The state of Texas depends heavily on the property tax in order to finance its local governments. While no one likes paying taxes, and taxes need to be kept as low as possible, tax collections must be enforced in order for fairness to be preserved and to ensure honest government. This study by the Foundation’s Chief Economist explores a market-based option for improving tax collections without increasing costs to the taxpayer — and indeed potentially reducing local government operating costs to the benefit of all taxpayers.
K-12 Education
The Ice Cream Test Lincoln Would Have Understood
A few weeks ago, I received a call from a very frustrated friend. She is exactly the kind of teacher every parent hopes their child gets. She is dedicated, thoughtful, and has high expectations for her students. The issue that prompted her call was not a disagreement over curriculum or school resources, but ice cream....
June 25, 2026