved 12 days a year of furloughs for teachers and about $800 million in higher sales, income and business taxes. Gibbons is expected to veto the measure.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","New Jersey","","","","", "", "NJ", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
To close a $2 billion projected deficit, Gov. Jon Corzine's revised budget proposal would cancel most property tax rebates, raise income taxes on the wealthy and on HMOs, and reduce planned increases in education spending. ";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","New Hampshire","","","","", "", "NH", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Gov. John Lynch has threatened to veto the $11 billion two-year budget over a legislative proposal to raise the gas tax by 15 cents a gallon to help close a $550 million gap.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","New Mexico","","","","", "", "NM", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
A $5.5 billion budget approved in early April will cut state spending by 5 percent and raise state workers' pension contributions.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","New York","","","","", "", "NY", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
A $132 billion budget approved in April included an $18 billion deficit that was closed with new taxes and federal stimulus money.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","North Carolina","","","","", "", "NC", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The House and the Senate were working on differences between their versions of a budget that must make up a projected $3 billion shortfall. Among the proposals are an 11 percent cut in schools funding that would result in the layoffs of 6,000 teachers.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","North Dakota","","","","", "", "ND", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Bolstered by $660 million in federal stimulus money, the record $8.8 billion two-year budget actually increases spending by 36 percent, much of it for infrastructure and education.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Ohio","","","","", "", "OH", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The Senate is considering a House-passed $54 billion two-year budget that was balanced by cutting spending on charter schools, depleting the state's reserves of $1 billion and incorporating $2.2 billion of federal stimulus money. Even then, the plan includes projected deficits of at least $2.5 billion in each of the next two years.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Oklahoma","","","","", "", "OK", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The Legislature's $7.2 billion budget was balanced by cutting most agency spending by 7 percent and incorporating $631 million of federal stimulus money.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Oregon","","","","", "", "OR", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
After revised revenue figures projected a $4.4 billion shortfall, lawmakers are considering a $14.6 billion two-year budget that would lay off 1,700 state workers and raise taxes and fees by $800 million. The higher education budget would be cut by 14 percent.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Pennsylvania","","","","", "", "PA", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Facing a $3 billion deficit, lawmakers are considering rival Democratic and Republican budgets. The Democratic plan would raise tobacco and natural gas taxes and spend money from the state's reserves, while the Republican plan would close the gap strictly through spending cuts.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Rhode Island","","","","", "", "RI", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Skeptical legislators sharply criticized Gov. Don Carcieri's proposal to phase out the corporate tax and cut personal and estate taxes. Carcieri said his plan would lure enough new taxpayers to the state to raise the revenue to close a $590 million projected deficit.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","South Carolina","","","","", "", "SC", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The state government is on the brink of chaos as lawmakers battle Gov. Mark Sanford over his insistence that only he can decide whether and how to spend federal stimulus money. The Legislature overrode Sanford's vetoes of its $5.7 billion budget plan. Sanford responded by suing the Legislature, which agreed to federal directions to use stimulus money to make up shortfalls in education spending.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","South Dakota","","","","", "", "SD", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
After revised figures more than doubled the state's projected shortfall to more than $133 million, Gov. Mike Rounds submitted a revised budget that would cut spending on education by 3.4 percent, welfare programs by 3.7 percent and public safety by 3 percent.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Tennessee","","","","", "", "TN", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Facing a projected deficit of $1.4 billion, Gov. Phil Bredeson said the Legislature may have to cut more spending and lay off more state workers than he proposed in his $29 billion budget in March, which already cut spending by $760 million.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Texas","","","","", "", "TX", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Lawmakers in oil-rich Texas, one of the few states running a surplus until recently, were nearing completion of a $180 billion two-year budget that would raise spending on education, health care and roads, incorporating $11 billion in federal stimulus money.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Utah","","","","", "", "UT", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Lawmakers cut about 5 percent of spending, including 5.2 percent for schools, to balance the $10.6 billion fiscal 2010 budget, which they passed in March. ";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Vermont","","","","", "", "VT", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The Legislature's $4.5 billion budget would close a $281 million gap by cutting state programs by $59 million, raising taxes by $21 million, tapping the reserve fund and incorporating $175 million in federal money. Gov. Jim Douglas is expected to veto the measure, and a special session is scheduled to being next week.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Virginia","","","","", "", "VA", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The state is in the middle of its two-year budget cycle, but it must take action to make up for revenues that are now expected to come in as much as $225 million below projections for this fiscal year. For the year, state revenue has fallen by 8.8 percent, the largest drop on record. ";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Washington","","","","", "", "WA", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
The $31 billion two-year budget approved this month made up a projected $9 billion shortfall by cutting low-income health coverage by 40 percent, raising state employee health coverage payments by less than half the rate of inflation, freezing state salaries, cutting per-student school spending allocations, tapping the state's reserve and relying on federal stimulus money.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","West Virginia","","","","", "", "WV", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
Lawmakers were considering cuts to Gov. Joe Manchin's proposed $4.3 billion budget after revised figures projected that it would come in with a nearly $200 million deficit. Manchin has asked agencies to cut their spending by 4 percent to 5 percent.";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Wisconsin","","","","", "", "WI", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
After projected revenue shortfalls grew by $1.6 billion in just the last month - on top of $5 billion in cuts he had already identified in his two-year budget proposal - Gov. Jim Doyle ordered an across-the-board 5 percent spending cut and said as many as 1,400 state workers could be laid off. ";
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i++] = new Array("","Wyoming","","","","", "", "WY", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AJ_StateBudgets090526[i-1].body = "
In response to a steep decline in mineral tax revenue, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said he was likely to cut spending by as much as 10 percent in the budget he will propose in June.";
// END editorial data