In 2016, states are expected to continue the growth since the Great Recession. But the new era is a modest one.
By Liz Farmer | Governing
State spending will rise this year for the sixth straight year, but the increases continue to be moderate as states settle in to the slow-growth era, according to a new report.
States are expected to spend just over $790 billion from their general funds in fiscal 2016. That’s up 4.1 percent over fiscal 2015, although it’s a slightly smaller rate of increase than last year. The numbers are detailed in a report released Tuesday by the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO). After several years of turmoil during and after the 2008 recession, states have now seen more than half a decade of steady spending increases, representing an era of stability.
