Budget Surplus

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 18: Texas Lawmakers Are Feeling the Pressure on Property Tax Relief!

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss the potential for renewed life when it comes to tangible property tax relief as a result of the nearly concluded 88th Legislative Session. We also talk about the prospects…

Commentary

The Petulant Children Squabbling Over Property Tax Relief

If you are a Texas taxpayer and hoping to get tangible property tax relief as an outcome of the ongoing 88th Legislative Session, you might be disappointed. Not only does it look as if nearly no real property tax relief…

Commentary

A Budget Spending Spree Like No Other

Texas is often thought of as a conservative state. Teachers, for instance, complain about inadequate spending on public education and low salaries. Democrat State Rep. James Talarico (Austin) has argued that the low salaries are β€œpushing teachers out of the…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 16: As Session Begins to Wind Down, What Have They Been Up To?

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss Texas House lawmakers and the confusing saga around whether they voted in favor of increasing their own pensions, at the further expense of Texas taxpayers. We also discuss the…

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 12: Are Texas Taxpayers About to Get Left Out in the Cold on Property Tax Relief?

Episode Description πŸ’° In our twelfth episode of π—§π—›π—˜ π—ͺπ—˜π—˜π—ž π—”π—›π—˜π—”π——, we discuss what is left to be done ahead of key deadlines in the Texas House, a recent misleading post by former President Donald Trump in relation to the…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 15: House Lawmakers Vote to Increase Their Own Pensions at Expense of Texas Taxpayers

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss Texas House lawmakers voting in favor of increasing their own pensions, at the further expense of Texas taxpayers. We also discuss the corporate welfare revival effort moving in the…

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 11: Spending Out of Control, What HasΒ the Texas LegislatureΒ Done With the Budget Surplus?

Episode Description πŸ’° In our eleventh episode of π—§π—›π—˜ π—ͺπ—˜π—˜π—ž π—”π—›π—˜π—”π——, we discuss what the Texas Legislature is proposing to do with the budget surplus (over-collected taxpayer money), the budget proposal nearing the final stages of its consideration and the…

Research

What Happened to the Texas Budget Surplus?

Executive Summary A lot of people know about Texas’ $32.7 billion budget surplus. What most don’t know is that the Texas Legislature has $78.4 billion more in state funds to spend this year than it spent in 2021 and that…

News88th TXLege

Senate Considers State Budget Proposal

On Monday, the Texas Senate considered House Bill 1, or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the next biennium (fiscal years 2024 and 2025). The legislation represents the proposed state budget, the only item that lawmakers are constitutionally bound to…

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 10: Growing Government & Less Property Tax Relief

Episode Description πŸ’° In our tenth episode of π—§π—›π—˜ π—ͺπ—˜π—˜π—ž π—”π—›π—˜π—”π——, we discuss the state budget proposal now making its way through the Texas Senate and the prospects for property tax relief as deadlines are on the horizon. We are…

Research

Texas Senate Budget Exceeds Frozen Texas Budget

An Overview Texas Senate Budget Substantially Increases Appropriations Table 1 shows the amount by which the Texas Senate proposes to increase appropriations compared with what was appropriated for the 2022-23 budget. While the Legislative Budget Board shows a comparison of…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 13: Priorities are Moving in the Texas Legislative Process, Do They Benefit Taxpayers?

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss what legislative priorities are moving, as they apply to what legislative leadership wants, and what they mean to Texas taxpayers. Show Notes/References Texans for Fiscal Responsibility relies on the…

News88th TXLege

House Considers State Budget Proposal

On Thursday of last week, the Texas House of Representatives considered House Bill 1, or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the next biennium, fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The legislation represents the proposed state budget, the only item that…

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 8: Preparing for Budget Deliberations

Episode Description Β πŸ’° In our eighth episode of π—§π—›π—˜ π—ͺπ—˜π—˜π—ž π—”π—›π—˜π—”π——, we are joined by special guest Vance Ginn, Ph.D. and discuss the state budget proposal ahead of its deliberation by the full Texas House of Representatives on Thursday. We…

Research

Texas House Budget Above Frozen Texas Budget

An Overview Texas House Budget Substantially Increases Appropriations Table 1 shows the amount by which the Texas House proposes to increase appropriations compared to what was appropriated for the 2022-23 budget. While the Legislative Budget Board shows a comparison of…