NCSL report: states still facing large gaps, tough decisions. (News & Numbers).(National Conference of State Legislatures)(Brief Article)

According to an April report by the National Conference of State Legislatures, the states still had to close a $21.5 billion collective budget gap to comply with balanced budget requirements.

Entering their third straight year of budget shortfalls, state lawmakers have had to close a cumulative $200 billion budget gap. According to NCSL President and Oklahoma Senator Angela Monson, state policymakers are dealing with complicating factors on both sides of the budget.

"Already plagued by anemic revenue performance, lawmakers have been besieged by spending overruns--from Medicaid to homeland security to emergency snow removal," Monson said. "The problems have been relentless as most states have run out of the simple, painless options."

During the current fiscal year, which began last July 1 for most states, revenues failed to meet projections in 37 states. Only three states reported revenues exceeding budgeted levels. Forty-five states subsequently revised their forecasts, almost all of them ...