2017–2018 Legislator’s Guide: Spending

September 15, 2016

The Spending section of the 2017–2018 Legislator's Guide. This section explains the Conservative Texas Budget, Tax and Expenditure Limit, Sales Tax Reduction Fund, Transparency and Budgeting, Understanding Federal Funds, Transportation, Economic Stabilization Fund, Public Pension Reform, and State Debt.

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Assessing Tax Trends in the City of Dallas

Does history suggest that property taxes are too high in the city of Dallas? And, if so, have local decision-makers actively helped or hurt the situation? To help answer these questions, let’s review the city’s 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and gather four types of data—i.e., tax levies, local population, total tax rates, and taxable values—over a 10-year time horizon. Using these audited estimates, we can gauge the growth of government (i.e., tax levy trends), assess its reasonability...

February 18, 2026

Taxes & Spending

Supermajority Solutions for Texas Taxpayers

Texas bond elections often pass with low voter turnout and simple majorities, driving up local debt as a result. Raising voter approval thresholds could protect taxpayers and ensure a stronger consensus for public spending. Key points: Even though tax relief has been funded at the state level, increased debt at the local level has led...

February 3, 2026

Taxes & Spending

Bigger in Texas: Sizing Up the State’s Finances

Every even-numbered year, the state’s Legislative Budget Board (LBB) publishes a helpful, user-friendly summation of the General Appropriations Act (GAA), otherwise known as the state’s two-year budget. On Wednesday, the LBB published the next iteration—its 2024-25 Fiscal Size-Up. From a 30,000 ft. level, this new report provides “a comprehensive review of how tax dollars were...

August 2, 2024

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