Where States Get Their Money, FY 2021 | The Pew Charitable Trusts

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Data Visualization March 21, 2023

Note: this data has been updated.

The portion of state government revenue coming from federal dollars remained inflated by billions in COVID-19 pandemic relief aid in fiscal year 2021. The share increased by less than a percentage point from fiscal year 2020 levels but still set a record at 36.7%. However, federal funds were the largest revenue source in fewer states (15) than a year earlier (18), as state tax collections started to rebound after the pandemic-induced recession. Tax collections accounted for 46.9% of overall state revenue and were the largest revenue source in 35 states, up from 32 the previous year.

This infographic displays a breakdown of each state’s revenue by major categories.

Percentage of State Revenue by Source, FY 2021

Select revenue sources below to highlight them and resort the chart:

Taxes

Federal funds

Service Charges

Miscellaneous

Local funds

Sort alphabetically

0%25%50%75%100%0%25%50%75%100%

California Minnesota Illinois Connecticut Nevada New Jersey Vermont Washington Maryland Wisconsin Idaho Massachusetts Nebraska Tennessee Indiana Kansas North Carolina Colorado 50 statesNew York Maine Utah Hawaii Georgia Iowa Virginia Arkansas Michigan Florida Oregon Pennsylvania North Dakota Delaware South Dakota Oklahoma Missouri Arizona Mississippi Ohio Montana South Carolina Kentucky West Virginia Alabama New Hampshire Rhode Island Texas Louisiana New Mexico Wyoming Alaska

Note: This analysis uses “general revenue,” which accounts for all state revenue sources except state-owned liquor stores, utilities, and insurance trust funds.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau's 2021 Annual Survey of State Government Finances

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