Again, we believe that all of these principles, including a responsibility of protecting taxpayer resources, are of equal import.
"Testimony: Texans Benefit from Franchise Tax Cuts" includes Center for Fiscal Policy Economist Dr. Vance Ginn's testimony before the Senate Finance Committee in support of House Bill 32.
In a speech given earlier this year to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Governor Greg Abbott warned that: “Texas is being California-ized and you may not even be noticing it.”
There’s much to accomplish during the remaining weeks of the 84th Texas Legislature. Fortunately, if legislators hold state funds — and all funds below population growth plus inflation, to provide a conservative budget and follow through on significant tax cuts — Texans will be the winner this session.
In the waning days of the 2015 Texas Legislative Session, the Conference Committee is in the process of resolving differences the two chambers’ versions of the 2016-17 Texas budget before sine die on June 1. Though much could happen before then, there is a good opportunity for legislators to pass a conservative budget.
But the magnitude of Texas’ property tax problem has become so immense that not even these influential groups seem to be able to stop what’s coming.
Whatever the outcome of the lawsuit, we should all agree that local governments ought to observe and abide by state law.
In other words, the feds are attempting to force the hand of these states, which have declined to expand Medicaid.
Almost any way you cut it, it’s become clear that long-term structural reform is needed to protect Texans moving forward. Long-lasting changes, similar to what’s been proposed by the Texas Senate, are of the utmost importance.
"Testimony: Franchise Tax Reform Benefits Texans" includes Dr. Vance Ginn's testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of Senate Bill 7, which pertains to the franchise tax.
One can only hope that the evidence provided by Campos, Ginsberg, and others will drive a stake through the heart of the 'funding-cuts-made-us-raise-tuitions' myth. But don’t count on that happening just yet.
According to the latest Bond Review Board data, total school district debt, including principal and interest, grew to more than $112.2 billion in fiscal year 2014—more than any other type of local government. Compared to the whole, school district debt accounts for about one-third of the total.