Editor’s Note: This is the latest part of a series on rural Texas and the challenges that rural Texans face. Over the next year, the Associated News Service will delve into the issues facing the Lone Star State’s 177 (out of 254) rural counties. AMARILLO—If you want to fall in love all over again with...
Local governments in Texas have accumulated excessive public debt. Strict reforms are necessary to restore fiscal discipline. Key points: In fiscal year 2025, local government borrowing reached nearly $561 billion in combined principal and interest, which is $17,706 in debt per capita. From 2016 to 2025, total local debt rose from $331.8 billion to $561...
Governing Blind: The Fiscal and Operational Impact of Immigration on Texas Public Systems Written by Selene Rodriguez Download the full paper here. Key Points Texas operates at the intersection of federal immigration policy and the day-to-day realities of sustaining its public systems, bearing substantial costs driven by national mandates. This is very evident in education...