It’s that time again when city officials all across the Lone Star State begin to consider where to set next year’s tax rate (the fiscal year for most political subdivisions begins Oct. 1 of every calendar year). The tax rate adoption process is one area in which city officials have tremendous discretion—which means that if...
“It belongs in a museum” could easily be used to describe progressives’ application of fiscal responsibility to big city budgeting. Of course, they all claim to believe in it. Even President Joe Biden said, “The (budget’s) first value is fiscal responsibility.” In practice, however, fiscal responsibility is the Bud Light of city government budgets: seemingly...
San Antonio City Councilmember Marc Whyte wrote an article last month in defense of the state’s major preemption legislation (House Bill 2127) and, while reading it, I was reminded of the words of a famous Texan, David Crockett, who said: “Be sure you are right, then go ahead.” Risking fierce criticism, Councilman Whyte explained the...
Sky-high public sector salaries have become a sore spot for many Texans, especially considering how much tax bills have grown in a relatively short period. But you may be wondering—exactly how much are these elite few making? In a previous post, we looked at the highest paid superintendents in Texas (with the top administrator raking...
Over the last few legislative sessions, policymakers have entertained a variety of proposals to place reasonable limitations on public sector administrator salaries. Such proposals—i.e., HB 1476 (88R), HB 1740 (86R), HB 4627 (86R), and SB 721 (86R)—have been driven, in large part, by growing public outrage over supersized superintendent salaries. While lawmakers have yet to...
The city of Dallas recently asked the public to attend a budget workshop to discuss its finances—and apparently, not that many people showed up. Now, I’m sure Dallas taxpayers had many good reasons why they couldn’t make this particular meeting, i.e. work, school, taking care of family, etc. But the public might want to make...
Public trust in media is embarrassingly low. And after reading the latest editorial board opinion piece from the Dallas Morning News, it’s no surprise why. On Tuesday, DMN’s editorial board published an editorial titled “Gov. Greg Abbott’s terrible property tax idea,” which tries to take aim at Gov. Abbott’s push to “put Texans on the...
As Texans continue to get crushed under the ever-increasing burden of property taxes, Governor Abbott has promised them the “biggest tax cut in Texas history” and the Legislature appears poised to deliver—eventually. During the closing days of the Regular session, legislators appropriated a massive $17.6 billion in tax relief for homeowners, renters, and businesses. But they hit...
On Thursday, the Texas House and the Texas Senate released the conference committee report for House Bill 1, which represents the state’s nearly complete budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The measure now goes back to both chambers for approval. It will take some time to fully grasp the 1,000+ page document, but a...
Texans are eager for massive property tax relief and policymakers appear ready to deliver. However, while there is broad agreement on the need for relief and the political will to see it through, there are competing visions on how to get it done. In the Texas House, lawmakers are supporting a plan that hinges on...
On Saturday, voters will decide the fate of 291 separate bond propositions that could add as much as $30 billion in new debt (principal only) to Texas’ already substantial burden. As The Texan reported late last year, local government debt totaled $417 billion in 2022, which “represents roughly $14,000 in debt per resident of Texas,...
Free-market reforms are the key to solving Texas’ housing affordability crisis. That’s the main takeaway from an insightful new Forbes article authored by Jared Meyer as he surveys the state of play in the Lone Star State. To bolster his thesis, Meyer cites several legislative proposals currently being debated at the statehouse that promise to...