Red ink rising in the lone star state

June 21, 2016

James Quintero

James Quintero is the policy director for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Government for the People campaign. Since joining the Foundation in 2008, Quintero has focused extensively on: state & local government spending, taxes, debt, public pension reform, annexation, and local regulations.

This report discusses fiscal 2015, the most recent year for which data is available, in which local debt outstanding, or the amount of unpaid principal on debt owed by Texas’ political subdivisions, grew to an estimated $212.4 billion, “an increase of $20.09 billion (10.4 percent) over the past several years” (Texas Bond Review Board, 2). To help rein in the growth of local government debt, state legislators should require political subdivisions to provide voters with more information at the ballot box for each new debt proposition.

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Womb & Board

Rising housing costs are delaying marriage and childbearing by preventing young adults from forming independent households, thereby making housing affordability a central driver of declining family formation and demographic stability. Key points: Housing affordability directly shapes whether young adults can form independent households, influencing marriage, fertility, and long-term family stability. Rising housing costs and limited...

April 2, 2026

Taxes & Spending

Taxes are High. Local Spending is to Blame.

Over the last few months, local property taxes have been described as: “steep,” “burdensome,” “stressful,” “too high,” and “out-of-control.” Yet despite these sharp (and accurate!) criticisms of Texas’ property tax, many local governments seem oblivious to the system’s excesses, as evidenced by the adoption of high tax rates this year (see TPPF’s Taxman Cometh series) as well as historical tax, spending, and debt patterns. Worse, what once may have been excused as indifference or detachment now borders on exploitation. Consider some recent revelations about local government compensation. ...

March 26, 2026

Election Integrity

Consolidating Elections to Increase Turnout and Save Taxpayer Dollars

Uniform election dates produce four main benefits: 1) higher voter turnout, 2) election administration cost savings, 3) decreased likelihood of special interests dominating a low-turnout election, and 4) reduced election worker burnout. Key points: Seven states require municipal elections to be consolidated with even-year federal election dates. This increases turnout and saves $29.5-129 million for...

March 20, 2026

James Quintero

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Taxes are High. Local Spending is to Blame.

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