2023 Responsible Local Budgets in Texas: Brownsville and Cameron County

Residents of Brownsville, Texas, have been paying too much in taxes and fees to fund excessive government spending in Cameron County. It is time for Responsible Local Budgets in the city of Brownsville and Cameron County.

Key Points

• Over the last decade, Cameron County grew its budget faster than population growth and inflation, exceeding the slower growth of the city of Brownsville’s budget.
• Due to excessive spending overall, residents of Brownsville are paying higher taxes than they otherwise should be.
• Brownsville-area governments should limit spending to at most the rate of population growth plus inflation, the same standard as the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Conservative Texas Budget.
• By adhering to the Responsible Local Budget standards, city and county officials can promote efficiency, minimize taxation, and create more opportunities for people to flourish.