Tax cut erosion is a major concern around the state. Since 2019, the Texas Legislature has committed substantial resources toward reducing property tax bills through twin strategies: compressing school district maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rates1 and increasing the residence homestead exemption. However, the Legislature’s tax relief efforts have largely been frustrated by the excesses of local government, which commonly take the form of aggressive rate hikes, frequent voter-approval tax rate elections (VATREs), large and costly bond propositions, and the abuse of certificates of obligation (COs).
Homelessness
Auditing the Homeless Industrial Complex
Texas cities are pouring unprecedented amounts of taxpayer money into homelessness services, yet the crisis on the streets continues to visibly worsen. From Dallas to Austin, budgets for housing initiatives expand every year, but the encampments remain. Taxpayers are justifiably wondering where exactly all their money is going. The answer, according to a new research...
September 10, 2026