The decision that comes from the school finance trial that will begin on Oct. 22 will set the tone for the next round of reforms. But there’s a separate conversation happening outside the courtroom that could be equally instructive — and indicates funding for schools may face challenges not only at the state but the local level.
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
State Lawmakers Take Aim at Accounting Tricks
Some of the extra tax revenue the state has recently found will be needed to help pay for accounting gimmicks used to help balance the current budget. Ahead of the next legislative session, lawmakers are looking to put an end to such tricks.
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Economy
Readying a Rail Bridge Over the Rio Grande
It has been more than 100 years since Texas and Mexico saw a new railroad line that spans both countries. That streak is set to end this year with the expected completion of the Brownsville West Rail Bypass International Bridge.
Posted inEconomy
Interactive: Measuring the Gender Wage Gap
Women in Texas made 70 cents for every $1 that men made in 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Use this interactive to examine the gender wage gap in Texas by industry and region.
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Economy
Inside Intelligence: About Those Money-Makers…
For this week’s nonscientific survey of government and political insiders, we asked about tax reform, swapping local property taxes for something else, and whether voters and legislators are on the same page on casinos.
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Economy
Guest Column: Wake Up — Schools Are Failing
Texas local school bureaucrats are not graduating enough of our students ready for college or career. We need to wake up, and wake up now, to the deeper truth that it is time to stop blaming the messengers. It is time to fix the problem.
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Economy
Governors From Rival Parties and States Find Common Ground
At a time of bitter partisanship and fierce political competition, Republican Gov. Rick Perry and Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper found rare common ground Friday at a meeting about economic development strategies.
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Economy
Budget Outlook is Better, but Not Necessarily Good
Writing the state budget might not be as difficult next year as it was two years ago, but things haven’t improved enough to make it easy.
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Economy
Weekend Insider: Texas Budget, Assistance for Migrant Students
In this edition of the Weekend Insider: The Texas state budget may not be as bad as expected, and a program to help migrant students attend college reaches a milestone.
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Economy
Which Pocket?
A one-for-one swap of sales taxes for property taxes would raise the state sales tax to 17.85 percent from 6.25 percent, or enough to add almost $3,500 to the price of an average car.
