Now that the Senate’s budget has been finalized, Texans can make a true side-by-side comparison of the two spending proposals. The comparisons below show: the House budget vs. the current budget (also known as the General Appropriations Act or GAA); the Senate budget vs. the current budget; and the House budget vs. Senate budget. Figures have been rounded where appropriate.

House vs. GAA

  • The House’s budget proposal totals $164.5 B, a decrease in All Funds appropriations of $17.8 B compared to the current biennium;
  • The House’s budget proposal would reduce General Revenue Fund appropriations by $3.1 B from the current biennium;
  • The House’s budget proposal would reduce Federal Funds appropriations by $12.4 B from the current biennium;
  • As compared to the funding levels in the 2010-11 GAA, the House’s budget proposal would increase All Funds appropriations to two articles: Public Safety and Criminal Justice (+$198 M), and Business and Economic Development (+$59.1 M). Combined, the amounts appropriated in these two articles totals $257 M; and
  • As compared to the funding levels in the 2010-11 GAA, the House’s budget proposal would decrease All Funds appropriations to eight articles: General Government (-$442 M), Health and Human Services (-$5.6 B), Agencies of Education (-$5.7 B), The Judiciary (-$30 M), Natural Resources (-$349 M), Regulatory ($190 M), General Provisions (-$48 M), and The Legislature (-$41 M).

Senate vs. GAA

  • The Senate’s budget proposal totals $172.8 B, a decrease in All Funds appropriations of $9.5 B compared to the current biennium;
  • The Senate’s budget proposal would increase General Revenue Fund appropriations by approximately $1.1 B from the current biennium;
  • The Senate’s proposed budget would reduce Federal Funds appropriations by $11.2 B from the current biennium;
  • As compared to the funding levels in the 2010-11 GAA, the Senate’s proposed budget would increase All Funds appropriations to four articles: General Government (+$74 M), Agencies of Education (+$833 M), Public Safety and Criminal Justice (+$937 M), and Business and Economic Development (+$3.4 B). Combined, the amounts appropriated in these four articles totals $5.2 B; and
  • As compared to the funding levels in the 2010-11 GAA, the Senate’s budget proposal would decrease All Funds appropriations to six articles: Health and Human Services (-$1.9 B), The Judiciary (-$39 M), Natural Resources (-$210), Regulatory (-$345 M), General Provisions (-$6.6 B), and The Legislature (-$13 M).

House vs. Senate

  • The Senate’s proposed budget appropriates $8.3 B more in All Funds as compared to the House’s proposed budget;
  • The Senate’s proposed budget appropriates $4.2 B more in GR as compared to the House’s proposed budget;
  • The Senate’s proposed budget appropriates $1.2 B more in Federal Funds as compared to the House’s proposed budget;
  • As compared to the House’s budget proposal, the Senate’s proposed budget would increase All Funds appropriations to seven articles: General Government (+$516 M), Health and Human Services (+$3.6 B), Agencies of Education (+$6.5 B), Public Safety and Criminal Justice (+$738 M), Natural Resources (+$138 M), Business and Economic Development (+$3.3 B), and The Legislature (+$28 M); and
  • As compared to the House’s budget proposal, the Senate’s proposed budget would decrease All Funds appropriations to three articles: The Judiciary (-$8 M), Regulatory (-$154 M), and General Provisions (-$6.5 B).

-Kimberly KisnerResearch Fellow, Center for Fiscal Policy