Frequently Asked Questions on State and Local Government Finances

The first and second frequently asked questions (FAQs) treat state government and local government finances separately. The third FAQ answers basic questions about intergovernmental transfers between federal, state, and local governments. These three FAQs are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau Government Finance Statistics. The most recent published data available are for calendar year 2009. These data enable users to see how the finances of the state and local sectors as well as intergovernmental revenue have changed over time by providing data since the 1970s for aggregate revenue and expenditure figures and key subcategories. Because federal, state, and local governments include different activities and programs under the same terms, we have provided links to context-appropriate definitions from the U.S. Census’s Government Finance and Employment Classification Manual, so that users can determine exactly what is covered by a particular expenditure or revenue category.

In addition to providing information on state and local governments in the aggregate, we offer FAQs on state and local government finances combined. These FAQs address the combined state and local government sector, consistent with the approach used in GAO’s state and local fiscal model. These FAQ use the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s National Income and Product Accounts as its primary data source. The most recently published data available are for calendar year 2010.