Confused about the state's budget? Trust us — you’re not alone. The Texas Legislature creates a spending plan every two years, and it takes almost that much time to prepare that plan. This session, lawmakers will set a budget that will be implemented in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (Sept. 1, 2011, to Aug. 31, 2012). Lawmakers are considering unprecedented cuts in every area of state spending, from public education and health services to public safety. Below is a flow chart to help you understand where we are in the process (what's already done is highlighted in yellow ...

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