The need for local control and local reform of state retirement systems (figure 2)

October 25, 2016

James Quintero

James Quintero is the policy director for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Government for the People campaign. Since joining the Foundation in 2008, Quintero has focused extensively on: state & local government spending, taxes, debt, public pension reform, annexation, and local regulations.

The restoration of local control can allow for fiscally healthy retirement plans for hard-working Texans.

Governments Lobbying Government: City of Houston

Every year, local governments in Texas spend millions upon millions to influence state-level policymaking. These advocacy campaigns are funded with tax dollars and often employ external lobbyists (i.e. registered lobbyists), internal lobbyists (i.e. intergovernmental relations personnel), and pro-government associations (i.e. Texas Municipal League, Texas Association of Counties, Texas Association of School Boards, etc.). One local...

March 18, 2024

Taxes & Spending

Without True Local Control, Pension Problems Spiral

The 45th Legislature established the Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act (TLFFRA) in 1937 to create local retirement systems for the benefit of full-time, part-time, and volunteer firefighters in participating cities. At the time, lawmakers intended to create a general governance structure while still “leav[ing] administration, plan design, contributions, and specific investments to each system’s...

July 16, 2024

Taxes & Spending

Just the Facts: Local Government Spending

Despite billions in property tax relief provided by recent state legislatures, Texans’ property tax bills continue to increase due to unrestricted spending at the local level. Key points: City and county government spending continues to outstrip increases in both population and inflation. While the state government has constitutional and statutory spending limits, local governments do...

August 10, 2026

James Quintero

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