Texas, like many states across the country, is struggling with fiscal problems. With a budget shortfall that may exceed $10 billion, legislators are making difficult decisions about constraining costs and seeking innovative ways to protect the integrity of programs. Decisions about the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) pose one of the greatest challenges for the 78th Texas Legislature. Measures taken to control costs during this session will reshape health care for needy children, gauge legislative commitment to sound fiscal policy, and define the state’s commitment to strengthening families.
Taxes & Spending
Assessing Tax Trends in the City of Dallas
Does history suggest that property taxes are too high in the city of Dallas? And, if so, have local decision-makers actively helped or hurt the situation? To help answer these questions, let’s review the city’s 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and gather four types of data—i.e., tax levies, local population, total tax rates, and taxable values—over a 10-year time horizon. Using these audited estimates, we can gauge the growth of government (i.e., tax levy trends), assess its reasonability...
February 18, 2026