In Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, state tax revenues fell short of projections, and states’ FY 2021 budgets also showed projected decreases in tax collections related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article includes links to news articles about state budgets during the pandemic. Coverage began on June 16, 2020, and ended on February 15, 2021.
In this article you will find:
Ballotpedia pages related to state budgets and the coronavirus[edit]
State budgets before the coronavirus[edit]
State budgets after the coronavirus[edit]
General articles and reports on budget challenges faced by state legislatures[edit]
- States plan budget cuts as Congress remains deadlocked on more virus aid - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 6, 2020
- States Searching for Revenue Get Aggressive on Sales Tax Enforcement - CPA Practice Advisor, August 4, 2020
- States Grappling With Hit to Tax Collections - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, June 15, 2020
- Deepening state budget holes threaten to weigh down recovery - The Hill, June 3, 2020
- COVID-19 And Government Actions Caused State Tax Revenues To Plunge In April - Tax Policy Center, June 1, 2020
- States and Cities Continue Plunge into Financial Black Hole - Governing, May 26, 2020
- A Looming Financial Meltdown For America's Schools - NPR, May 26
- Taxation of nonresident workers in coronavirus-hit states becomes 'a million dollar question' - Yahoo Finance, May 23, 2020
Articles and reports on budget challenges faced by legislatures by state[edit]
Alabama[edit]
- Alaska Legislature to Convene Amid Budget, Virus Concerns - U.S. News & World Report, January 18, 2021
- Big budget, big numbers: Governor proposes almost $5,000 in dividend payments next year - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, December 12, 2020
- Anchorage Projects $17M Budget Shortfall Due to Coronavirus - U.S. News & World Report, September 21, 2020
- Alaska Has Lost A Greater Share Of Revenue Than Most States Due To COVID-19 - NPR, August 3, 2020
- Most of Alaska’s $1.5 billion federal pandemic aid package remains unspent - Anchorage Daily News, July 22, 2020
Arizona[edit]
Arkansas[edit]
California[edit]
- Gavin Newsom’s $227 billion budget calls for new spending on schools, vaccines and stimulus - The Sacramento Bee via Yahoo! News, January 8, 2021
- California expects $26 billion windfall, despite coronavirus - Mountain View Voice, November 25, 2020
- New Jersey, California Dodge Worst of Tax Crisis in ‘Weird Recession’ - The Washington Post, September 21, 2020
- California Legislature, Gov. Newsom at odds over budget deficit - The Press Democrat, June 4, 2020
- California Approves Budget and Holds Schools Accountable - Governing, July 6, 2020
Colorado[edit]
Connecticut[edit]
- Connecticut’s budget outlook for the current year continues to improve, but multibillion-dollar deficits are looming - Hartford Courant, November 20, 2020
- CT maxes out budget reserve as coffers approach $3.1 billion - The CT Mirror, August 28, 2020
- Lamont tells CT agencies to prep deep cost cuts for next budget - The CT Mirror, August 17, 2020
- Pandemic restricts Connecticut’s credit card; planned projects would shatter it by $2B - The CT Mirror, July 13, 2020
- With CT’s economy still ailing from Great Recession, pandemic digs a deeper hole for state to scale - Hartford Business Journal, July 13, 2020
- New projections show Connecticut’s budget is weathering the coronavirus pandemic better than expected; tax receipts $200M higher - Hartford Courant, July 29, 2020
Delaware[edit]
Florida[edit]
- Florida House budget chief warns of cuts because of pandemic's impact on state tax revenues - The Daytona Beach News-Journal, January 14, 2021
- Pent up demand drives October tax revenue - The Capitolist, December 3, 2020
- Florida will see ‘deep budget’ cuts, new House speaker says - Tampa Bay Times, September 18, 2020
- A $2.7 billion Florida budget shortfall looms as coronavirus unleashes a tide of red ink - Sarasota Herald-Tribune, September 11, 2020
- Florida economists slash $5.4 billion from expected Florida revenue because of coronavirus - Sarasota Herald-Tribune, August 14, 2020
- New Florida budget pressured by coronavirus uncertainty - The Bond Buyer, July 8, 2020
- Florida Matters: Budget Cuts And COVID-19 - WUSF, July 7, 2020
- Florida revenue plummets $878 million - in April alone - Tampa Bay Times, May 26, 2020
