Thursday, January 23, 2014

State Finances for FY 2012

On January 23, 2014 the US Census Bureau released data on state finances for FY 2012 here, including spending and revenue for each individual state and for all states combined.

On January 23, 2014 we updated state and local spending and revenue data for FY2012 through FY2018 as follows:
  1. We replaced "guesstimated" state spending and revenue data for FY2012 using the new FY2012 data from the Census Bureau.
  2. We replaced "guesstimated" local spending and revenue data for FY 2012 with estimates for each spending and revenue category using the trends in state finances between FY 2011 and FY 2012.
  3. We replaced "guesstimated" state revenue data for FY 2013 with data from the Census Bureau's quarterly state tax summary here.
  4. We replaced "guesstimated" local revenue data for FY 2013 with estimates for each category using trends for each category of state revenue between FY 2012 and FY 2013.
  5. We replaced "guesstimated" state and local spending and revenue for FY 2014 thru FY2018 with new guesstimates based on the latest Census Bureau data for FY 2012 state finances and FY 2013 quarterly tax data.
The Census Bureau expects to release local spending and revenue data for FY 2012 in Summer 2014.

2 comments:

  1. I left this comment on a much older post about your data sources, but I thought posting it here might increase its likelihood of being seen:

    I have a question about your data for State Spending. I would like to be able to use your data, as it seems super helpful. However I cannot seem to corroborate the number you provide with other sources, including the source cited on your website. This is by no means an accusation, I am just trying to figure out what is being reported under "spending," as state spending reporting is a little muddled, and what is included as spending can vary state by state, and there are several ways of classifying spending. If I knew what figure was being reported, then I would know if this is actually the data I am looking for.

    As an example, Massachusetts Total State Spending in 2000- the value (in millions of $) given by your website is $23,237. However when I go into the Census report that you ultimately link to ( http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/01statab/stlocgov.pdf -pg277 of the document, pg21 of the .pdf file) that value shows up nowhere in the document. They have a Total Expenditure $26,532, and a General Fund Expenditures $20,828, and that is the closest I can find.

    If I am simply missing something, or looking in the wrong file please let me know.

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spending for state and local governments is "direct" spending by the state or local government on programs. So it doesn't include grants made to another level of government so it can spend the money. Typically state budgets include gross spending including grants to other levels.

      Best way to contact me is by email. It's in the right hand column under "About Me".

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