After months of discussion about the exact size of the historic deficit we face next year, the news is filled suddenly with reports of a surplus. Did something change or are we just in the middle of election season? The short answer is things haven’t changed but the easiest distraction from bad news is to ignore it completely. The deficit is still huge. It will dominate the state’s financial future. And, paradoxically, we have a mid-budget surplus for the same reason we face a huge deficit.
This is the latest version of our spreadsheet comparing state spending in 2008-09 to 2010-11. Because $248 million of general fund spending was moved offline, apples to apples comparisons are not obvious from official documents. Using official state data, we compare the same spending from 2008-09 with the same spending in 2010-11 despite label changes […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Editorial Staffhttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngEditorial Staff2010-10-10 21:01:302010-10-10 21:01:30Apples to Apples Budget Comparison
Charles M. Arlinghaus October 6, 2010 Originally published in the New Hampshire Union Leader After months of discussion about the exact size of the historic deficit we face next year, the news is filled suddenly with reports of a surplus. Did something change or are we just in the middle of election season? The short […]
The slides from Charlie Arlinghaus’s seminar for policymakers on the basics of the state budget, how its organized, where to find information and how to become your own state budget expert.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Editorial Staffhttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngEditorial Staff2010-09-27 17:50:522018-08-28 05:59:57Understanding and Explaining the New Hampshire State Budget
Just click the Quarter to get started! A public database isn’t just a tool for those of us strange enough to want to pore over budget data. It is the sunshine that disinfects the public square. Knowing that every detail is available, accessible, and searchable means there is no chance that any action, any […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Editorial Staffhttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngEditorial Staff2010-06-20 20:42:122018-08-28 19:31:12NHOpenGovt Lets You Google Your Government
Not too long ago we believed in balanced budgets. But that’s all changed. Other states made the tough decisions. We did not. Today the State of New Hampshire is just another failed enterprise hoping the federal government will cut them a check before the debt capsizes that ship.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Editorial Staffhttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngEditorial Staff2010-06-16 17:48:512018-08-28 05:59:57The Fiscal Collapse of a Once Proud State
Borrowing, transfers, and wishful thinking draw the actual spending cuts and tax increases included in a $295 million budget deal unveiled Tuesday, June 8 at the State House.
House and Senate budget writers have crafted a package that includes nearly $72 million in spending cuts, which doesn’t include an $18.5 million increase in HHS spending. It also contains $4.99 million in tax increases, $51.21 in lapses and transfer among state agencies, $65 million in borrowing, and $112.87 million in speculative revenues that may never be realized.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Editorial Staffhttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngEditorial Staff2010-04-27 17:43:502018-08-28 05:59:57Mortgaging the Future Can New Hampshire Borrow its way to a Balanced Budget?
Summary: Using a historical projection model, state revenues can be projected to fall $84.8 million short of the amount budgeted to balance spending in the first year of the two-year budget. Revenues in the second year of the budget are built off the first year’s projection plus 2.2% growth over that base. At that rate of growth, revenues would be an additional $86 million out of balance in the second of the two budget years. The combined revenue shortfall of $171 million is the largest component of a budget deficit greater than $250 million that legislators must resolve to balance the state’s finances.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Editorial Staffhttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngEditorial Staff2010-04-19 17:41:242018-08-28 05:59:57Measuring The Revenue Shortfall Revenue on track to fall $84.8 million short in first half of budget
Accounting Gimmicks Can’t Hide State’s Fiscal Disaster
BUDGET, TAXATIONAfter months of discussion about the exact size of the historic deficit we face next year, the news is filled suddenly with reports of a surplus. Did something change or are we just in the middle of election season? The short answer is things haven’t changed but the easiest distraction from bad news is to ignore it completely. The deficit is still huge. It will dominate the state’s financial future. And, paradoxically, we have a mid-budget surplus for the same reason we face a huge deficit.
Apples to Apples Budget Comparison
TAXATIONThis is the latest version of our spreadsheet comparing state spending in 2008-09 to 2010-11. Because $248 million of general fund spending was moved offline, apples to apples comparisons are not obvious from official documents. Using official state data, we compare the same spending from 2008-09 with the same spending in 2010-11 despite label changes […]
Accounting Gimmicks Can’t Hide State’s Fiscal Disaster
BUDGETCharles M. Arlinghaus October 6, 2010 Originally published in the New Hampshire Union Leader After months of discussion about the exact size of the historic deficit we face next year, the news is filled suddenly with reports of a surplus. Did something change or are we just in the middle of election season? The short […]
Understanding and Explaining the New Hampshire State Budget
BUDGET, TAXATIONThe slides from Charlie Arlinghaus’s seminar for policymakers on the basics of the state budget, how its organized, where to find information and how to become your own state budget expert.
Libertas Dinner Highlights
PRESS[slideshow_deploy id=’3316′]
NHOpenGovt Lets You Google Your Government
BETTER GOVERNMENT, BUDGETJust click the Quarter to get started! A public database isn’t just a tool for those of us strange enough to want to pore over budget data. It is the sunshine that disinfects the public square. Knowing that every detail is available, accessible, and searchable means there is no chance that any action, any […]
The Fiscal Collapse of a Once Proud State
BUDGET, TAXATIONNot too long ago we believed in balanced budgets. But that’s all changed. Other states made the tough decisions. We did not. Today the State of New Hampshire is just another failed enterprise hoping the federal government will cut them a check before the debt capsizes that ship.
Wishful Thinking Outnumbers Cuts and Tax Increases in New Hampshire Budget Package
BUDGET, TAXATIONBorrowing, transfers, and wishful thinking draw the actual spending cuts and tax increases included in a $295 million budget deal unveiled Tuesday, June 8 at the State House.
House and Senate budget writers have crafted a package that includes nearly $72 million in spending cuts, which doesn’t include an $18.5 million increase in HHS spending. It also contains $4.99 million in tax increases, $51.21 in lapses and transfer among state agencies, $65 million in borrowing, and $112.87 million in speculative revenues that may never be realized.
Mortgaging the Future Can New Hampshire Borrow its way to a Balanced Budget?
BUDGET, TAXATIONMeasuring The Revenue Shortfall Revenue on track to fall $84.8 million short in first half of budget
BUDGET, TAXATIONSummary: Using a historical projection model, state revenues can be projected to fall $84.8 million short of the amount budgeted to balance spending in the first year of the two-year budget. Revenues in the second year of the budget are built off the first year’s projection plus 2.2% growth over that base. At that rate of growth, revenues would be an additional $86 million out of balance in the second of the two budget years. The combined revenue shortfall of $171 million is the largest component of a budget deficit greater than $250 million that legislators must resolve to balance the state’s finances.