On Monday, trustees at Prosper ISD, a relatively small but growing school district north of Dallas, agreed to present voters with a massive new bond package in November. The district’s proposal is so large, in fact, that it practically dwarfs all others this election cycle. In total, Prosper ISD officials want voters to approve four...
It’s kind of like gaslighting—without the fossil fuel. Panic attacks, irritability, and loss of appetite-these are common symptoms experienced by those coping with “climate anxiety,” we’re told. An influx of media regarding climate-aware therapy, addressing climate change on the first date, and even how to cope with the overwhelming sense of hopelessness for the future...
Writing in the New York Times last month, cultural iconoclast Chris Rufo pointed out that the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have failed: “Even on its own terms, does D.E.I. actually work? And the answer, according to the best available evidence, appears to be no.” Citing research into 30 years of DEI training data, Rufo...
For taxpayers, this should be a time to celebrate. After all, the Texas Legislature just approved a historic measure of tax relief, estimated to lower the average homeowner’s tax bill by more than $1,300 this year alone. This whopping reduction, of course, came in response to widespread public outcry that taxes had grown too big,...
A Dallas city councilmember is sounding the alarm over the city’s finances. In Wednesday’s Dallas Morning News, Dallas city councilmember Cara Mendelsohn expressed grave concern over the “city’s ever-increasing, unsustainable budget and its effects on residents.” She continued: “Our current $4.5 billion budget is the largest in history, and the city manager’s proposed budget for...
The preliminary injunction hearing in the case filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against Gov. Abbott and the state of Texas for the removal of the 1,000-foot buoy barrier took place on Tuesday, August 22. The DOJ alleged that the state of Texas, in violation of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA), built a...
Dallas city councilmembers on Wednesday took up an agenda item to set a ceiling on the city’s proposed tax rate for fiscal year 2024. The actual tax rate will be formally debated and adopted at a future hearing (Sept. 20), thereby determining what the average Dallas homeowner will pay in city taxes. While discussing what...
Americans deserve to know how Republican presidential candidates would face existential threat from China. When Republicans face off on Wednesday night, expect rhetorical fireworks over the dumpster fire that is comprised of Bidenomics, the border crisis, and the weaponization of federal law enforcement to go after President Biden’s political enemies. But one huge issue that should...
China’s worsening economy and Biden’s ineptitude increase the likelihood of Xi playing the jingoistic card of war and invasion. China’s economy is in serious trouble. Paramount leader Xi Jinping’s turn toward Chinese Communist Party control is finally ending the People’s Republic of China’s experiment with state-directed capitalism. China has cut off the outside world from...
Pearland ISD’s school board may soon ask voters to approve a major tax increase, potentially eroding some of the new property tax relief agreed upon by the 88th Texas Legislature before it even materializes. On Monday, the Houston Chronicle reported that trustees are considering seeking voter-approval for a permanent nine-cent tax rate increase that officials...
One of the key stories in higher education finance is so-called “state disinvestment,” which alleges that states have made relentless cuts to college and university funding. But state disinvestment is a myth—states have not, in fact, disinvested in higher education. In this debate, a picture is worth a thousand words, so here is a figure...
Earlier this week, we wrote about the great work that Tarrant County commissioners had accomplished through their FY ’24 budget framework (which cut spending, kept the tax rate to a minimum, and included a homestead exemption). And now, it appears more North Texas local governments are prepared to act in ways that benefit taxpayers. The...