Update: State Data for FY 2008

On December 12, 2009, usgovernmentspending.com updated its database with the latest data release on State Government Spending and Revenue from the US Census Bureau. The latest data is for fiscal year 2008. Previously the data displayed for 2008 was "guesstimated" based on a crude projection of spending and revenue levels from 2007.

This includes data for individual states and data and aggregate spending and revenue data for all states.

Here is the current status of state and local government spending and revenue data.

• Data for state and local governments up to and including 2007 is actual data reported to and published by the Census Bureau.
• State government spending and revenue data for 2008 is actual data reported to and published by the Census Bureau.
• State government tax data for 2008 is actual data reported to and published by the Census Bureau.
• State data for 2009 (except state tax data for 2009) and subsequent years is "guesstimated" by projecting the change in each spending or revenue item between 2007 and 2008 forward. Maximum change is 15 percent. Minimum change is zero percent.
• Local government and combined state and local data for 2008 and subsequent years is "guesstimated" by projecting the change in each spending or revenue item between 2006 and 2007 forward. Maximum change is 15 percent. Minimum change is zero percent.

Caveat on "Guesstimated" Data

The crude "guesstimation" that usgovernmentspending.com applies to data after 2007 (the last year for which the US Census Bureau provides data) is a way to get a rough look at total government spending in the present year and the near future.

But in the current recession state and local spending is probably higher than "guesstimated" and revenue is probably significantly lower than "guesstimated."

The US Census Bureau report of State Government Tax Collections for 2009, scheduled for release in March 2010, will be the first look at the effect of the recession on state government revenues.

Upcoming Data Updates

The Census Bureau will update State and Local Government Finances (i.e. spending and revenue data) for 2005, 2006, and 2007 in December 2009.

The Census Bureau will release State Government Tax Collections for 2009 in March 2010.

The Census Bureau will release State and Local Government Finances for 2008 (i.e. spending and revenue) in Summer 2010.