The Best and Worst Run States in America: A Survey of All 50
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/best-worst-run-states-america-030403958.html
How well run is your state? It can be difficult to objectively assess the quality of a state’s management. The economy and standard of living can be affected by decisions made decades ago, forces outside the control of the state’s government and administrators, as well as the government's own actions.
Every year, 24/7 Wall St. tries to answer this question by conducting an extensive survey of every state.
. . . .
This year, North Dakota is the best-run state in the country for the second year in a row, while California is the worst-run for the third year in a row.
. . . .
The states that were well-managed also tended to have lower unemployment rates. Eight of the 10 states with the lowest unemployment rates ranked as the best-run states. California, Illinois, and Nevada -- the states with the highest unemployment rates as of 2012 -- were among the five worst-run states.
. . . .
14. Virginia
> Debt per capita: $3,285 (23rd lowest)
> Budget deficit: 12.2% (20th largest)
> Unemployment: 5.9% (13th lowest)
> Median household income: $61,741 (8th highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 11.7% (9th lowest)
. . .
39. New York
> Debt per capita: $6,944 (6th highest)
> Budget deficit: 18.2% (10th largest)
> Unemployment: 8.5% (13th highest)
> Median household income: $56,448 (15th highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 15.9% (tied-22nd highest)
. . .
50. California
> Debt per capita: $3,990 (20th highest)
> Budget deficit: 27.8% (3rd largest)
> Unemployment: 10.5% (2nd highest)
> Median household income: $58,328 (11th highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 17.0% (18th highest)
For the third year in a row, California is the worst-run state in America. California faced a nearly $24 billion in budget shortfall in fiscal 2012, including a mid-year shortfall of $930 million and $8.2 billion carried over from the year before. California carries an A credit rating from Standard & Poor's, and an A1 from Moody’s -- both worse than any other state except for Illinois. Explaining its rating, Moody’s pointed to the state’s history of one-time solutions to resolve its budgetary gaps. It also noted the state's “highly volatile revenue structure,” due to its over reliance on wealthy taxpayers. The Golden State was also among the worst states in the nation for educational attainment, health coverage, and unemployment.
(Link is at the top. Zim.)
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