How a state effort to fund Texas schools equitably is shortchanging dozens of rural districts
For decades, the Texas comptrollerโs office has double-checked property valuations across the state, which help determine how much school districts can levy in property taxes. But when state and county appraisers disagree, districts can end up with big holes in their budgets.
Texas lawmakers will have $188.2 billion available for the next budget after record-breaking revenue growth
Itโs far more money than legislators have ever had at their disposal, with an increase in available funds that dwarfs any previous jumps between cycles. Itโs also more money than lawmakers can constitutionally spend.
Texas Supreme Court says it canโt force the state to process deluge of applications for tax break expiring this year
The program, known as Chapter 313, provides companies with billions of dollars in property tax breaks. The court said it is up to the Legislature to make the call on what to do as the program is set to expire and the state is swamped with applications.
Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding voters heโs a Republican ahead of his November election
Hegar, who is running for his third term as Texas comptroller of public accounts, has made increasingly provocative moves in recent weeks, challenging financial companies he says are anti-oil and gas and threatening budget sanctions against Harris County over police funding.
Analysis: Every so often, Texas government needs a reboot
Performance reviews of state government are an exercise in separating the operation of government โ how things work โ from the direction of government โ what, in broader terms, government should do. The nuts and bolts on one hand, the vision thing on the other.