Georgia[edit]
- Idaho governor to propose tax cuts with $630 million surplus - Associated Press, December 7, 2020
- Idaho governor eyes tax relief with budget surplus - The Sacramento Bee, October 13, 2020
- 'We're actually going to end the year balanced': No plans to use Idaho's rainy day fund in 2020 - KTVB, July 8, 2020
- Gov. Little outlines plan to cut $99 million from Idaho's K-12 public school budget for FY 2021 - Idaho News 6, May 8, 2020
- Gov. Brad Little says the coronavirus is having a 'big impact' on Idaho's budget - KTVB, April 30, 2020
Illinois[edit]
- Pritzker instructs Illinois agency leaders to prepare for cuts of 5-10% - The Southern Illinoisan, September 15, 2020
- Some bureaucrats look to boost income tax to combat flagging revenue during pandemic - The Center Square, June 15, 2020
- Illinois governor signs 2021 operating budget - WGEM, June 10, 2020
- Illinois Budget Plan Needs $6B in Federal Aid to Balance - Associated Press, May 22, 2020
- Pritzker says Illinois will have a $7 billion budget shortfall next two fiscal years - 23WIFR, April 15, 2020
Indiana[edit]
- Indiana lawmakers face virus actions debate, budget struggle - The Tribune, January 1, 2021
- State Revenue Falls Below Estimates in October - Inside Indiana Business, November 9, 2020
- Coronavirus: Indiana Expects More Than $3B Shortfall, No Budget Cuts For K-12 Education - WFYI Indianapolis, June 18, 2020
- Indiana Confronts Budget Shortfalls; To Discuss Potential K-12 Cuts - Indiana Public Media, June 15, 2020
- Indiana governor seeks spending cuts with tax revenue drop - WNDU, May 22, 2020
- Iowa lawmakers mostly oppose Gov. Reynolds' plan to raise sales tax - The Gazette, December 11, 2020
- Panel predicts 3.7% increase in tax payments to State of Iowa - Radio Iowa, December 11, 2020
- Iowa budget experts see revenue growth next year - The Gazette, October 13, 2020
- Reynolds touts $305 million state surplus for budget year 2020 - Des Moines Register, September 30, 2020
- Iowa legislators laying groundwork on $7.85 billion general fund budget - The Gazette, June 9, 2020
- Iowa expecting $65 million year-over-year drop in revenue due to coronavirus - Des Moines Register, May 29, 2020
Kentucky[edit]
Louisiana[edit]
- Mills' budget proposal aims to strengthen COVID-19 response, cover projected revenue shortfalls without raising taxes - NBC News Center Maine via MSN News, January 8, 2021
- Gov. Janet Mills signs curtailment order to stabilize state budget amid pandemic - WMTW, September 17, 2020
- Lawmakers told current budget OK, but next year will have problems - News Center Maine, May 29, 2020
- State tax revenues drop as COVID-19 tightens grip on Maine economy - Portland Press Herald, May 19, 2020
- State budget crisis looms in Maine as pandemic rages - Portland Press Herald, April 27, 2020
Maryland[edit]
- Here's what you need to know about Gov. Hogan's budget proposal - Delmarva Now, "Here's what you need to know about Gov. Hogan's budget proposal," January 21, 2021
- State Makes $413M In Budget Cuts Due To COVID-19 Pandemic; More Could Come Next Month - CBS Baltimore, July 1, 2020
- With State Budget Woes, Advocates Fear for Future of Developmental Disability Service Providers - Maryland Matters, June 16, 2020
- COVID-19 impact: Maryland faces up to $1.1 billion budget hole, says analyst - DelMarVa Now, May 15, 2020
Massachusetts[edit]
- Mass. Enacts $46B Budget With Sped-Up Sales Tax Payments - Law 360, December 11, 2020
- House, Senate Send Baker $46.2 Billion Budget - WBUR, December 4, 2020
- Senators vote on state budget amendments - The Sun," November 23, 2020
- Budget’s very late but Spilka sees ‘wisdom in waiting’ - The Milford Daily News, October 21, 2020
- Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s new $45.5 billion fiscal 2021 budget to undergo legislative hearing - MassLive, October 15, 2020
- Massachusetts tax revenue could range from $25.9B to $28.4B in fiscal 2021, DOR commissioner says - MassLive, October 7, 2020
- Massachusetts' tax revenue loss may not be as dire as first predicted, Tufts Center model shows - MassLive, September 21, 2020
- Legislative leaders punt on budget, pass interim measure funding state until Oct. 31 - The Boston Globe, July 28, 2020
- Massachusetts Budget: Nine issues to watch over the next nine days - WWLP, July 22, 2020
- Mass Senate Passes COVID-19 $1.1 Billion Supplemental Budget - Framingham Source, July 3, 2020
