Texas’ 2018-19 Budget Items that Exceed Conservative Texas Budget Growth Limit

The Conservative Texas Budget (CTB) is one where biennial appropriations (General Appropriations Act and supplemental appropriations, when available) of state funds (excludes federal funds) and all funds—the footprint of government—increase by no more than population growth plus inflation. The 2018-19 CTB limits are $147.5 billion in state funds and $218.5 billion in all funds.  ...

Texas Legislature Should Pass Tax Relief, Spending Limit Reform, and Budget Transparency

The Conservative Texas Budget Coalition’s key fiscal priorities for the 2017 Texas Legislature would support more economic prosperity for all Texans. The Foundation applauds much of what Governor Abbott said in his State of the State speech and included in his budget proposal to make these priorities a reality by advancing the case for the...

Texas Legislature Should Sustain a 2016-17 Conservative Texas Budget

The Conservative Texas Budget (CTB) is one where biennial appropriations (General Appropriations Act and supplemental appropriations, when available) of state funds (excludes federal funds) and all funds—the footprint of government—increase by no more than population growth plus inflation. The 2016-17 CTB limits are $142.3 billion in state funds and $215.2 billion in all funds. This...

Revamping Texas’ School Finance System

Texas Comptroller’s Revenue Estimate Recap

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar released the Biennial Revenue Estimate 2018-19 report on January 9, 2017, which acts as a guidepost for how much revenue the 85th Texas Legislature has available. Given the state’s constitution requires a balanced budget, the report sets the stage for legislators on the amount of revenue available to appropriate and cut...

Texas Ranks Third Nationally in Economic Freedom for the Sixth Consecutive Year

Source: Economic Freedom of North America 2016 The Fraser Institute’s recently released annual report on economic freedom in North America shows that Texas continues as one of the most free jurisdictions in the nation and continent in 2014. Specifically, Texas retained its third place status in the U.S. for the sixth straight year while improving to fourth place...

Who believes a Texas minimum wage hike would be free?

Legislators this session should support more prosperity achieved in Texas by further freeing markets from government intervention so limited taxpayer dollars fund core government provisions.

Texas Weathers the Oil Price Volatility Better than Alberta

  Texas Weathers the Oil Price Volatility Better than Alberta Comparisons of standards of living among the largest states and their fiscal approaches provide insight into which approach best supports prosperity. Research comparing key economic data finds that states following the principles of limited government are a blueprint for prosperity. The Fraser Institute in Canada recently published a report that highlights this...

Hidalgo County voters ‘reject and redirect’ Prop 1 taxes

Voters in Hidalgo County now have twice rejected adding another administrative special taxing district– and were wise to do so. Adding new districts simply adds more layers of bureaucracy and increases costs, while redistributing more money from taxpayers and away from needed services, instead of focusing on the intended beneficiaries — patients, in this case.

Keep Texas’ limited government model

Texas is often referred to as a poverty-ridden state due to its reliance on a model of limited government. More prosperity is preferred, and the evidence is clear that standards of living are substantially higher in Texas than in California, which has a model of excessive government.

Blueprint For Prosperity: End Keynesian Policies

Data show better economic outcomes in places with less government and more economic freedom

Preserve Texas’ Rainy Day Fund

"We must remember that government spending is the disease, and taxes are just a symptom. If we want to cure the disease and keep taxes low, we must be vigilant in keeping spending constrained, no matter the source."