Taxes & Spending

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.  ...

February 3, 2017

Taxes & Spending

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...

February 3, 2017

Economy

Texas Needs the Best Price

Due to price-fixing by the state, title insurance in Texas costs $2,663 for a $300,000 home, the fifth highest cost in the nation; $703 above the median price of states with lower prices. 84% of the cost goes for expenses and profit.

February 2, 2017

Taxes & Spending

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...

February 2, 2017

Taxes & Spending

Austin Water Pays $1,200 Per Click for Online Ads

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...

February 2, 2017

Economy

Gov. Abbott Calls for Local Pension Reform

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...

February 1, 2017

Taxes & Spending

Gov. Abbott Calls for Local Debt Transparency

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...

February 1, 2017

Taxes & Spending

How Many Local Govts. Levy a Property Tax?

If local governments want to tax excessively, then the onus should be on them to ask the public for permission.

January 31, 2017

Higher Education

Report: Obama Department Of Education Drastically Underestimated Student-Loan Debt

In short, things are getting worse on the student loan front—and have been for some time; something we would and should have known earlier, had it not been for the federal government’s “technical programming error.” For my part, I will not question the veracity of the prior administration’s claims. I will wait patiently for the Department of Education to heed the GAO’s admonition to clean up its books.

January 31, 2017

K-12 Education

Educational Choice in Texas: The Fierce Urgency of Now

If we want to ensure that every one of our Texas schoolchildren has the opportunity to flourish, then we need to innovate beyond the antiquated method of conveyor-belt education, where children become “products,” and where parental freedom is quashed by “the system.”

January 31, 2017

Taxes & Spending

Stats Confirm Property Taxes are Soaring, Reform Needed

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...

January 30, 2017

K-12 Education

Texans embrace education freedom

I hear Texans wanting alternatives, wanting education freedom and looking forward to the innovation that will bring to education. We cannot wait to give students and families education options. The time to pass school choice in Texas is now.        

January 28, 2017