Alex Hathaway
The Center for State and Local Finance (CSLF) recently expanded its Volcker Alliance work on fiscal integrity in state government.
Led by researcher Alex Hathaway, the work will now examine budget practices, debt, reserve funds, retiree health care and more in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 for 10 states: Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin. This is up from five states initially studied.
This is the third phase of research conducted by CSLF for the New York-based Volcker Alliance as part of its Truth and Integrity in Government Finance project. Researchers from eight universities – including the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University – are leading a multiyear study to improve budgeting and fiscal sustainability in all 50 states.
Hathaway is leading work on a series of Georgia State reports detailing fiscal health in the South. Several reports have already been released, including publications on rainy day funds, retiree health costs and funding, revenue forecasting and fiscal transparency.
“The state budget affects every citizen in some way, but understanding how states maintain a balanced budget can be a very complex task,” Hathaway said. “Our research offers a clearer picture of the fiscal practices in the South and around the nation.
“We hope our research spurs state governments to improve transparency practices and leads to greater citizen trust and engagement.”
CSLF’s Volcker Alliance work can be viewed on a webpage at: https://cslf.gsu.edu/balancing-budget-cslf-volcker-alliance/.
Related announcements:
- Georgia Bests its Peers in Avoiding Suspicious, One-Time Budget Grabs
- CSLF, Volcker Alliance Team Up for Analysis of 50 State Budgets
