On December 1, 2020 the US Census Bureau released data on state finances for FY 2019 here and here, including spending and revenue for each individual state and for all states combined.
On January 8, 2021 we updated state and local spending and revenue data for FY2019 through FY2025 as follows:
- We replaced "guesstimated" state spending and revenue data for FY2019 using the new FY2019 data from the Census Bureau.
- We replaced "guesstimated" local spending and revenue data for FY 2019 with estimates for each spending and revenue category using the trends in state finances between FY 2018 and FY 2019.
- We replaced "guesstimated" state revenue data for FY 2020 with data from the Census Bureau's quarterly state tax summary here.
- We replaced "guesstimated" local revenue data for FY 2020 with estimates for each category using trends for each category of state revenue between FY 2018 and FY 2019.
- We replaced "guesstimated" state and local spending and revenue for FY 2020 thru FY2025 with new guesstimates based on the latest Census Bureau data for FY 2019 state finances and FY 2020 quarterly tax data.
But there is a problem.
Up through 2018 the Census Bureau reports state government pensions with item codes: X11, X12, X14. And it reported employee retirement income and contributions with item codes: X01, X02, X05, X08.
No more.
Instead the Census Bureau reports the following item codes: X01, X30, X40, X52, X70.
But we can't find the current "code lists" that are used in the Census Bureau's State Government Finances report. The Code List page only has the old code list. As of this hour.
But, using advanced juggle-ology, it seems that:
Code X40 replaces X11, X12, and X14 to yield pension payments. This almost balances with overall Total Spending for the US and sample states.
Codes X01, X30, X52, X70 replace X01, X02, X05, X08 to yield pension contributions and income. This almost balances overall Total Revenue for the US and sample states.
So the state finances data on usgovernmentspending.com published for 2019 contains juggled data.
Here is the comparison of our "guesstimate" vs. "actual:"
State Finances for FY2019
Estimate vs. Actual
| $ billion | Guesstimate | Actual |
| Spending | $1,929 | $1,917 |
| Revenue | $2,001 | $1,955 |
We expect the Census Bureau to release local spending and revenue data for FY 2019 not earlier than Summer 2021.
