As noted above, the projected budget shortfall for the upcoming session has lately been reported in the range of $20-25 billion. In 2009, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) published a report identifying and summarizing the various actions other states have taken to close their budget gaps. Those actions included but were not limited to: across-the board cuts, targeted reductions, reduction in size of the state workforce, tapping reserve funds, and “budget- balancing” actions including shifting pay-as-you-go projects to debt or freezing equipment or state motor fleet acquisitions.
A report from former Deputy Comptroller Billy Hamilton, commissioned by Texas 20/20, entitled. Strategies for Closing the State Budget Gap: Lessons from Other States in 2010 provides the following chart below with various ways other states have addressed their budget gap.