One of the most important reforms the Legislature can enact to promote fiscal responsibility is to make the appropriations process more transparent. A transparent state budget helps taxpayers and legislators understand what they are paying for, and increases the chances of spotting waste, fraud, and abuse.
Without True Local Control, Pension Problems Spiral
The 45th Legislature established the Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act (TLFFRA) in 1937 to create local retirement systems for the benefit of full-time, part-time, and volunteer firefighters in participating cities. At the time, lawmakers intended to create a general governance structure while still “leav[ing] administration, plan design, contributions, and specific investments to each system’s...