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
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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 officials want to cut funding for women's health services while preserving an anti-abortion program
An August budget document shows funding for the anti-abortion program would be maintained, but reduced for doctors and clinics that provide reduced-cost contraception and health screenings. Full Story
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![One of the six exam rooms at Haven Health Clinics in downtown Amarillo on Dec. 9, 2013. The clinic provides services for women and some men in the 26 county region of the Texas panhandle.]()
Credit: Stephen Spillman for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The opening line in every Texas political debate
School openings, government hearings, going to bars, voting, shopping, even the doings at the Texas Capitol hinge on the same issues: whether it’s safe to gather, and how to go about it. Full Story
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![Voters, wearing masks and spread six feet apart, line up outside the Metropolitan Multiservice Center in Houston to vote in the delayed primary runoff election on Tuesday July 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The Texas Legislature can meet for up to 140 days. The pandemic raises a question: Should it?
The Legislature starts its next regular session in January and can meet for up to 140 days. That gives lawmakers time to consider more than 6,000 bills. During a pandemic, they might want to do a lot less. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol on Jan. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: August agenda for local government includes schools, police spending, property taxes and a pandemic
Local governments in Texas finish their spending plans and set their tax rates in August, an annual exercise that includes some hot topics in this pandemic year, like police spending, public schools and property taxes. Full Story
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![A general view of Dallas on March 31, 2020.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas in a state of financial uncertainty
The dire financial forecast from the Texas comptroller says a lot about the pandemic's harsh impact on the economy. It's based on uncertain assumptions about what will happen next — and could easily change again. Full Story
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![Mobi, a business located on Congress Avenue in Austin, is boarded up. July 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The post-convention state of the Texas GOP and a bleak budget forecast
On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Matthew, Cassi and Ross about the Texas GOP's convention chaos and how the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the state budget. Full Story
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![A boutique on East 11th Street in Austin remains closed on July 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Coronavirus spreads to the Texas state budget
Now that the first official estimate of the coronavirus' effect on the Texas economy is out, the hard work starts. Legislators have to figure out which parts of the state budget to cut and which parts to keep. Full Story
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![The Texas State Capitol on May 22, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Facing budget shortfalls, nearly 100 Texas mayors plead with Congress for coronavirus relief funding
City leaders are asking for more spending flexibility to address the financial shortfalls caused by the pandemic. Full Story
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![State Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas, holds a press conference at the Capitol to announce his anti-corruption bill on Mar. 4, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the state’s $4.6 billion deficit and the next budget cycle
We sat down for an interview with Hegar to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Texas' economy and the challenges the Legislature will face when setting the two-year budget. Full Story
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Texas faces a looming $4.6 billion deficit, comptroller projects
The coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices are driving down projected general revenue in the state's current budget by more than $11 billion. 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 -
Search the Government Salaries Explorer
The Texas Tribune's database of compensation for Texas state employees has been revamped. It includes detailed data for all of the 113 agencies in state government and every position at each of those agencies. Full Story
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Credit: Photo Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune -
T-Squared: Introducing our new salaries explorer
The Texas Tribune is excited to launch a new and revamped version of our Government Salaries Explorer. Full Story
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Credit: Photo Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune -
Analysis: In spite of it all, a Texas government that’s running full-steam ahead
The pandemic has devastated the Texas economy. The state comptroller says that will mean billions of dollars less than expected for the current budget. But state agencies haven't received any orders to cut their spending. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen brief reporters during a press conference on a Domestic Terrorism Task Force roundtable held at the capitol on Jan. 7, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas has billions in its rainy day fund. But legislators say they won’t use it until January.
Lawmakers widely agree that the Legislature will tap into the Economic Stabilization Fund next session. But under the weight of a crippled economy, many Texans want relief now. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol, June 12, 2017. State Capitol in the late afternoon on June 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Energy isn’t the whole Texas economy, but it’s a critical piece
This week's drop in crude oil prices signals trouble for state and local government budgets. Energy isn't the biggest source of tax money in Texas, but the big one — the sales tax — is already falling. Full Story
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![A pump jack and a gas flare in the Eagle Ford oil patch south of San Antonio.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A fast drop for the Texas economy — and for the state budget
The pandemic's impact on the Texas economy is a full-on recession, state Comptroller Glenn Hegar said Tuesday. And hard financial decisions will mark the next session of the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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![Shuttered businesses on South Congress during the coronavirus pandemic. April 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Watch our interview with Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar about the coronavirus’ impact on the state economy
We sat down for a live virtual event with Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar to discuss the COVID-19 outbreak and its effect on the state budget, economy and workforce. Full Story
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Texas' budget could take massive hit as coronavirus crisis continues unfolding, lawmakers learn
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar told House members that it's too soon to make detailed forecasts, but both the state budget and Economic Stabilization Fund could be drastically revised down. Full Story
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![Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announces his office has picked a private vendor to run the Texas Bullion Depository, which will be designed to store gold for both the state and private citizens, at the Capitol on June 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune