Budget-Busting States

As the financial crisis unfolds and the economy weakens, many states are having a hard time paying their expenses. In all, about 35 states have reported a budget gap for the 2009 fiscal year. Put together, it amounts to some $56.4 billion, according to estimates compiled by the research organization Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Click ahead to the ten states with the biggest budget holes, as a  percentage of the annual budget. The total dollar amount of the gap is based on the states' mid-year budget assessment.

Photo: combusean Gap as percentage of total budget: 23.4 percentGap: $2.4 billion

Photo: moonlightbulb Gap percentage: 22.0 percentGap: $22.2 billion

Photo: alexdecarvalho Gap percentage: 19.9 percentGap:  $5.1 billion

Photo: OctopusHat Gap percentage: 16.0 percentGap: $1.2 billion

Photo: Payton Chung Gap percentage: 13.9 percentGap: $456 million

Photo: rvaphotodude Gap percentage: 12.8 percentGap: $2.2 billion

Photo: Smudge 9000 Gap percentage: 11.7 percentGap: $804 million

Photo: wwarby Gap percentage: 10.8 percentGap:  $6.1 billion

Photo: Hyku Gap percentage: 10.0 percentGap: $310 million

Photo: Southernpixel Gap percentage: 9.5 percentGap: $784 million» Replay Slideshow