It was in such poor fiscal shape that state auditors said they could not unravel its accounts.
What the spending programs have done, however, is put Japan's government in poor fiscal shape.
Albany is in bad fiscal shape itself and could not provide the kind of relief it did in the last crisis.
Counties in the worst fiscal shape are those with legal restraints on tax increases.
She said, "We're in sound fiscal shape; we always get a clean opinion from our auditors.
But with the fiscal shape we're in, it makes a lot of sense for us to work together.
Nassau County has been in bad fiscal shape for years.
But for now, cities in the Northeast seem to be in better fiscal shape and some have surplus funds.
They said that while the city was generally in good fiscal shape, the Mayor should not necessarily be taking credit.
New York State is in worse fiscal shape than the city.