Virginians pride themselves (or flagellate themselves, depending upon their perspective) for being one of the most parsimonious of states when it comes to state government spending. According to data published by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, however, we were far from frugal in the decade of the 2000s.
Virginia’s growth in state spending between FY 2000 and FY 2009 matched the average of all 50 states combined: 29%, adjusted for inflation and population growth. Nineteen states saw a faster rate of government spending while 29 saw a slower rate of growth. (The rate for one could not be determined.)
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