American Legislative Exchange Council - Crisis in State Spending: A Guide for State Legislators

ALEC's extensive 2002 report offers an overview of state spending and fiscal policy from 1992-2001 and looks at unintended consequences of the balanced budget rule.

Cato Institute - State and Local Government Debt is Soaring

Excerpt: "In theory, it might make sense for governments to finance capital projects with debt, as private businesses often do. But in practice, when politicians are given the power to issue debt, they have an incentive to issue far too much because it allows spending without the political constraint of having to tax current voters."

U.S. Census Bureau - State and Local Government Finance Data

Included are tables with comprehensive data on state government tax collections and public elementary-secondary education finance data.