- Massachusetts House passes $1.1 billion budget to cover COVID-19 costs - The Enterprise, June 24, 2020
- 'Sobering' Estimates Mean Mass. Is Budgeting With Billions Less - WBUR News, April 14, 2020
Michigan[edit]
- Michigan tax revenues are $2.1B above earlier projections - Martinsville Bulletin, January 15, 2021
- Good news on the state budget - The Robesonian, November 18, 2020
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs $62.8B state budget - Michigan Live, September 30, 2020
- Michigan legislature passes budget ahead of deadline, increase in funding for K-12 schools - ClickOnDetroit, September 23, 2020
- Michigan limits spending cuts to $250M under revamped budget plan for 2021 - Detroit Free Press, September 23, 2020
- Internet sales boom a tax cow for Michigan government during coronavirus pandemic - MLive.com, September 7, 2020
- Michigan’s budget outlook is not as bad as expected - Len Connect, August 26, 2020
- Michigan’s budget shortfall likely smaller than expected, but big challenges still loom - Michigan Live, August 24, 2020
- Michigan Says It Needs More Federal Aid To Survive Economic Effects Of COVID-19 - NPR, August 3, 2020
- State of Michigan details plan to eliminate $2.2-billion budget deficit for 2020 - Detroit Free Press, July 22, 2020
- State sitting on $2.8B in federal coronavirus funds it can't use to close budget gap - Detroit Free Press, June 12, 2020
- Whitmer delays exploring budget cuts as GOP criticizes foot dragging - The Detroit News, May 28, 2020
- Michigan's COVID-19 budget crisis could be more severe than Great Recession - WXYZ Detroit, May 15, 2020
Minnesota[edit]
- Legislature begins session facing pandemic, budget shortfall - MPR News, January 5, 2021
- Nebraska in 'decent shape' for developing budget - Lincoln Journal Star, January 3, 2021
- Minnesota's economic forecast shows $641 million surplus for current budget - StarTribune, December 2, 2020
- Trickle down: State deficit will take bite out of city, county budgets - Post Bulletin, August 20, 2020
- Despite projected deficit, Minnesota officials in no rush to implement budget cuts - MinnPost, August 7, 2020
- Minnesota budget deficit remains at $2.4B, larger deficit looms - 5 ABC, July 31, 2020
- Minnesota has used most of its $200M COVID-19 fund but still has federal funds - Star Tribune, July 11, 2020
- State distributes nearly $600 million of COVID-19 relief to local governments - KARE 11, July 9, 2020
- Minnesota projects $2.42 billion budget deficit in wake of COVID-19 - MinnPost, June 5, 2020
Mississippi[edit]
Missouri[edit]
- Missouri governor, lawmakers brace for tighter budget - Associated Press, December 11, 2020
- Medicaid expansion forces state budget cuts - 13 KRCG, August 7, 2020
- Missouri devotes $122.7 million in CARES relief to reopen colleges and universities - The Kansas City Star, July 9, 2020
- Missouri devotes $122.7 million in CARES relief to reopen colleges and universities - Associated Press, June 30, 2020
- Gov. Parson cuts another $209M from Missouri budget - St. Louis Business Journal, June 2, 2020
- Missouri budget plan shows almost $500 million in cuts - Columbia Daily Tribune, April 25, 2020
Montana[edit]
Nebraska[edit]
- Nevada proposes $130 million in education cuts, hopes for federal relief - Reno Gazette Journal, January 18, 2021
- Economic Forecast 2021 Recovery vs. Recession - Nevada Business, January 1, 2020
- Without new revenue & a big stimulus, state budget will be slashed again - Nevada Current, December 4, 2020
- State agencies told to cut budgets for next 2 years by 12% - Las Vegas Review-Journal, November 6, 2020
- COVID-19 wrecks funding for Nevada transit & roads - Nevada Current, August 26, 2020
- Bill would create line of credit to cover Nevada budget shortfall - Nevada Appeal, July 12, 2020
- Nevada faces $1.2 billion budget shortfall, cuts to health services, education proposed - This Is Reno, July 6, 2020
- Confronting Nevada's Post-Coronavirus Budget - Nevada Public Radio, May 19, 2020
New Hampshire[edit]
New Jersey[edit]
- Gov. Murphy Signs Nearly $33 Billion New Jersey Budget That Raises Taxes On Wealthy, Businesses - CBS Philly, Sept. 30, 2020
- New Jersey Lawmakers Approve Budget With Murphy’s Millionaire Tax - Bloomberg, Sept. 25, 2020
- Murphy budget plan to seek $4B in borrowing - Politico, Aug. 25, 2020
