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

Taxes & Spending

What is the Full Cost of Friendswood ISD’s $165 Million Bond Package?

Last month, the Friendswood Independent School District (FISD) ordered an election to be held on November 4th, 2025, at which time voters will decide on 4 separate bond propositions. According to the district’s bond promotion website, the measures are as follows: Proposition A proposes a $154,750,000 bond issuance for the purposes of constructing and redesigning...

September 24, 2025

Taxes & Spending

What is the Full Cost of Belton ISD’s $161.8 Million Bond Package?

Last month, the Belton Independent School District (BISD) ordered an election to be held on November 4th, 2025, at which time area voters will decide on 4 separate bond propositions. According to the district’s bond promotion website, here are the measures that will be considered: Proposition A proposes a $92,925,000 bond issuance for the purpose...

September 24, 2025

Taxes & Spending

What is the Full Cost of Richardson ISD’s $2.3 Billion Bond Package?

On August 7, 2025, Richardson Independent School District (RISD) issued a bond election order calling for a $1.4 billion bond package to be decided on the uniform election date in November (11/04/2025). The order sets out three bond propositions, with each one covering a different topic, including: Proposition A provides for the issuance of $1,338,600,000...

September 24, 2025

Taxes & Spending

The Taxman Cometh: City of Marble Falls

Most city, county, and school district officials are right now in the process of adopting budgets and determining tax rates for the next fiscal year. In some cases, these local decisions will increase the cost of government and put upward pressure on property tax bills. In a few cases, local government action will cause tax...

September 18, 2025

Taxes & Spending

The Taxman Cometh: City of DeSoto

Most city, county, and school district officials are right now in the process of adopting budgets and determining tax rates for the next fiscal year. In some cases, these local decisions will increase the cost of government and put upward pressure on property tax bills. In a few cases, local government action will cause tax...

September 18, 2025

Taxes & Spending

The Taxman Cometh: City of Odessa

Most city, county, and school district officials are right now in the process of adopting budgets and determining tax rates for the next fiscal year. In some cases, these local decisions will increase the cost of government and put upward pressure on property tax bills. In a few cases, local government action will cause tax...

September 18, 2025

Taxes & Spending

The Taxman Cometh: City of Denison

Most city, county, and school district officials are right now in the process of adopting budgets and determining tax rates for the next fiscal year. In some cases, these local decisions will increase the cost of government and put upward pressure on property tax bills. In a few cases, local government action will cause tax...

September 18, 2025

Local Government

Small Towns, Big Tax Increases

The city of Whitesboro ignited a firestorm recently when officials suggested adopting a tax rate that would have skyrocketed the average homeowner’s property tax bill by 61 percent. The initial public hearing to discuss the matter drew hordes of angry Whitesboro residents who voiced their discontent. So much so, in fact, that city councilmembers tabled...

September 17, 2025

Local Government

Austin Governments Make Affordability Worse

Austin-area progressives constantly bemoan the region’s affordability crisis—and then set about making matters worse through all manner of ways. Case-in-point: The latest round of tax increases proposed and adopted by the very left-leaning local officials presiding over the city of Austin, Travis County, Central Health, and Austin ISD. Let’s take them one at a time....

September 17, 2025