In the first of a series of papers examining trends in Texas government, the Foundation looks at the growth of state government spending over the past two decades and compares it to how state spending might have looked had it been limited to the growth of population plus inflation.
Local Government
Examining Local Government Spending Trends From 2014 to 2023
City and county spending has outpaced growth in population and inflation, leading to an increase in the tax burden on Texan taxpayers. Key points: Local government spending continues to outstrip increases in both population and inflation. From 2014 to 2023, local government spending rose by 61.2%, whereas population and inflation increased by only 42.7%. Elevated...
March 6, 2026