Fiscal Fact No. 199
Newly released Census data highlight the different spending priorities of state and local governments. By presenting the data here as percentages of total spending, we reveal government priorities whether their combined state and local budgets are comparatively large or small.
Spending is shown for nine specific functional categories and a miscellaneous catch-all: K-12 Education, Higher Education, Public Welfare, Hospitals and Health, Transportation, Public Safety, Environment and Housing, Government Administration, Interest on Debt, and Other.
Tables 1-9 below are “top ten” tables, showing the 10 states that devote the largest share of their total spending to each of these categories. The percentages for all 50 states and the District of Columbia are presented in Table 10. The tables are compiled using the most recent state and local finance data from the Census Bureau for fiscal year 2007 (July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 in most states).
Combined state-local data is best for interstate comparison because what some states accomplish with local spending is accomplished in other states with state-level programs.
|
Table 1 |
|
|
State |
Percentage of |
|
New Jersey |
31.8% |
|
New Hampshire |
28.6% |
|
Texas |
28.0% |
|
Connecticut |
27.7% |
|
Michigan |
27.2% |
|
Virginia |
26.9% |
|
Georgia |
26.8% |
|
Arkansas |
26.0% |
|
Vermont |
25.2% |
|
Maryland |
25.2% |
|
US average |
23.9% |
|
Source: Tax Foundation calculations based |
|
Table 2 |
|
|
State |
Percentage of |
|
Utah |
15.5% |
|
North Dakota |
15.4% |
|
North Carolina |
14.2% |
|
Vermont |
13.7% |
|
Iowa |
13.2% |
|
Alabama |
13.2% |
|
Kansas |
13.0% |
|
Oklahoma |
12.6% |
|
Arkansas |
12.3% |
|
New Mexico |
12.2% |
|
US average |
9.1% |
|
Source: Tax Foundation calculations based |
|
Table 3 |
|
|
State |
Percentage of |
|
Maine |
24.3% |
|
Rhode Island |
23.7% |
|
Minnesota |
22.8% |
|
Vermont |
22.7% |
|
Pennsylvania |
21.7% |
|
Massachusetts |
21.7% |
|
New York |
21.6% |
|
Arkansas |
21.4% |
|
Kentucky |
21.2% |
|
Tennessee |
20.8% |
|
US average |
16.8% |
|
Note: Medicaid spending split between Source: Tax Foundation calculations based |
|
Table 4 |
|
|
State |
Percentage of |
|
South Carolina |
15.9% |
|
Wyoming |
15.2% |
|
Alabama |
14.7% |
|
Mississippi |
13.6% |
|
North Carolina |
12.9% |
|
Tennessee |
12.2% |
|
Iowa |
12.1% |
|
Washington |
11.6% |
|
Georgia |
10.6% |
|
Missouri |
10.5% |
|
US average |
8.4% |
|
Note: Medicaid spending split between Source: Tax Foundation calculations based |
|
Table 5 |
|
|
State |
Percentage of |
|
South Dakota |
15.8% |
|
Alaska |
15.6% |
|
North Dakota |
14.2% |
|
Montana |
12.2% |
|
Nevada |
12.2% |
|
Georgia |
11.5% |
|
Wyoming |
10.8% |
|
Idaho |
9.7% |
|
Kentucky |
9.6% |
|
Washington |
9.5% |
|
US average |
7.6% |
|
Source: Tax Foundation calculations based |
|
Table 6 |
|
|
State |
Percentage of |
|
Nevada |
13.6% |
|
Arizona |
12.2% |
|
California |
12.0% |
|
Florida |
11.2% |
|
Maryland |
10.5% |
|
Oregon |
10.4% |
|
Colorado |
