Texas cities, counties and school districts are relying more on debt to maintain services in a fast-growing state. While critics argue communities need to work harder to live within their means, local officials say the issue is not that simple.
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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Bypassed by the Miracle
For Many Texans, Miracle Economy Doesn’t Apply
State leaders tout the so-called Texas miracle – the idea that the economy here is thriving thanks to their small-government approach. But not everyone benefits. Here are the stories of six Texans who’ve found little relief in the Texas miracle.
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Economy
Abbott’s Business Tax Remarks Spark Confusion
Attorney General Greg Abbott spoke this month at a conservative conference about how Texas could attract more jobs if it didn’t have a business franchise tax. But Abbott isn’t proposing a repeal of the tax, according to his campaign.
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Demographics
Senators Debate Funding, Merits of National Guard Deployment
At a state Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday, senators debated the merits and tactical strategies of Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to send Texas National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.
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Economy
Some Texas Cities Turn to Higher Water Impact Fees
As cities across Texas continue to spread out, water suppliers and local governments are faced with the question of who should pay for building the infrastructure needed to handle the growth.
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Economy
Water Board Delays Final Decision Over Controversial Reservoir
In an unexpected move, the Texas Water Development Board on Thursday punted a final decision on the controversial Marvin Nichols Reservoir a few months down the road.
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Economy
EPA’s Proposed Emissions Limits Drawing Debate
A proposal by the federal government would place stricter limits on emissions from petrochemical and other industrial plants. An EPA hearing this week in the Houston area reflected the heated debate over balancing economic growth with air quality concerns.
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Economy
Some Lawmakers Want Legislative Changes to Avoid Fertilizer Blasts
A committee of Texas lawmakers met Tuesday to discuss possible legislation aimed at preventing another disaster like last year’s explosion in West — with some still skeptical of imposing regulations on fertilizer storage facilities.
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Economy
In Bank Debate, High Stakes for Texas Businesses and GOP
A once-obscure federal export credit agency has landed at the center of a national debate over business and free-market ideology, with potentially enduring ramifications for the Texas companies it supports and the Republicans it is dividing.
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Economy
GOP State Senate Nominees Speak Out Against Historical Racing
Five Republican nominees for seats in the Texas Senate voiced public opposition Monday to a proposal that would allow a controversial new form of betting on horse races in Texas.
