A new study by the Center for American Progress says that in Texas alone, there would be a $14.5 billion annual loss in tax revenue if all illegal immigrants in the state were deported.
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
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.
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Criminal Justice
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.
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Inside Intelligence
Inside Intelligence: About the Next Legislative Session…
For this week’s nonscientific survey of government and political insiders, we asked what will dominate the next legislative session and about the odds for school vouchers, high-stakes testing and a Medicaid expansion.
Posted inEconomy
Updated Interactive: Looking at Texas’ Economy by Industry
July marked a milestone in Texas employment: two straight years of continuous job growth. This updated interactive shows how employment has changed by industry since 2007, as well as current unemployment rates by county.
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Economy
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.
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Economy
Despite Two Years of Job Growth, Texas Unemployment Inches Up
Texas may have reached a milestone in July, reporting two straight years of job growth. But the unemployment rate inched up again last month, from 7 percent to 7.2 percent, while economic growth remained relatively consistent.
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Economy
Even in Budget Crunch, Tax-Free Weekend Lives On
Texas may miss out on the $65 million shoppers are expected to save during tax-free weekend, which starts today. But even as the state faces further budget shortfalls, the holiday, created in 1999, still draws bipartisan support.
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Economy
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.
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Economy
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.