- New Jersey Budget Eyes $1 Billion in New Taxes, Most From Millionaires - Bloomberg, Aug. 25, 2020
- Murphy Seeks New Jersey Tax Hikes, Some Cuts, More Debt in $40 Billion Budget - NBC 4 New York, Aug. 25, 2020
- NJ Gov. Phil Murphy looks to plug budget holes by taxing millionaires, corporations - Fox Business, Aug. 25, 2020
- N.J. Supreme Court Scrutinizes State’s $9.9 Billion Borrowing Plan - Wall Street Journal, Aug. 5, 2020
- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy Signs Bill Allowing $10 Billion In Debt To Fill Budget Holes - CBS Philadelphia, July 17, 2020
- New Jersey enacts stopgap budget to cover expenses through September - Philly Voice, June 30, 2020
- Murphy’s dire warnings of $10B tax revenue loss could come true, budget experts say - NJ.com, May 28, 2020
New Mexico[edit]
New York[edit]
- Cuomo Offers 2 Budgets; Demands $15B From Washington: 'Be Fair' - Patch via Yahoo! News, January 19, 2021
- New York state swimming in red ink as tax revenue falls $2.8 billion in 6 months - AM New York, October 19, 2020
- Cuomo dismisses calls to raise taxes on New York's wealthiest residents - The Buffalo News, July 29, 2020
- N.Y. Seen With 40% Drop in Tax Revenue, Steepest Fall in U.S. - Bloomberg, June 15, 2020
- Falling Revenue Prompts New York to Freeze More Than $1 Billion in Spending - Wall Street Journal, May 18, 2020
North Carolina[edit]
North Dakota[edit]
- North Dakota analyst warns lawmakers of 'serious budget challenges' ahead - The Dickinson Press, January 8, 2020
- [https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/government-and-politics/6833603-North-Dakota-analyst-warns-lawmakers-of-serious-budget-challenges-ahead
- Gov. Burgum proposes $15B budget to Legislature, outlines ideas for bonding, Legacy Fund - The Bismarck Tribune, December 3, 2020
- No budget cuts expected as North Dakota state revenues ahead of forecast - The Bismarck Tribune, September 21, 2020
- North Dakota state revenues appear hopeful; new forecasts coming - Bismarck Tribune, August 18, 2020
- North Dakota Lawmakers Will Tap Into State Savings To Endure Through COVID-19 - NPR, August 3, 2020
- One cent fuel tax increase discussed in tax committee - KFYRTV, July 20, 2020
Oklahoma[edit]
- Oregon Gov. Kate Brown lays out $25.6 billion budget plan - Oregon Live, December 1, 2020
- Oregon’s budget picture holds steady, but coronavirus looms - OPB, November 18, 2020
- Oregon’s budget-focused special session could include much more - OPB, August 9, 2020
- Economists: COVID-19 will crater Oregon's budget - Herald and News, May 22, 2020
- Oregon faces 11% drop in revenue - Capital Press, May 21, 2020
Pennsylvania[edit]
Rhode Island[edit]
- Rhode Island's 2021 State Budget Signed Into Law - Patch via Yahoo! News, December 21, 2020
- How Rhode Island is (kind of) solving its big budget problem - Boston Globe, June 16, 2020
- R.I. state leaders scramble to devise worst-case budget plan - Providence Journal, May 26, 2020
- R.I. looking to close $234.6-million budget hole in 6 weeks - Providence Journal, May 19, 2020
- Rhode Island budget makers grapple with $800 million loss in projected revenue - Boston Globe, May 14, 2020
South Carolina[edit]
- How Governor McMaster wants to spend South Carolina's budget - WLTX19, January 8, 2021
- Carolina Lawmakers Return for Budget Special Session - US News, September 12, 2020
- Gov. McMaster proposes $430M tax relief in his SC state budget. Will taxpayers see a dime? - Post and Courier, September 5, 2020
- COVID-19 downturn continues to eat away SC budget estimates - Associated Press, August 31, 2020
- SC Budget Writers Prepare for Plan With Many Unknowns - US News, August 23, 2020
- SC Legislature OKs delaying budget; plans big Sept. return - Associated Press, May 12, 2020
South Dakota[edit]
Tennessee[edit]
- Report: State Lawmakers May Have Extra $3B for Budget - The Memphis Flyer, February 3, 2021
- Despite positive signs, Tennessee departments still bracing for budget cuts next year - Tennessean, September 22, 2020
- Despite positive signs, Tennessee departments still bracing for budget cuts next year - The Tennessean, September 23, 2020
- Tennessee's revenue grew this year, despite dire predictions. But a drop is coming, experts warn - The Tennessean, August 24, 2020
- Tax Revenues Jump In July, Surprising Tennessee Officials - WKMS, August 13, 2020
- Tennessee Officials Say They Are Down To The 'Bone' Of The Budget - NPR, August 3, 2020
