A representative from Gov. Rick Perry’s office praised a critical state audit of the Texas Enterprise Fund at a hearing Wednesday, but warned against lawmakers restricting how the next governor can use the fund to draw business to Texas.
Economy
Get the latest on jobs, business, growth, and policy shaping the state’s economy with in-depth reporting from The Texas Tribune.
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Economy
Energy Efficiency Advocates Optimistic About Loan Program
A coalition aiming to encourage commercial and industrial property owners in Texas to invest in energy and water efficiency says it has made major progress.
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Economy
Analysis: Getting State’s Permission to Do Business
When lawmakers are not working on all of the things you hear about — budgets, education, immigration and so on — they are often refereeing fights between businesses. And some of next year’s battles are already shaping up.
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Economy
Liveblog: Transportation at The Texas Tribune Festival
We’re liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival’s Transportation track. The sessions include panels on road funding, high-speed rail, future transportation planning and the new urban mobility.
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Economy
Comptroller Study Shows Difficulty of Predicting Future Tax Revenue
The comptroller’s office recently researched the accuracy of its two-year revenue estimates going back 40 years and five comptrollers. Comptroller Susan Combs’ 2011 forecast has become an issue in this year’s race to replace her.
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Economy
Report: Texas Loses Bid For Tesla “Gigafactory”
After a drawn-out competition, Texas has lost out on Tesla Motors’ $5 billion lithium-ion battery plant, according to a news report. CNBC reports that the upscale electric carmaker had chosen the Silver State to be home to its “gigafactory.”
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Bypassed by the Miracle
In Red Texas, Local Governments Face Trickle-Down Taxes
The Republican battle cry in Texas? Lowering taxes and cutting government costs. But sometimes, belt-tightening at the state level translates into trickle-down costs for local governments.
Posted inEconomy, Energy, Environment, Politics, State Government
Series: Bypassed by the Miracle
Check out Bypassed by the Miracle, our seven-part series on the people and communities that have missed out on Texas’ economic success or are finding that it comes at a price.
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Bypassed by the Miracle
Swelling School Districts Find a Costly Way to Grow Within State Debt Limits
Leander and other fast-growing school districts have relied heavily on a controversial financing tool called capital appreciation bonds to borrow money to expand even as they bump up against state limits on school district debt.
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Bypassed by the Miracle
Critics Say Bond Elections Lack True Transparency
Texas voters approve billions of dollars in new local debt each year. A growing group of critics argues that voters wouldn’t be so agreeable if they were more clearly informed of the debt that’s already owed in their name.