Texas lawmakers are now considering a pilot program to provide counties with funds to deal with youths they would otherwise send to TYC. Ohio adopted this policy in 1995, and this paper describes the policy and examines the results, which have included fewer commitments to state lockups, lower costs, and reduced recidivism.
Taxes & Spending
Just the Facts: Local Government Spending
Despite billions in property tax relief provided by recent state legislatures, Texans’ property tax bills continue to increase due to unrestricted spending at the local level. Key points: City and county government spending continues to outstrip increases in both population and inflation. While the state government has constitutional and statutory spending limits, local governments do...
August 10, 2026