NASHVILLE – Tennessee is one of just four states in the nation to earn an “A” average for its transparency on budgeting, according to a national group that advocates for effective management of government.
The Volcker Alliance also says Tennessee, California, Idaho and Utah were the only states to earn A grades in three of five budget categories.
Titled “Truth and Integrity in State Budgeting: The Balancing Act,” the report covers fiscal years 2017 through 2019 and grades states’ success in pursuing “transparent and sustainable procedures” as they attempt to keep revenues and expenditures in balance.
Tennessee received mostly A or B grades in four of the five major categories. State government’s lowest grades – a C – came in revenue forecasting.
For example, the state received A grades on “budget maneuvers” – that is for having avoided budget gimmicks such as deferring recurring spending, revenue and cost shifting and funding recurring expenses with debt or using asset sales and upfront revenues to fund operations.