With billions for broadband on the line, Texas asks federal government for more time to improve access maps
Local officials, echoing Glenn Hegar, say the current maps are flawed and the process to lodge complaints is cumbersome. Full Story
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![A splice can that contains 432 fiber cables in Louisville, Kentucky on April 19, 2021.]()
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Texas lawmakers have a $27 billion surplus, but a spending cap complicates their goal of lowering property taxes
Texas homeowners have some of the highest property tax bills in the nation, a byproduct of the state’s reliance on such taxes to help pay for public schools and the state’s lack of an income tax. Full Story
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Republican Glenn Hegar defeats Janet Dudding to keep his state comptroller job for third term
During the campaign, Hegar touted his work on lowering taxes and expanding broadband in Texas, reforming the tax code, reducing regulations on agriculture and pushing for government transparency. Full Story
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![Glenn Hegar, Texas comptroller of public accounts, speaks one-on-one with Danielle Moran, financial journalist for Bloomberg News, at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23, 2022 in Austin, TX.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding voters he’s 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. Full Story
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![Republican Comptroller candidate Glenn Hegar speaks with Evan Smith at TribLive on May 29, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas bans local, state government entities from doing business with firms that “boycott” fossil fuels
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar singled out financial firms under a 2021 state law that prohibits most state entities from contracting with companies that have reduced or cut investments in the oil and gas industry. Full Story
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![Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Glenn Hegar at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas officials accuse Harris County of slashing constables’ budgets — but they’re actually going up
Comptroller Glenn Hegar said the state could block the approval of Harris County’s budget because it’s not allowing constables to roll $3 million in unspent funds into next year’s budget — even though the constables’ total funding will go up next year. Full Story
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![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state Capitol on Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott joins other key Republicans in supporting repealing the “tampon tax”
Advocates have previously called for repealing the sales tax on products like tampons, sanitary pads and pantyliners. Menstrual products are already tax-free in 24 states. Full Story
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![Eighteen-year-old Zoe Kass holds a handful of menstrual products in the bathroom at her high school in Houston on Thursday, April 28, 2022.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Are there signs of life for Beto O’Rourke’s campaign?
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Mitchell and Patrick about the power grid, the race for governor and the extra money the Texas Legislature will have on hand to spend next year. Full Story
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![Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks at a town hall over the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde and gun reform in Dallas on June 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Inflation, high energy prices mean the Texas Legislature will have unprecedented funds to allocate next year
The state will have an extra $27 billion in its coffers in 2023 — money that could help pay for property tax cuts and other legislative priorities. Full Story
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Watch Comptroller Glenn Hegar discuss the state’s economy and more at The Texas Tribune Festival
Hegar also talked about how to keep Texas business-friendly and what another wave of COVID-19 could mean for the state budget. Full Story
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![Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Glenn Hegar.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ pandemic budget shortfall disappears, as latest forecast shows a surplus
The latest revenue estimate doesn’t take into account all of the federal relief that has been sent to Texas over the past year by Congress through pandemic relief packages. State lawmakers have wrestled with how and who has the authority to spend that money. Full Story
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![Lawmakers sit through hours of debate over police reform in the Texas House on April 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Dan Patrick’s interrogation about a freeze warms speculation about 2022
An unusual appearance by the lieutenant governor at a Senate hearing looked like a tough session for one of Gov. Greg Abbott's appointees — and raised speculation about political tension between the state's top two elected officials. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the dais on the Senate floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The odds for legal pot and casinos in Texas just got worse
One argument for legalizing casino gambling and marijuana sales in Texas is that they would produce tax revenue for the state during the recession started by the pandemic. But a new, optimistic economic forecast for the state takes some wind out of those sails. Full Story
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![Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City is open for the first time since closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. July 2, 2020.]()
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Recession cuts how much lawmakers can spend with the next state budget, but decrease isn’t as bad as feared
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar estimated that lawmakers have $113 billion to spend when they write the next two-year budget. Full Story
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![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state capitol on Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on vaccines and the state’s economic recovery
Texas’ uncertain economic recovery is tied to the coronavirus vaccine, Hegar said, as state lawmakers convened this week to begin working on a new state budget with less money than they had to spend during the last legislative session. Full Story
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Analysis: Adding a new tax might be easier than ending an old tax break
It might seem that closing tax loopholes and ending exemptions would be an easy way to balance a state budget during a pandemic. It's not. In fact, that might be the hardest option available. Full Story
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![The Texas House of Representatives chamber on Nov. 20, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Despite staggering pandemic losses, Texas budget forecast better than expected, state comptroller says
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar didn't provide details as he told lawmakers Monday that the financial forecast isn't as dire as earlier feared. But he said revenues are still down "significantly" compared with last year. Full Story
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![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state capitol. Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
September sales tax revenue in Texas down 6.1% from a year ago
"The COVID-19 pandemic and low price of crude oil continue to weigh on the Texas economy and sales tax revenue," Comptroller Glenn Hegar said. Full Story
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![Closed businesses in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas on March 31, 2020.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
Texans spent less going out to eat and drink, but more on home improvement as coronavirus cases peaked this summer
The state collected 5.6% less in sales tax revenue last month than in August 2019. The expiration of some federal relief aid could mean more decreases in coming months. Full Story
![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state Capitol on Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas sales tax collections went up in July — and were higher than one year ago
Texas collected $2.98 billion in sales tax revenue in July — 4.3% more than in July 2019. Comptroller Glenn Hegar said the number was "better than expected." Full Story
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![A restaurant worker cleans a table at Güeros Taco Bar in South Austin on June 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
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