New Jersey’s governor will step into a virtual spotlight next month for an hour-long Q&A that everyone can watch. Instead of a typical press release or dry announcement, this event turns the spotlight on how the first-term leader plans to balance the state’s money problems. The big questions aren’t
Alaska’s government is updating how thousands of public workers save for retirement—but not everyone likes the changes. A new bill pushes the state to bring back guaranteed pensions after an old system collapsed in 2006. That earlier plan failed because lawmakers didn’t pay enough into it, leaving w
Indiana is shaking up its college degrees. Nearly 20% of public college programs will disappear or merge soon after state leaders set new rules. Why? Many degrees had almost no students and were costing money for almost no return. The state reviewed over 1, 000 programs and decided 210 must go, anot
The New York state budget, originally set at $263 billion by Governor Kathy Hochul, has just received a significant upgrade from the lawmakers in Albany. Democratic members of both houses have passed resolutions that inject several new spending projects into the plan, pushing the total amount higher
The upcoming oil run at Alaska’s Willow field has sparked a debate over who should receive the royalties. The federal law that covers oil on the National Petroleum Reserve‑Alaska splits the revenue 50/50 between the U. S. government and the state. But Alaska has not taken its half, because a 1976 ag
The governor of California is caught between two big fights. One side wants to keep every child and adult, no matter where they come from, covered by state health care. The other side worries that the budget is already tight and more spending could hurt the economy. Newsom promised a future where
Utah's higher education system is bracing for another round of budget cuts, following two tough years of reductions. This time, the state is looking at a 5% cut, which could mean $94 million less for public colleges and universities. School leaders are not happy about it, especially since they've al
Colorado is facing another tough year when it comes to money. Lawmakers are getting ready for a tough time, as the state's income is expected to drop. This means they will have to cut spending by a lot, around $850 million. They already cut $1. 2 billion this year and another $783 million over the s
Taxes are climbing for homeowners in Nez Perce County, and the state government is the main reason. The county's budget is set to grow by 1. 62%. Schools and the city of Lewiston are also getting more money, with increases of 2. 8% and 5% respectively. But homeowners are facing much steeper hikes.
Wisconsin's public schools are facing a funding crunch for special education. The state is only covering 35% of the costs, way less than the 42% promised in the budget. This drop happened because schools spent more on special education than the state expected. Advocates are worried. They say this f
