The Texas Senate may soon vote on SB 2, a misguided proposal that would limit the ability of cities and counties to decide how much to devote to police, fire, paramedics, and other local services. Special areas like community colleges
Texas needs a budget and tax system that is fair, adequate, and responsive to our state’s growing population and needs. The ability to invest in public services that will build a more prosperous future for all Texans relies on the ability of our tax system to support those services.
Here are our top 6 insights The Texas Senate and House of Representatives have each released their 2020-2021 draft budgets, SB 1 and HB 1 respectively. What are the potential impacts on health care, education and other essential programs and services?
On January 7 at 10 A.M., State Comptroller Glenn Hegar is scheduled to issue the state revenue estimate for 2020-2021. The Biennial Revenue Estimate (BRE) details how much money lawmakers can invest in state services as they convene and write
The Texas Public School Finance Commission adopted its final report on December 19, 2018. The commission met all year, with CPPP closely involved, to develop recommendations for the 2019 Legislature around supporting the needs of our state’s
As 2018 winds down, there’s been a flurry of activity on the Texas Public School Finance Commission. At CPPP, we have been tracking the commission’s work all year, testifying at meetings, providing analysis and submitting recommendations. Recall that the Legislature set
Legislative Budget Board (LBB) officials meet TODAY to set the growth spending limit for the 2020-2021 state budget. Article VIII, Section 22, of the Texas Constitution limits spending of state tax revenue not dedicated by the Constitution to the estimated rate
Though it is the state’s responsibility to provide a substantial share of school funding, Texas relies heavily on local property taxes to fund our schools. Because property values vary greatly from one community to the next, some districts are better
We hear plenty from elected leaders about Texas being a “low-tax state,” but we are actually a high-tax state for many families. By setting up a tax system that puts financial strain on lower-income Texans, state leaders are in effect
State budget decisions shape the Texas we live in today and pass on to future generations, and the 2020-2021 budget cycle is already underway even though the Legislature won’t gavel in until January. Agencies have submitted their budget requests, and
This commentary was originally published in The Quorum Report on August 30, 2018. This week Governor Abbott made a case for boosting state funding to our public schools. We agree that money matters in education,