10.0% |
|
Rhode Island |
9.8% |
|
Virginia |
9.7% |
|
Illinois |
9.0% |
|
US average |
9.1% |
|
Source: Tax Foundation calculations based |
|
Table 7 |
|
|
State |
Percentage of |
|
Louisiana |
15.1% |
|
Florida |
11.1% |
|
Washington |
9.7% |
|
Hawaii |
9.6% |
|
South Dakota |
9.3% |
|
California |
9.3% |
|
Oregon |
9.1% |
|
Arizona |
9.1% |
|
Colorado |
9.0% |
|
Maryland |
8.9% |
|
US average |
7.7% |
|
Source: Tax Foundation calculations based |
|
Table 8 |
|
|
State |
Percentage of |
|
Delaware |
8.6% |
|
Nevada |
7.8% |
|
Utah |
7.8% |
|
Montana |
7.4% |
|
Alaska |
7.1% |
|
West Virginia |
7.0% |
|
Rhode Island |
6.9% |
|
Colorado |
6.9% |
|
California |
6.7% |
|
Oregon |
6.6% |
|
US average |
5.3% |
|
Source: Tax Foundation calculations based |
|
Table 9 |
|
|
State |
Percentage of |
|
Massachusetts |
7.4% |
|
Hawaii |
5.6% |
|
New Hampshire |
5.5% |
|
Rhode Island |
5.3% |
|
Illinois |
5.3% |
|
Texas |
5.1% |
|
Connecticut |
5.1% |
|
Colorado |
5.1% |
|
Kentucky |
4.9% |
|
Pennsylvania |
4.9% |
|
US average |
4.1% |
|
Source: Tax Foundation calculations based |
|
Table 10 |
||||||||||
|
State |
K-12 |
Higher |
Public |
Hospitals |
Transp. |
Public |
Envir./ |
Govt. |
Debt |
Other |
|
U.S. |
23.90% |
9.10% |
16.80% |
8.40% |
7.60% |
9.10% |
7.70% |
5.30% |
4.10% |
7.90% |
|
Ala. |
23.40% |
13.20% |
15.40% |
14.70% |
7.60% |
7.70% |
5.10% |
4.40% |
3.10% |
5.30% |
|
Alaska |
18.50% |
6.10% |
13.80% |
3.60% |
15.60% |
6.20% |
7.90% |
7.10% |
4.30% |
17.00% |
|
Ariz. |
21.70% |
10.00% |
16.70% |
6.90% |
8.40% |
12.20% |
9.10% |
6.10% |
3.50% |
5.40% |
|
Ark. |
26.00% |
12.30% |
21.40% |
6.90% |
7.40% |
7.20% |
5.60% |
5.20% |
2.70% |
5.20% |
|
Calif. |
21.80% |
8.60% |
14.60% |
9.30% |
5.80% |
12.00% |
9.30% |
6.70% |
4.10% |
7.80% |
|
Colo. |
22.90% |
10.60% |
11.20% |
8.40% |
8.50% |
10.00% |
9.00% |
6.90% |
5.10% |
7.50% |
|
Conn. |
27.70% |
7.30% |
16.20% |
6.70% |
4.50% |
7.50% |
6.20% |
5.80% |
5.10% |
13.00% |
|
Del. |
21.70% |
11.20% |
17.00% |
5.50% |
7.00% |
8.90% |
8.20% |
8.60% |
4.10% |
7.80% |
|
Fla. |
22.60% |
6.30% |
14.00% |
8.20% |
9.30% |
11.20% |
11.10% |
6.10% |
3.50% |
7.70% |
|
Ga. |
26.80% |
7.60% |
14.60% |
10.60% |
11.50% |
8.70% |
7.10% |
5.00% |
2.10% |
6.00% |
|
Hawaii |
20.00% |
9.50% |
13.90% |
9.80% |
7.60% |
6.30% |
9.60% |
6.10% |
5.60% |
11.50% |
|
Idaho |
21.60% |
10.50% |
16.90% |
10.00% |
9.70% |
8.90% |
8.10% |
6.30% |
2.40% |
5.70% |
|
Ill. |
23.90% |
8.50% |
15.80% |
5.60% |
9.10% |
9.00% |
7.90% |
5.00% |
5.30% |
10.00% |
|
Ind. |
24.00% |
11.00% |
16.80% |
8.80% |
6.80% |
6.70% |
6.20% |
4.60% |
4.10% |
10.90% |
|
Iowa |
23.00% |
13.20% |
16.60% |
12.10% |
9.30% |
6.10% |
5.40% |
4.20% |
3.00% |
7.10% |
|
Kans. |
24.20% |
13.00% |
16.00% |
6.90% |
9.30% |
7.40% |
5.30% |
5.00% |
4.40% |
8.60% |
|
Ky. |
22.10% |
11.20% |
21.20% |
7.70% |
9.60% |
6.70% |
5.30% |
4.60% |
4.90% |
6.70% |
|
La. |
19.20% |
7.90% |
14.00% |
10.10% |
7.70% |
8.40% |
15.10% |
5.20% |
4.10% |
8.20% |
|
Maine |
22.00% |
7.60% |
24.30% |
6.10% |
8.00% |
6.20% |
