Each year, some smart people in the nonprofit Truth in Accounting pore over the financial statements of the several states and compare them. We last reported on their findings five years ago when they gave us some utterly depressing news: when you added up what we have, including cash and other assets available to pay bills, and subtract what we are obligated to pay, including not only bond debt but also commitments to pay state retirees pensions (our Employees’ Retirement System, or ERS) and provide them health care for life (the Hawaiʻi Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, or EUTF), the result, when divided by our taxpayer population, was a staggering $37,000 per taxpayer. (Debt attached to capital assets like land and buildings is not counted because the capital assets are not counted.)

Just when more calls from within the Democratic Party were ringing out for Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to run for president following his successful election to a second term in office, more questions have arisen over whether he exaggerated his  military service in Afghanistan

Officials across the political spectrum have used the flexibility in government accounting to claim fiscal responsibility while passing costs on to future taxpayers.

Most households would be thrilled to learn their financial state had been given a B grade four years in a row. Of course, it would be nice to be able to aim for an A, but knowing our financial status hasn’t deteriorated would be a great comfort.

State officials, too, are likely content with learning Truth in Accounting has granted West Virginia a B for financial health again this year — and the grade IS good news. Across two gubernatorial administrations, those in Charleston have been able to do a better-than-average job as stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Uh, oh, one of those carnival barkers got loose and again is nipping at Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s heels.

She won’t bite, but she will irritate our running-for-re-election governor because he just hates it when any one of a handful of financial analysts releases a report detailing the state’s financial woes.

This time it’s Sheila Weinberg, who heads the Chicago-based Truth-in-Accounting.

Minnesota ranked 15th nationally in Truth in Accounting’s 2026 “Financial State of the States” report.

The state received a “B” grade, according to the report, with a surplus of $6,300 per taxpayer.

A new state financial report from Truth in Accounting says so, ranking the Beehive State fourth among 50 states in terms of its statewide financial situation and giving it an "A" financial grade, while also pointing out "repeated problems" with the state's handling of federal money.

Illinois is one of four states that received a failing grade on the 2026 Financial State of the States report, but Truth in Accounting said there is a legislative way to improve Illinois’ financial health.

The report used audited financial reports and retirement system data to examine each state’s financial health.

Every state but Vermont is required by law to work with balanced budgets, but creative accounting may be presenting skewed data. 

Of the 50 U.S. states, 24 don't have enough money to cover their bills. Meanwhile, one under-the-radar red state stands apart from the rest, according to a new analysis of state finances.

North Dakota ranked No. 1 in Truth in Accounting's 2026 Financial State of the States report, ending fiscal year 2025 with $21 billion more than it needed to pay the state's bills. That financial cushion gave North Dakota the highest "Taxpayer Surplus" in the country at $72,300.