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James Quintero

James Quintero is the policy director for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Government for the People campaign. Since joining the Foundation in 2008, Quintero has focused extensively on: state & local government spending, taxes, debt, public pension reform, annexation, and local regulations.

Local Government

Texas Local Government Debt Soars to $552 Billion

New data shows a dramatic increase in local government debt last year, which drove property taxes higher and worsened the cost-of-living crisis. According to the Bond Review Board’s latest estimates, the total amount owed by cities, counties, school districts, and special districts rose to nearly $552 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2025. Shockingly, that massive sum is more than $52 billion higher than the prior year’s amount. Once again, independent school districts (ISDs) were the most heavily indebted type of political subdivision,...

January 28, 2026

Taxes & Spending

These are Texas’ Top 10 Most Expensive High School Football Stadiums

Texas is home to some of the most opulent high school football stadiums in the U.S. In fact, according to one recent ranking, the Lone Star State is home to 8 of the 10 most expensive stadiums nationwide, with only Ohio’s Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium ($175.8 million, inflation-adjusted) and Georgia’s Phillip Beard Stadium...

December 8, 2025

Taxes & Spending

Bond Election Reflections

On November 4th, 2025, numerous elections were held across Texas, providing voters with an opportunity to let their voices be heard on tax and spending measures. While the data is still coming in, there are some indications that voters were in no mood for reckless tax increases or growing government unnecessarily. One such indication comes...

December 8, 2025

Taxes & Spending

How Much Will Magnolia ISD’s Bonds Really Cost?

On August 11th, 2025, Magnolia Independent School District (Magnolia ISD) ordered a bond election to be held on the uniform election date, November 4th, 2025. According to its website, Magnolia ISD is expected to exceed 22,000 students by 2034, which it believes warrants the construction of new facilities, specifically one new high school, two new...

October 24, 2025

Taxes & Spending

What Do Travis County Homeowners Pay in Property Taxes?

On Election Day, the city of Austin will ask voters to approve a massive 20% tax rate hike that many worry will spur further economic hardship, force families to flee, and grow government unnecessarily. Austin’s extraordinary ask—which appears to be the city’s largest-ever proposed tax increase—raises an obvious question: How much do Austinites currently pay...

October 22, 2025

Local Government

Is Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying an Even Bigger Problem than We Know?

Is taxpayer-funded lobbying a bigger problem than many Texans suspect? It certainly seems so based on one Dallas city councilmember’s recent verbal slip-up. On August 27, 2025, the Dallas city council held a regular hearing to discuss public business, including an agenda item (#51) to: “Authorize a two-year personal services contract, with one two-year renewal...

October 8, 2025

Local Government

Week Without Driving (Me Crazy!)

This week, Austinites will endure “unseasonably warm weather,” with temperatures reaching into the mid- and upper 90s. Despite the sweltering heat however, the city of Austin’s anti-car crusaders want you to ditch your air-conditioned automobile and instead hustle around town by walking or biking. The city’s latest car-hating campaign comes as part of its promotion...

October 3, 2025

Taxes & Spending

Austin’s Taxpayer Abuse Calls for Strong, State-Led Action

A recent Austin American-Staman investigation found that while the city of Austin is asking voters for a 20% tax rate hike in the upcoming November election, officials are also spending lavishly on privileged and personal expenses. For instance, the newspaper notes that the city’s newest adopted budget “raises council travel allotments by 55% and food...

October 2, 2025

Taxes & Spending

Harris County Strikes Out

On August 26th, 2025, the Harris County Commissioners’ Court held a public hearing to discuss various agenda items, including one highly questionable expenditure that spurred a great deal of controversy. In fact, the public’s angst over the proposed expenditure was evident during the public comment period. At issue was the appropriateness of a sponsorship for...

September 26, 2025

Taxes & Spending

A City Official’s Japanese Junket Illustrates the Need for Reform

A new Dallas Morning News investigation uncovered a left-leaning Dallas city councilmember’s taxpayer-funded foreign trip, raising questions over how and why city officials spent public money meant for pandemic relief. According to the newspaper’s reporting, the councilmember in question “went on a 10-day trip to Dallas’ sister city Sendai, Japan, earlier this month. The $6,000...

September 26, 2025

Taxes & Spending

What is the Full Cost of Bryan ISD’s $397 Million Bond Package?

On August 18th, 2025, Bryan Independent School District (BISD) ordered a bond election to be held on November 4th, 2025, which will leave up to the residents three distinct measures. Those propositions will ask voters to consider the following: Proposition A: “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. The issuance of $325,515,000 of bonds by the...

September 26, 2025

Taxes & Spending

How Much Will Groesbeck ISD’s Bond Really Cost?

Groesbeck Independent School District (GISD) is situated in its namesake city, located about 38 miles east of Waco, and on August 12th, 2025, GISD on the uniform state Election Day, November 4th, 2025. At that time, area residents will decide on one bond proposition which asks, in part: Proposition A: “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX...

September 26, 2025