With Proposition 8, Texas would set money aside for future flooding
If approved by voters next month, the constitutional amendment would set aside $800 million from the state's rainy day fund for flood mitigation efforts. Full Story
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![Flood waters in a neighborhood along Eldridge Parkway flooded by waters released from the Addicks Reservoir, in Houston on...]()
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Point of Order: Investing in the future of Texas
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith asks state Rep. John Zerwas, the chief budget writer in the Texas House, whether we have enough money to fund today’s priorities and tomorrow’s — and which hard choices we have to make. Full Story
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Texas’ savings account is poised to hit $15 billion. How much will lawmakers spend?
As lawmakers debate costly investments in property tax reduction and public schools, they're eyeing the state savings account for a sizable withdrawal. Full Story
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After Hurricane Harvey, Texas senator eyes using state's savings for flood control
State Sen. Charles Perry, chairman of the Senate Committee on Water and Rural Affairs, has a package of bills that could create Texas' first statewide flood plan. He says coastal Texans aren't the only ones at risk of property loss. Full Story
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![Record rainfall in Llano and Burnet counties in the Texas Hill Country cause major flooding in Marble Falls on Oct. 16, 2018.]()
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Retirement and low pay caused Texas agencies to lose nearly 29,000 employees last year
Advocates for state workers are calling for increased pay after a State Auditor’s Office report released in December found that agency turnover was at 19.3 percent in the 2018 budget year. The top reasons employees said they left were retirement, better pay and benefits and poor working conditions. Full Story
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Legislative report: Harvey recovery has cost $2.7 billion so far — most paid by feds
A report released Friday by the Texas Senate's budget-writing committee laid out past and future costs related to recovery from "the most costly disaster ever to hit the Texas coast." Full Story
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![Rockport business owners said they faced a labor shortage as apartments and affordable rentals have not been rebuilt after...]()
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With record $12.5 billion in Texas' savings account, lawmakers set $7.5 billion minimum balance
The decision means Texas can invest more of its massive rainy day fund — and signals lawmakers' confidence that the current balance is healthy. Full Story
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![State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, explains the benefits of Senate Bill 19 during a Saturday meeting of the Senate Fi...]()
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Texas government risks credit rating downgrade, Comptroller Glenn Hegar says
Without an infusion of new money to cover mounting liabilities, Hegar warned, credit agencies are likely to downgrade Texas’ credit rating, which would make it more expensive for the state to borrow money — and perhaps damage the state's business climate. Full Story
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George P. Bush and Harvey relief, AFL-CIO's Beto O'Rourke snub (podcast)
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Patrick and Edgar about Land Commissioner George P. Bush walking back statements on Hurricane Harvey relief and the Rainy Day Fund, and the Texas AFL-CIO's decision not to endorse Beto O'Rourke over a convention the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate missed. Full Story
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Hegar: Harvey response will strain Texas budget, shouldn't slow economy
Hurricane Harvey probably won't wallop Texas’ economy in the long run, Comptroller Glenn Hegar said. But the state’s response to the storm could ultimately mean a multibillion-dollar hit to the state budget. Full Story
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Harris County officials: We need help paying for flood control projects
Southeast Texas leaders told state lawmakers on Wednesday that they don't have enough money to carry out major flood control projects on their own. They also advocated for a collaborative, regional approach to flood control. Full Story
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![Harris Co. Judge Ed Emmett testifies at a House Natural Resources Committee hearing held at the George R. Brown Convention...]()
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Abbott: Houston has enough funding for Harvey recovery
The governor said if the state needs to tap the Rainy Day Fund for Harvey recovery, it won't be until the next legislative session in 2019. Full Story
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![John Sharp, Texas A&M University chancellor and head of the new Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott a...]()
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Abbott: No special session needed for Harvey aid
Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday another special session of the Texas Legislature won't be necessary to deal with the response to Hurricane Harvey. The Legislature isn’t scheduled to meet again until January 2019. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott presides over a briefing at the Texas Division of Emergency Management in Austin on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.]()
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Plan to overhaul Texas Rainy Day Fund and boost returns losing steam
A proposal to dramatically reshape the state’s savings account to set aside more funds for tough economic times has effectively died in the final days of the legislative session. Full Story
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Texas House backs Rainy Day Fund overhaul
The Texas House approved legislation Wednesday that would overhaul the way the state stows away money for tough economic times, advancing a proposal championed by Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Full Story
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Analysis: A high-stakes budget duel — if Texas lawmakers want one
The Senate doesn't like the House's hit on the Rainy Day Fund. The House doesn't like the Senate's delay of a deposit into the state's highway fund. Neither wants to raise taxes. But all is not yet lost — unless they want to fight about it. Full Story
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![House Appropriations Chairman John Zerwas, R-Richmond, and Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound.]()
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Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar pitches overhaul of Rainy Day Fund
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar wants to reshape the state's Rainy Day Fund, aiming to get more bang for those stowed-away bucks. Full Story
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Analysis: Texas budget writers have the cash, but won't let go of their tricks
The state has a Rainy Day Fund with billions of dollars in it, but Texas lawmakers would rather use accounting tricks to balance their next budget. Full Story
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Analysis: Cutting the Texas budget, even with money on hand
If Texas legislators cut the state budget this year, it won't be because they didn't have the money. It'll be because they didn't want to spend the money they have. Full Story
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House leaders push for withdrawing $1 billion more from state savings account
The proposal from state Rep. John Zerwas would withdraw about $2.4 billion from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, chair of House Appropriations, at the Austin Club before speaking with Evan Smith Feb. 23, 2017]()