Since 2005, Texas has taken a new approach to adult corrections that is still tough, but also smart. By expanding alternatives to incarceration such as evidence-based practices in probation and drug courts, the state has achieved a double-digit reduction in crime while avoiding $2 billion in projected expenses on building new prisons.
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