City and county spending has outpaced growth in population and inflation, leading to an increase in the tax burden on Texan taxpayers. Key points: Local government spending continues to outstrip increases in both population and inflation. From 2014 to 2023, local government spending rose by 61.2%, whereas population and inflation increased by only 42.7%. Elevated...
Rising utility bills are one of many factors exacerbating Austin’s well-documented affordability crisis. When Austin utility bills went up last winter, many residents probably didn’t even notice — mostly because the increase in fees was hidden by reductions in other costs. But here’s the truth: The city of Austin is squeezing its customers more than they know....
This issue of Veritas, the quarterly publication of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, features solutions to correctly measure poverty, introduces the Texas Prosperity Promise, explores whether free college is a good idea, a farewell from our CEO Brooke Rollins, an introduction of Lieutenant Colonel Allen West and the Booker T. Washington Initiative, and recaps the 2018 Policy Orientation and Visionaries Meeting.