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.
And they’re off! On June 22, the lengthy and critically important process for crafting the 2020-2021 state budget officially launched with the release of budget instructions to the leaders of Texas public agencies and higher education institutions. Those of us wondering
Lawmakers at the Capitol have been pushing an extremely dangerous idea for some time now that would replace property taxes with higher sales taxes in our state. This would give Texas the highest sales tax rate in the country, hurt
Last week the U.S. Senate passed its dangerous tax bill, which is about as bad as the one the U.S. House of Representatives approved in mid-November. Both would give hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts
Last week we dug into Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s revenue update for the 2018-2019 state budget cycle. Compared to his January forecast, Comptroller Hegar now predicts more rapid economic growth. But the details of the revenue update show that
The Comptroller’s just-released revenue update predicts that the Texas economy will continue to grow steadily in 2018 and 2019, as measured by total number of jobs, personal income, or Gross State Product. But that economic growth – now forecast
This post was updated on July 31, 2017. The Senate last week passed Senate Bill 1 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a dangerous bill that would limit the ability of local governments to raise the revenue needed to pay police officers, firefighters and
Recently we dove into why spending caps are horrible ideas if you want to keep local services running (think fire departments, police departments, electric utilities, etc.) while also being able to adapt to
Texans value public education. Our constitution and state laws decree that providing a quality education for all children is a state responsibility.[1] Texas law also states that the school finance system should be substantially financed through state revenue
Increase state support to public schools. The Texas Legislature is again threatening to interfere with local communities by limiting the ability of local governments to raise the revenue they need to deliver public safety, health care, parks, libraries and other services
Harmful proposals would further limit state and local elected officials’ ability to plan for a growing and changing Texas. For Texans of all backgrounds to reach their full potential, our state and local governments need to be able to provide services
