Many state budgets are reaping the benefits of tax revenues that are rising faster than at any time since the economic slowdown ended. Overall tax collections by states rose by 11.7 percent in the first quarter of 2005, giving the legislatures extra cash to shore up school aid, increase teacher pay, and finance new initiatives such as full-day kindergarten. Some states have not recovered from the recession. In some regions, one state may have plenty of money to spread around, while a neighboring state may be struggling to keep school spending rising with the inflation rate.