This paper highlights Texas budget trends in Article II since the 2004-05 budget and notes the changes in Health and Human Services functions in the 2016-17 budget compared with population growth plus inflation.
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