It takes clarity, vision, and leadership to responsibly prepare a biennial budget for the State of Texas. Legislators are called to make difficult decisions that affect the lives of 24 million Texans. In that spirit, we offer these guidelines for drafting the 2010-11 state budget, aimed at promoting the necessary economic conditions for a strong and vibrant Texas.
Just the Facts: Local Government Spending
Despite billions in property tax relief provided by recent state legislatures, Texans’ property tax bills continue to increase due to unrestricted spending at the local level. Key points: City and county government spending continues to outstrip increases in both population and inflation. While the state government has constitutional and statutory spending limits, local governments do...