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.
Taxes & Spending
Assessing Tax Trends in the City of Austin
Does history suggest that property taxes are too high in the city of Austin? 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 19, 2026