Rainy Day Fund

With Proposition 8, Texas would set money aside for future flooding

by Chase Karacostas

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 

Point of Order: Investing in the future of Texas

by Evan Smith and Michael Rey de Leon

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 

Texas’ savings account is poised to hit $15 billion. How much will lawmakers spend?

by Edgar Walters and Chris Essig

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 

After Hurricane Harvey, Texas senator eyes using state's savings for flood control

by Carlos Anchondo

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 

Retirement and low pay caused Texas agencies to lose nearly 29,000 employees last year

by Marissa Evans

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 

Legislative report: Harvey recovery has cost $2.7 billion so far — most paid by feds

by Kiah Collier

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 

With record $12.5 billion in Texas' savings account, lawmakers set $7.5 billion minimum balance

by Edgar Walters

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 

Texas government risks credit rating downgrade, Comptroller Glenn Hegar says

by Edgar Walters

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 

George P. Bush and Harvey relief, AFL-CIO's Beto O'Rourke snub (podcast)

by Emily Ramshaw and Todd Wiseman

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 

Hegar: Harvey response will strain Texas budget, shouldn't slow economy

by Jim Malewitz

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 

Harris County officials: We need help paying for flood control projects

by Kiah Collier

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 

Abbott: Houston has enough funding for Harvey recovery

by Matthew Choi

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 

Abbott: No special session needed for Harvey aid

by Patrick Svitek

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 

Plan to overhaul Texas Rainy Day Fund and boost returns losing steam

by Jim Malewitz

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 

Texas House backs Rainy Day Fund overhaul

by Jim Malewitz

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 

Analysis: A high-stakes budget duel — if Texas lawmakers want one

by Ross Ramsey

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 

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar pitches overhaul of Rainy Day Fund

by Jim Malewitz

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 

Analysis: Texas budget writers have the cash, but won't let go of their tricks

by Ross Ramsey

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 

Analysis: Cutting the Texas budget, even with money on hand

by Ross Ramsey

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 

House leaders push for withdrawing $1 billion more from state savings account

by Edgar Walters

The proposal from state Rep. John Zerwas would withdraw about $2.4 billion from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story