The filed House supplemental appropriations bill, HB2, would appropriate $1.4 billion from Texas’ Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF), also known as the Rainy Day Fund. However, a committee substitute for HB2 (CSHB2) was recently outlined in the House Appropriations Committee that would increase the appropriation from the ESF to $2.4 billion, which together with $957 million from general revenue (GR) and $1.8 billion from federal funds, would bring the total cost of the supplemental bill to $5.2 billion. An examination of the numbers shows that this is far too costly for taxpayers and that there is no need to use any money from the ESF.
Higher Taxes on the Horizon: Highland Park ISD
Many city, county, and school district officials are in the early stages of deciding where to set their tax rates for the next fiscal year. In some cases, these local decisions will push property taxes higher, creating new challenges for family budgets and forcing tough personal choices. Given the very real prospect of tax hikes on the...