This paper highlights Texas budget trends in Article III since the 2004-05 budget and notes the education functions for both public education and higher education that increase faster than population growth plus inflation in the 2016-17 budget.
Taxes & Spending
Austin’s rising utility fees are taxes by another name
Rising utility bills are one of many factors exacerbating Austin’s well-documented affordability crisis. When Austin utility bills went up last winter, many residents probably didn’t even notice — mostly because the increase in fees was hidden by reductions in other costs. But here’s the truth: The city of Austin is squeezing its customers more than they know....
April 2, 2026