Marc A. Levin is the Chief Policy Counsel at the Council on Criminal Justice and Senior Advisor to Right on Crime.
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...
Moral injury affects nearly two-thirds of Texas first responders, yet remains undiagnosed and untreated. Targeted screening and evidence-based intervention can change that. Key Points 62.6% of Texas first responders surveyed had experienced a morally injurious event; half of those screened positive for probable PTSD. More than half reported numbness or detachment from people and surroundings,...
Texas’s rapidly growing population requires new infrastructure and improvements, which oftentimes come at great expense. To fund these projects, local officials often impose impact fees on new development—but their use comes at a cost. Key points: Texas is the fastest-growing state in the nation. As such, it has robust infrastructure requirements. To help finance capital...