Tax increment financing (TIF) is a public financing tool that uses increased property tax revenue within a designated area—a TIF district—for redevelopment projects. In Texas, a TIF district is called a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ). TIRZs are governed by Chapter 311 of the Tax Code.
Local Government
Austin ISD’s Budget Narrative Contradicted by Administrative Excess
By its own account, “Austin ISD is navigating a difficult budget season,” with district officials recently approving a 2026-27 budget containing “nearly $186 million in spending reductions.” What led to this unfortunate occasion was almost entirely out of the district’s control, according to the sitting superintendent. Last month, he publicly stated: “Over the past seven years, Austin ISD has...
July 15, 2026