To provide annual statistics on the financial activity of the
fifty state governments. The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey
and responses are voluntary. Annual census of all fifity state governments, including all dependent
agencies, institutions, commissions, and public authorities that operate separately
or somewhat autonomously from the central state government but where the state
government maintains aministraitve or fiscal control over their activities. Statistics on state government finances include measurement of
revenues by type (e.g., sales taxes, income taxes, federal aid, fees, and so
on), expenditures by character (e.g., current operations, capital outlay, intergovernmental
expenditures, and so on) and function (e.g., education, health, welfare, natural
resources, and so on), indebtedness (including both public debt for unspecified
purposes and publci debt for private purposes), and cash and security holdings
(including both public and priviate securities). Reference period covers state
government fiscal years. Data collection begins in October, and continues for about 9 months.
Data are developed from administrative accounting records provided to the Census
Bureau by the state governments central accounting or finance offices. State
government finances is the second oldest Census Bureau statistical series on
government activities. It started in 1915 and has continued regularly except
for 1920, 1921 (partial data), and 1933 to 1936. Data between 1942 and 1950
were conducted during the even years only (i.e., 1942, 1944, 1946, 1948, and
1950). Although conducted annually since 1950 reports prior to 1951 are not
comparable due to major classification revisions that took effect with the 1951 report. An enumeration of all 50 states. Data are compiled from accounting
records provided by each state government from their central accounting system
for all or most of their agencies. Data for other state-level entities, such
as state institutions, commissions, component units, public authorities, and
other state-level dependent government organizations are obtained form financial
records of those indiviudal entities. Annual Survey of State
Government Finance reports are released approximately 17 months following
the close of the reference period. Tables provide summary data on financial
activity of the 50 state governments only. Reports include revenue by source,
expenditures by function, indebtedness, and financial holdings. In addition,
downloadable files provide further details.. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the data as a primary source
for updating its measures of the government sector of the National Income and
Product Accounts. The Federal Reserve Board uses the data as a primary source
for its Flow of Funds Accounts. State and local governmentts use the data to
assess their financial condition, make peer-government comparisions, plan new
programs, and develop financial policies. and the Federal Reserve Board use
the data for econometric models of the economy. State and local governments
use the data for trend analysis in various types of taxes and regional comparisons.
Business and financial market analysts follow tax trends through these data. Provides the most comprehensive comparative, uniformly classified data on the
economic activity of state governments. State Government Tax
Collections Survey Annual
Survey of State and Local Government Finances EXPLORE INFORMATION CONTINUE OVERVIEW
ANNUAL SURVEY OF STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCES
PURPOSE
COVERAGE
CONTENT
FREQUENCY
METHODS
PRODUCTS
USES
SPECIAL FEATURES
RELATED PROGRAMS