7.30% |
5.10% |
3.50% |
9.90% |
|
Md. |
25.20% |
10.20% |
16.40% |
4.80% |
7.70% |
10.50% |
8.90% |
5.50% |
3.60% |
7.20% |
|
Mass. |
22.50% |
6.90% |
21.70% |
4.40% |
5.30% |
8.10% |
7.20% |
4.70% |
7.40% |
11.70% |
|
Mich. |
27.20% |
12.10% |
15.60% |
9.00% |
6.30% |
8.50% |
6.50% |
4.50% |
4.20% |
5.90% |
|
Minn. |
22.80% |
9.00% |
22.80% |
6.40% |
8.90% |
6.90% |
7.70% |
4.90% |
3.90% |
6.60% |
|
Miss. |
18.60% |
10.50% |
18.20% |
13.60% |
9.10% |
5.90% |
4.60% |
3.70% |
2.10% |
13.80% |
|
Mo. |
24.60% |
9.10% |
15.70% |
10.50% |
9.00% |
8.00% |
6.50% |
4.60% |
4.80% |
7.20% |
|
Mont. |
21.80% |
11.50% |
12.80% |
6.50% |
12.20% |
8.00% |
8.40% |
7.40% |
3.60% |
7.80% |
|
Nebr. |
24.60% |
12.10% |
16.50% |
9.70% |
9.00% |
7.60% |
6.60% |
4.20% |
2.20% |
7.50% |
|
Nev. |
24.10% |
8.10% |
10.80% |
7.30% |
12.20% |
13.60% |
8.10% |
7.80% |
4.20% |
3.80% |
|
N.H. |
28.60% |
9.10% |
17.50% |
2.20% |
8.80% |
8.20% |
6.60% |
5.50% |
5.50% |
7.80% |
|
N.J. |
31.80% |
6.40% |
15.80% |
4.80% |
4.90% |
8.70% |
6.50% |
4.60% |
4.50% |
11.90% |
|
N.M. |
20.20% |
12.20% |
20.00% |
7.80% |
8.80% |
8.60% |
6.20% |
5.80% |
3.10% |
7.20% |
|
N.Y. |
23.60% |
5.40% |
21.60% |
8.40% |
5.80% |
8.40% |
6.90% |
4.70% |
4.70% |
10.50% |
|
N.C. |
21.40% |
14.20% |
16.30% |
12.90% |
6.70% |
8.20% |
7.60% |
3.90% |
2.60% |
6.10% |
|
N.D. |
21.00% |
15.40% |
15.70% |
2.20% |
14.20% |
5.50% |
7.80% |
5.10% |
4.40% |
8.80% |
|
Ohio |
24.50% |
8.90% |
20.20% |
8.30% |
6.20% |
7.70% |
7.60% |
5.90% |
4.00% |
6.80% |
|
Okla. |
24.10% |
12.60% |
19.40% |
7.40% |
8.80% |
8.40% |
5.70% |
5.30% |
2.90% |
5.40% |
|
Ore. |
20.70% |
11.40% |
14.40% |
8.30% |
8.70% |
10.40% |
9.10% |
6.60% |
4.30% |
6.00% |
|
Pa. |
24.60% |
7.30% |
21.70% |
6.40% |
8.30% |
7.30% |
6.50% |
5.40% |
4.90% |
7.70% |
|
R.I. |
24.30% |
6.60% |
23.70% |
2.80% |
6.00% |
9.80% |
6.00% |
6.90% |
5.30% |
8.60% |
|
S.C. |
24.30% |
9.60% |
17.20% |
15.90% |
5.30% |
6.80% |
5.40% |
5.80% |
3.80% |
5.90% |
|
S.D. |
21.70% |
9.50% |
15.50% |
4.60% |
15.80% |
7.10% |
9.30% |
5.80% |
3.50% |
7.20% |
|
Tenn. |
21.50% |
8.50% |
20.80% |
12.20% |
7.30% |
8.60% |
6.50% |
4.80% |
2.80% |
7.00% |
|
Tex. |
28.00% |
11.20% |
13.70% |
8.80% |
9.30% |
8.60% |
5.80% |
3.80% |
5.10% |
5.70% |
|
Utah |
21.20% |
15.50% |
13.00% |
7.70% |
8.10% |
8.30% |
8.50% |
7.80% |
3.00% |
7.00% |
|
Vt. |
25.20% |
13.70% |
22.70% |
3.20% |
9.00% |
6.00% |
6.00% |
4.60% |
3.70% |
6.00% |
|
Va. |
26.90% |
11.30% |
14.20% |
8.00% |
8.60% |
9.70% |
6.90% |
5.40% |
3.30% |
5.50% |
|
Wash. |
20.70% |
10.30% |
14.10% |
11.60% |
9.50% |
9.00% |
9.70% |
4.40% |
4.10% |
6.60% |
|
W.Va. |
23.20% |
11.70% |
20.10% |
5.30% |
9.40% |
6.00% |
6.30% |
7.00% |
2.80% |
8.20% |
|
Wis. |
23.80% |
12.00% |
18.20% |
6.70% |
8.60% |
8.90% |
7.10% |
4.30% |
4.40% |
6.10% |
|
Wyo. |
23.10% |
9.00% |
10.30% |
15.20% |
10.80% |
7.50% |
8.20% |
6.50% |
1.80% |
7.60% |
|
D.C. |
16.80% |
1.50% |
25.50% |
6.30% |
1.20% |
11.70% |
16.00% |
6.20% |
4.40% |
10.40% |
|
Source: Tax Foundation calculations based on |