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WORST EXPECTED STATE BUDGET GAPS The economic crisis has taken a toll on nearly every corner of the American economy, including the financial position of most US states. With shrinking tax

revenues, some states are considering drastic measures to balance their budget. In the most recent state budget report from the (NCSL), the highest estimates for the 2011 budget gap

demonstrate how bad the situation could get in the coming year. In order to close their 2010 budget gaps, most US states have been forced to cut spending, increas Source: National Conference

of State Legislatures | Photo: AP The economic crisis has taken a toll on nearly every corner of the American economy, including the financial position of most US states. With shrinking tax

revenues, some states are considering drastic measures to balance their budget. In the most recent state budget report from the National Conference of State Legislatures(NCSL), the highest

estimates for the 2011 budget gap demonstrate how bad the situation could get in the coming year. In order to close their 2010 budget gaps, most US states have been forced to cut spending,

increase taxes, sell bonds or look to the federal government for help. But if the nation's economic situation doesn't dramatically improve, states may face even more daunting gaps

in their 2011 budgets. The NCSL highlights that although spending overruns are pinching state budgets, the principle cause of budget gaps is a steep drop-off in state revenues arising from

lower-than-expected returns from income and sales taxes. States with the worst positions are ranked here according to the expected budget gap as a percentage of individual state general

funds. So, which states are potentially facing the worst 2010 budget gaps? Here are the 15 that are expecting the toughest road ahead. _By _Paul Toscano _Posted 15 April 2010_ 15. RHODE

ISLAND Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $429 million Percent of General Fund: 15.1% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Photo: Radius Images  | Getty Images

Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $429 million Percent of General Fund: 15.1% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No 14. NEW YORK Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $9.02 billion

Percent of General Fund: 15.3% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Photo: Altrendo Travel | Getty Images Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $9.02 billion Percent of

General Fund: 15.3% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No 13. OKLAHOMA Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $793 million Percent of General Fund: 15.4% 2011 Revenue

Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Photo: Richard Cummins | Getty Images Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $793 million Percent of General Fund: 15.4% 2011 Revenue Outlook:

Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No 12. UTAH Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $690 million Percent of General Fund: 15.8% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in

2011: No Photo: Jumper | Photodisc | Getty Images Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $690 million Percent of General Fund: 15.8% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No

11. MARYLAND Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $2.27 billion Percent of General Fund: 17.2% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Photo: Glowimages | Getty Images

Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $2.27 billion Percent of General Fund: 17.2% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No 10. IOWA Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $1.07

billionPercent of General Fund: 19.6%2011 Revenue Outlook: ConcernedDecreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Photo: Michael Snell | Robert Harding World Imagery | Getty Images Estimated FY

2011 Gap: $1.07 billion Percent of General Fund: 19.6% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No 9. MAINE Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $765 million Percent of General

Fund: 21.6% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Stable Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Photo: Josiah Davidson | Photographer's Choice | Getty Images Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $765 million

Percent of General Fund: 21.6% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Stable Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No 8. VERMONT Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $267 million Percent of General Fund: 22% 2011 Revenue

Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $267 million Percent of General Fund: 22% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in

2011: No 7. HAWAII Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $1.22 billionPercent of General Fund: 22.7%2011 Revenue Outlook: ConcernedDecreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Photo: VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm |

Getty Images Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $1.22 billion Percent of General Fund: 22.7% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No 6. MINNESOTA Estimated FY 2011 Gap:

$4.77 billion Percent of General Fund: 25.5% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Photo: Donovan Reese | Photodisc | Getty Images Estimated FY 2011 Gap:

$4.77 billion Percent of General Fund: 25.5% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No 5. ARIZONA Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $3 billion Percent of General Fund: 30%

2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $3 billion Percent of General Fund: 30% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues

Expected in 2011: No 4. NEW JERSEY Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $11 billion Percent of General Fund: 33% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Photo:

VisionsofAmerica | Joe Sohm | Photodisc | Getty Images Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $11 billion Percent of General Fund: 33% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No

3. MASSACHUSETTS Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $2.75 billionPercent of General Fund: 40.8%2011 Revenue Outlook: ConcernedDecreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Photo: TravelPix Ltd | The Image

Bank | Getty Images Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $2.75 billion Percent of General Fund: 40.8% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No 1. (TIED) NEVADA Estimated FY

2011 Gap: $1.81 billion Percent of General Fund: 45% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No Photo: VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm | Getty Images Estimated FY 2011

Gap: $1.81 billion Percent of General Fund: 45% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Concerned Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: No 1. (TIED) ILLINOIS Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $12.5 billion Percent of

General Fund: 45% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Pessimistic Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: Yes Photo: VisionsodAmerica | Joe Sohm | Photodisc | Getty Images Estimated FY 2011 Gap: $12.5

billion Percent of General Fund: 45% 2011 Revenue Outlook: Pessimistic Decreased Revenues Expected in 2011: Yes