Defined benefit retirement systems in Houston and Dallas are collapsing under their own weight, putting retirees and taxpayers in harm’s way. And while pension reform proposals are right now taking shape (see here and here), there’s a big problem with the outlines of both plans: they leave these systems locked in state law. As I’ve...
These programs and projects are just a small sample of the big-time waste that exists in places like Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth and elsewhere. These real-life examples are living, breathing proof that city governments have plenty of fat in their budgets and little incentive to prioritize.
According to a recent report from the Texas comptroller, local government coffers have become swollen with new revenues over the past two decades, thanks to persistently high increases in the property tax.
Unfunded liabilities, or the difference between what’s been promised to future retirees and what’s actually on hand to provide for those benefits, surged to $66.5 billion, according to the Pension Review Board’s latest actuarial figures for January 2017. That’s an increase of $3.2 billion since the last report in November 2016 and over $6 billion...
Answer: Quite poorly. According to the Bond Review Board’s latest annual report, Texas’ local debt per capita ($8,350) ranks as the 2nd highest amount owed among the top ten most populous states. Only New York’s per capita amount ($10,646) ranked higher in the latest ratings. In terms of the aggregate amount owed by Texas’ local...
Have you heard about the Austin Water Utility spending $1,200 per click for online ads? Two weeks ago, the Austin American-Statesman reported that a city employee “approved online advertisements to Austin Water customers with a marketing company totaling $67,000 between 2013 and 2016. That netted redirects from the company’s website only 55 times—at a cost-per-click...
Over the years, a number of different local retirement systems have lobbied the legislature to put some or all of their pension plans in state law. By locking in certain elements of their plan in statute, these systems have all but locked-out community stakeholders, at least those without the right political connection in Austin. But...
Gov. Abbott Calls for Local Debt Transparency Local government debt continues to soar. According to the Bond Review Board’s latest estimates, cities, counties, school districts, and special districts owe a cumulative $342 billion, or roughly $12,450 for every man, woman, and child in the Lone Star State. One of the major drivers of the...
If local governments want to tax excessively, then the onus should be on them to ask the public for permission.
For years, local officials have used the opacity and complexity of the property tax system to hide or dismiss claims of soaring tax bills. Oftentimes, this misdirection employs some blend of legalistic wording, repetitive messaging, and a biased handling of appraisals, tax rates, and exemptions. Having watched this shell game unfold time and again without...
Years of liberal thought and management at the local level have created major systemic problems that threaten the Texan way of life. On the fiscal front, cities, counties, school districts, and special districts have accumulated a staggering amount of debt; skyrocketing property tax bills are among the worst in the nation; local spending is growing...
When it comes to Texas’ public retirement systems, one of my greatest concerns is that there are other ticking time-bombs, like the DPFP, out there getting ready to explode. It’s not just Dallas’ pension plan that’s taken on excessive risk to chase high yield in a low-yield environment.