- In early morning adjournment, the Tennessee legislature passes budget, completes business for the year - The Tennessean, June 19, 2020
- Tennessee lawmakers clash over budget details - WUSA9, "Tennessee lawmakers clash over budget details," June 16, 2020]
- Tennessee lawmakers have to make up $1 billion budget shortfall - News Channel 5, May 26, 2020
- Texas House and Senate propose similar spending amounts in preliminary budgets - The Texas Tribune, January 21, 2021
- Estimated $950 Million End-of-Biennium Budget Shortfall Projected, Better Than Expected After 2020 - The Texan, January 11, 2021
- September sales tax revenue in Texas down 6.1% from a year ago - The Texas Tribune, October 1, 2020
- Texas sales tax collections went up in July — and were higher than one year ago - KXXV, August 3, 2020
- In Texas, All State Agencies Asked To Pare Budgets Due To COVID-19 - Houston Public Media, August 3, 2020
- Analysis: Coronavirus spreads to the Texas state budget - The Texas Tribune, July 22, 2020
- Texas faces a looming $4.6 billion deficit, comptroller projects - The Texas Tribune, July 20, 2020
- Texas sees sharp decline in tax revenue as coronavirus surge unleashes more budget uncertainty - The Washington Post, July 7, 2020
- Texas sales tax revenue dips 13.2% in May, the largest year-over-year decline in a decade - The Texas Tribune, June 1, 2020
- Utah lawmakers to address budget ‘hot spots’ in special session next week - Deseret News, August 13, 2020
- Utah Lawmakers Use Savings To Limit Cuts To Education And Social Services - NPR, August 3, 2020
- Here’s how Utah lawmakers cut state spending to cope with COVID-19 - The Salt Lake Tribune, July 23, 2020
- Utah’s budget shortfall due to coronavirus now $850 million — an improvement over early projections - Deseret News, June 17, 2020
- Pandemic blows holes in Utah's state budget, but financial buffers promise to limit damage - Standard-Examiner, May 19, 2020
Vermont[edit]
- House approves $7.15 billion state budget - VTDigger, September 10, 2020
- Vermont House to debate state budget amid virus uncertainty - Associated Press, September 8, 2020
- Legislature reconvenes for monthlong Covid-19 budget session - VTDigger, August 25, 2020
- Vermont Governor Releases FY2021 Budget Proposal - WAMC, August 21, 2020
- State Revenue Projections Are 'Off The Charts' Says Vermont Legislature's Economist - VPR, August 17, 2020
- Vermont lawmakers to tackle struggling state finances - WCAX3, August 5, 2020
- Vermont Has Lost A Greater Share Of Revenue Than Most States Due To COVID-19 - NPR, August 3, 2020
- Vermont hopes to pass 1st quarter budget, return in August - WCAX 3, June 22, 2020
- Final Reading: Senators grasp for revenue alternatives to fill budget holes - VTDigger, May 27, 2020
Virginia[edit]
- Virginia lawmakers pass new budget amid coronavirus pandemic - WTOP News, October 16, 2020
- Virginia Senate Passes Budget That Includes Medicaid Enhancements, Law Enforcement Bonuses - DCist, October 2, 2020
- With costs up and revenue down for public colleges during coronavirus, one governor has a plan: Refinance - The Washington Post, September 22, 2020
- Northam presents scaled-down budget recommendations to lawmakers ahead of special legislative session - Washington Post, August 18, 2020
- State budget freeze poses challenge to public safety, behavioral health - Richmond.com, August 5, 2020
- Virginia's governor calls special session to review the 2021 budget - The Bond Buyer, July 23, 2020
- Northam calls legislature back to tackle state budget, social justice issues - Washington Post, July 17, 2020
- $1 billion projected loss loss turns into $236 million shortfall; Va. finishes budget year on a high - Richmond.com, July 9, 2020
Washington[edit]
West Virginia[edit]
Wisconsin[edit]
Wyoming[edit]
- Spending cuts could cost state more money in future - Cody Enterprise, September 14, 2020
- Wyoming mayors push lawmakers to consider tax options amid budget crisis - Buffalo Bulletin, August 25, 2020
- State employees to see furloughs, reductions in force due to budget shortfalls - Wyoming News, July 13, 2020
- Wyoming governor orders deep new budget cuts - Local News 8, July 13, 2020
- WYOMING STATE AGENCIES PREPARE FOR JULY 1 BUDGET CUTS - Oil City News, June 18, 2020
General resources[edit]
The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.
Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.
See also[edit]