The latest budget news from The Texas Tribune.
A dramatic drop in oil prices over the weekend could harm Texas' oil and gas industry and economy, but experts say it all depends on how long they remain low — and how the COVID-19 epidemic plays out. Full Story
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McGinty, the CFO of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, will lead an embattled agency of nonpartisan budget analysts who have been without an executive director since October 2018. Full Story
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When government officials want to spin a story about state finance, it helps to have control of the numbers — and to do the math properly. Full Story
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Texas state government is run by top leaders who promised to model their operations on business. They didn't say it would be an error-prone business. Full Story
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The Texas Legislative Budget Board is hemorrhaging staff and has been without an executive director for a year. Full Story
Glenn Hegar told lawmakers they'll end the current budget with more money on hand than expected, and with a large balance in the state's rainy day fund. Full Story
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A new state law limits the ability of local governments to raise property taxes without voter approval — but not yet. And some are rushing to get one last big increase. Full Story
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The Texas House is a rambunctious place, known for big personalities and tough politics. It's about to lose one of its real experts — and a calm voice, too. Full Story
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The Texas Pregnancy Care Network, the largest recipient of funding under the state's controversial Alternatives to Abortion program, is poised to receive millions more under the proposal. Full Story
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In addition to signing the 2020-21 budget, Abbott vetoed several dozen bills that the Legislature had passed. Full Story
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Some gun rights groups want Gov. Greg Abbott to veto a line item in the Texas budget that puts $1 million toward a public safety campaign on gun storage. But one powerful bloc isn't actively opposing the measure: the National Rifle Association. Full Story
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An attempt to raise the sales tax to pay for state leaders' ambitious goals failed, raising questions about long-term effects of the property tax limitations in the school finance bill. Full Story
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Take a look at how Texas lawmakers reconciled major differences in their proposed two-year budgets, including funding for public schools, teacher salaries, women’s health, prison guard salaries and more. Full Story
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The Texas Legislature did a lot in the 86th regular session, especially if you judge by their spending. Full Story
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Completing negotiations that have taken place over the last few months, Texas House and Senate lawmakers accepted a compromise on a state spending plan for 2020-21. Full Story
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The money would come from the state savings account, and Texas officials anticipate getting reimbursed by the federal government. Full Story
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Legal battles over whether the developer can use eminent domain still loom over the project. Full Story
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The announcement Tuesday from Comptroller Glenn Hegar came amid lawmakers' closed-door haggling over the two-year budget, which includes funds for public schools and property tax relief. Full Story
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In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Reps. Dade Phelan and Donna Howard about the work done and not done in the lower chamber so far this session — and what’s likely to happen on the last stretch of road to Sine Die. Full Story
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Lawmakers are in their last month of a regular session, with their priority issues — public education and property taxes — still incomplete. If they can't finish without a special session, they'll run into someone else's deadlines; school districts write budgets and set tax rates in June. Full Story
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