Water and the Future
What to know: Texas’ water future is getting desperate, a Dallas Morning News editorial warns.
The TPPF take: Water is crucial to the future of Texas.
“Texas’ population will increase 53% between 2030 and 2080 to 52.3 million,” says TPPF’s Larry French. “Over half that population growth will be in the planning regions that include the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metropolitan areas. During roughly the same time, water supplies are estimated to decrease by about 10%, mostly due to the depletion of aquifers in the High Plains.”
For more on Texas’ water, click here.
Picking Up Steam
What to know: Support is mounting for Gov. Greg Abbott’s five-point property tax reform plan which, if enacted, would be “the biggest property tax overhaul in state history.”
The TPPF take: Next session, any tax relief effort must come with strong tax reforms.
“Nearly all past state-directed tax relief has been stolen by opportunistic local governments that aggressively raise tax rates, propose large and costly bonds, and abuse certificates of obligation. Any future tax relief must be accompanied by legislative changes that control for these abusive actions,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “Tax reform will be equally, if not more, important than tax relief next session.”
For more on property tax reform, click here.
Short Answer: Yes
What to know: The National Education Association, which fought so hard to keep schools closed during COVID-19, now wonders if grade inflation is “a real problem.”
The TPPF take: It’s a problem.
“Grade inflation occurs when average grades rise without a corresponding increase in student learning outcomes, manifesting differently across educational contexts,” says TPPF’s Tom Lindsay. “In many K–12 systems, grades often blend mastery with behavior, attendance, or late-work policies. In higher education, grades typically reflect performance on fewer high-stakes exams or papers; however, practices like curves and extra credit can distort outcomes.”
For more on grade inflation, click here.