US Published National Debt
$
The Truth
$
Each Taxpayer's Share: $980,000
Financial State of the States 2024
Our fifteenth annual Financial State of the States (FSOS) report provides a comprehensive analysis of the fiscal health of all 50 states.
Financial State of the Union 2024
Our new Financial State of the Union report shows that the U.S. government’s financial condition worsened by $7.9 trillion in 2023.
Financial State of the Cities 2024
At the end of the fiscal year 2022, 53 cities did not have enough money to pay all of their bills.
Data-Z (database for state and city data)
Create your own chart with more than 700 data variables at the federal, state, and city levels.
Taking a close look at Maryland's Financial Health
October 11, 2024
Fox 45 News
Trending now nonprofit group "Truth in Accounting" recently ranked the financial health of all 50 states and in that report Maryland received a "D" grade.
Be Skeptical of Claims St. Louis is Running A Surplus
October 11, 2024
Show-Me Institute
KMOV ran a piece the other day reporting that the St. Louis comptroller claims the city has a $42.2 million surplus.
I’m skeptical, and you should be too.
Video: Good Day Maine: Maine's Financial Health Gets a "C"
October 11, 2024
Open The Books
Why didn’t Maine get a better grade in this report?
They got a C because it would take $2,300 from every taxpayer for the state to pay off all its bills.
If the state used every penny it has available right now to pay its current bills, it would still be short by $1.3 billion.
Supporting the Next Generation of Financial Transparency Leaders!
October 4, 2024
The University of Denver Truth in Accounting Project is mentoring two teams participating in the Association of Government Accountant's 2024 CCR competition. These students are using Truth in Accounting’s comprehensive resources—along with Data Z—to help create reports on the State of Maine, ensuring that the state’s financial picture is not only accurate but also accessible to the general public.
Pro forma statements for state and local government?
September 26, 2024
Why aren't state and local governments doing this? A pro forma statement is a financial document that projects future financial performance based on certain assumptions or hypothetical scenarios.
Our Governments Make Their Own Accounting Rules – and Mislead Us
September 26, 2024
The accounting rules our governments make for themselves result in financial reports that mislead the public. Citizens are not receiving the accountability they deserve; they do not have the financial reports needed to responsibly exercise their right to vote.
The Standard Setters for State and Local Government Accounting
September 12, 2024
State and local governments have different accounting standards than corporations. Truth in Accounting does not understand or support this position. So, who sets these standards?
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