The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) of Texas is a defined-benefit pension system that provides more than 1.5 million Texans a payout in retirement. TRS is six times larger than the next public pension plan in Texas. Texas must secure teachers’ retirement by ensuring TRS is actuarially sound, but, more importantly, by giving teachers control over their livelihood through structural reforms to TRS.
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