The Search for a Less Unpopular School Tax
As the state and its independent school districts head to court again in October to debate school financing, it's still possible that the issue of a statewide property tax could be revisited. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PropertyTax.jpg)
-
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Survey: Local Juvenile Programs Underfunded
Instead of continuing to spend millions on problem-plagued secure facilities operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, juvenile justice reform advocates say legislators should invest more in local probation departments. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/JuveJustice-3.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
State Budget Picture Not as Rosy as It May Seem
The state economy, and the state's finances, look relatively good. Tax revenue is far higher than the comptroller had predicted. But don't get too confident — there are some tough decisions ahead. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Budget-Taxes_1.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Property Tax Easy to Hate, Tough to Mess With
Property tax bills are big, but they have a couple of political advantages for legislators. For one thing, they don't take most of the blame over those levies. Full Story
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Additional Tax for Small Tobacco Companies Debated
The state House Ways and Means Committee heard discussion Tuesday on a possible extra tax on small tobacco companies to equalize what the big tobacco companies call a competitive advantage because of pricing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Cigarettes-Sky.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Guest Column: Why Democrats Should Support a Tax Cut
When it makes sense, we shouldn’t act as if we will never consider tax cuts as an economic stimulant. In fact, if Democrats really want to shed our image as the taxing party, there’s a tremendous opportunity staring us in the face. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas Weekly Newsreel: Guide to Texas Races
This week on the Newsreel, check out our guide to upcoming Texas political races. And, with the runoffs out of the way, lawmakers start talking about the session ahead — and the state budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/E-Voting-Machine.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Straus: Process to End Budget Diversions Starts Now
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus called on lawmakers Monday to start figuring out how to stop diverting billions of dollars in dedicated taxes and fees that are being used to balance state budgets. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB9210.jpg)
![July 9th, 2012: Speaker Joe Straus speaks to reporters]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Scientists Regret Loss of Higgs Boson Quest
As European scientists reveal groundbreaking discoveries about the Higgs boson particle, Texas scientists reflect with regret about a machine that got partly built near Dallas. They say it would've accomplished the mission a decade earlier. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Superconductor.jpg)
![The Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) had been under construction near Waxahachie, Texas, until Congress defunded it.]()
-
San Antonio Considers Tax for Pre-K Initiative
An eighth-of-a-cent sales tax increase is being proposed in San Antonio to fund full-day pre-kindergarten for primarily low-income children in the city. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-BilingualPreK-012.jpg)
![Teacher Silvia Corado works with students in her pre-kindergarten class as they learn syllables and word identification, part of the Summer Bilingual Academy at Wilson Elementary School in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Lisa Krantz -
TPWD Looks to Rebound After Devastating Year
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is still feeling the effects of last year's wildfires, drought and budget cuts, but officials say the situation is improving with increased park attendance and donations. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TPAW.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Theodore Scott / Todd Wiseman -
North Dakota Property Tax Debate Echoes in Texas
North Dakotans on Tuesday rejected a controversial measure that would have made their state the first in the nation to abolish property taxes. As Andy Uhler of KUT News reports, while some conservatives in Texas have suggested similar measures, officials have warned the state to proceed with caution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Mansion-Asherton.jpg)
![Asherton, TX]()
Credit: Matthew High -
State Agencies Ordered to Propose Budget Cuts
The Legislative Budget Board — headed by House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst — is asking state agencies to assume they'll have 10 percent less to spend in the next budget than they have now. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/budgetcuts004.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribLive: Carona on Perry's "Disrespectful" Pledge
At this morning's TribLive conversation, state Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, discussed his opposition to Gov. Rick Perry's anti-tax pledge, which he says is "disrespectful" to the "adults" in the Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/ACaronaJohn078CMS.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Updated Interactive: Texas Budget Cuts Shrink State Government
With the state government tightening its belt, there are now 10,200 fewer state government employees, according to our latest analysis of data collected by the state auditor’s office. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/EmploymentDataApp_1.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Becca Aaronson / Jairus Khan -
Something for Everyone
Democrats see the governor as wounded and unpopular, and the more he becomes an issue in the 2012 elections, the happier they are. He has become their favorite whipping post and fundraising foil. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PerryCompact.jpg)
![Gov. Rick Perry unveils his "Texas Budget Compact" in Houston on Monday, April 16. On stage with Perry, from left to right: state Reps. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, and conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan.]()
Credit: Jay Root -
Amazon, State Settle Sales Tax Fight
Amazon.com will start collecting sales taxes from Texas customers and invest $200 million and create 2,500 jobs in the state over the next four years. In return, the state will drop its efforts to collect back taxes from the company. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Amazon.jpg)
![Amazon.com]()
Credit: Justin Dehn -
Taking a Bite Out of Crime Victim Funds
Lawmakers used money from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund to balance their budget, and now the fund is short of money. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB9433.jpg)
![Sen. John Whitmire D-Houston listens during an October 4th, 2011 business and commerce committee meeting.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Amazon, Comptroller Negotiating Sales Tax Deal
Amazon.com and the state are working on a deal to get the online retailer to pay sales tax and create jobs in Texas, reviving talks that fell apart at the end of last year's legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/AmazonTexas2_1.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 128
Ben, Evan, Ross and Emily talk about races to watch in the fast-approaching primary, Gov. Rick Perry's budget compact announcement and the Planned Parenthood merger. And Evan hears from some special birthday guests. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Tribcast_2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/572816bfd26ae584c31a13a0a24be7b1/BD%20INC%20Chris%20Bell%202010)