Taxes & Spending

Assessing Tax Trends in the City of San Antonio

Does history suggest that property taxes are too high in the city of San Antonio? 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 period. Using these audited estimates, we...

February 18, 2026

Taxes & Spending

Assessing Tax Trends in the City of Houston

Does history suggest that property taxes are too high in the city of Houston? 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...

February 17, 2026

Taxes & Spending

Assessing Tax Trends in the City of El Paso

Does history suggest that property taxes are too high in the city of El Paso? 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...

February 16, 2026

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