New York State government’s per-capita spending in 2005 was the fourth highest in the nation and 43 percent above the national average, a Public Policy Institute analysis of new Census Bureau data shows.

The new data detailed the revenue and spending of all 50 states (including certain public authorities, but not including local governments) in 2005. New York State's per-capita spending was $7,082 that year, well above the $4,961 national average. The only states that spent more were Vermont ($7,127), Wyoming ($7,861), and Alaska ($12,146).

New York's per-capita state tax burden in 2005 was the 11th highest in the nation at $2,598. That number, 19 percent above the national average, includes all state taxes collected, but does not include local property or other taxes.

The analysis also found:

• New York spent more on welfare, including some Medicaid spending, than any other state in the country. The $2,209 per-capita total was 78 percent above the national average of $1,244.

• New York’s debt in 2005 was $5,280 – the fifth highest in the nation and 96 percent above the national average of $2,693.

• The state ranked sixth in per-capita spending on health care at $285. That number was 73 percent above the national average of $165.

• Per-capita hospital spending in New York was $211 in 2005, 46 percent above the national average.

•The state’s per-capita education spending was 8 percent above the national average at $1,657– 18th in the nation.

The Census Bureau data are available at www.census.gov/govs/www/state05.html.

Per-capita state spending and taxes, 2005

Rank, per-capita spending	State	Per capita- spending	Total spending	Rank, per- capita taxes	Per-capita taxes
1	Alaska	$12,146	$8,055,975	7	$2,802
2	Wyoming	$7,861	$3,999,825	3	$3,419
3	Vermont	$7,127	$4,435,774	1	$3,604
4	NEW YORK	$7,082	$136,786,401	11	$2,598
5	Delaware	$7,014	$5,904,256	6	$3,077
6	Hawaii	$6,601	$8,405,444	2	$3,483
7	New Mexico	$6,542	$12,599,040	21	$2,322
8	Rhode Island	$6,291	$6,753,641	12	$2,449
9	Massachusetts	$5,911	$38,025,089	8	$2,800
10	Minnesota	$5,885	$30,169,448	5	$3,098
11	California	$5,802	$209,771,313	9	$2,723
12	Connecticut	$5,771	$20,203,170	4	$3,309
13	Maine	$5,678	$7,484,638	19	$2,330
14	New Jersey	$5,657	$49,230,773	10	$2,635
15	North Dakota	$5,501	$3,490,904	22	$2,211
16	West Virginia	$5,417	$9,826,128	15	$2,371
17	South Carolina	$5,347	$22,708,996	42	$1,723
18	Oregon	$5,333	$19,406,306	41	$1,792
19	Ohio	$5,295	$60,742,802	28	$2,093
20	Washington	$5,254	$33,059,244	17	$2,359
21	Wisconsin	$5,215	$28,828,334	14	$2,379
22	Montana	$5,135	$4,800,120	33	$2,006
23	Michigan	$5,090	$51,408,421	20	$2,329
24	Pennsylvania	$5,065	$62,833,258	23	$2,198
25	Mississippi	$5,056	$14,704,763	39	$1,868
26	Arkansas	$4,912	$13,634,214	16	$2,361
27	Kentucky	$4,815	$20,091,176	24	$2,179
28	Maryland	$4,795	$26,803,282	13	$2,415
29	Iowa	$4,769	$14,142,676	34	$1,939
30	Louisiana	$4,748	$21,402,115	36	$1,917
31	Alabama	$4,627	$21,046,841	44	$1,715
32	North Carolina	$4,553	$39,482,250	26	$2,149
33	Utah	$4,477	$11,148,591	38	$1,882
34	Oklahoma	$4,434	$15,710,022	35	$1,936
35	New Hampshire	$4,426	$5,783,853	48	$1,547
36	Illinois	$4,361	$55,666,989	29	$2,069
37	Virginia	$4,335	$32,790,458	27	$2,104
38	Idaho	$4,294	$6,137,489	30	$2,053
39	Kansas	$4,281	$11,765,208	32	$2,037
40	Indiana	$4,221	$26,451,543	31	$2,051
41	South Dakota	$4,209	$3,261,813	49	$1,433
42	Nebraska	$4,137	$7,273,406	25	$2,159
43	Tennessee	$4,028	$23,989,642	45	$1,680
44	Colorado	$4,025	$18,769,570	47	$1,640
45	Arizona	$4,024	$23,957,058	40	$1,849
46	Missouri	$3,993	$23,147,448	46	$1,646
47	Florida	$3,963	$70,417,744	37	$1,908
48	Nevada	$3,796	$9,158,273	18	$2,351
49	Georgia	$3,702	$33,806,582	43	$1,716
50	Texas	$3,549	$81,368,646	50	$1,430
United States		$4,961	$1,470,840,952		$2,186
New York State % +/- US average			43%		19%

News home BC HomeEmail this story Print This Page