Texas has the sixth highest incarceration rate in the nation and the most prisoners (147,000) of any state, about half of whom are nonviolent offenders. However, since 2005 when the state began strengthening probation and other alternatives to incarceration, the state’s incarceration rate has fallen more than 20%. During this same period, Texas’ crime rate has dropped more than 30%, reaching its lowest level since 1967.
Local Government
Housing Affordability: Overview and Model Legislation
Burdensome regulation coupled with tax-and-spend policies has led to a housing affordability crisis in Texas. Key points: In the last four years, the median housing price in Texas has outpaced the income of Texas families. Property taxes play a large role in the costs of housing and at a rate of 1.66%, Texas has the...
March 18, 2024