Home >> Research >> Budget

More Information

Related Topics

• Texas Funding for Schools Much Lower Than Before Recession
• Joint Budget Hearings Now Under Way at the Capitol
• Statement: National Task Force Calls for Reform of State Tax and Budget Systems

Also by Dick Lavine

• Congressional Proposals Would Extend Tax Breaks for Small Group of Wealthy Texans While Ending Help for Thousands of Working Families
• Replacing Property Taxes with Sales Taxes is the Wrong Answer for Texas Families and Public Schools
• Federal "Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act" Would Reduce Revenue and Promote Tax Avoidance

Spending Cap: The Constitutional Spending Limit and School Property Taxes

  

Author:
Dick Lavine /(512) 320-0222 x 101

November 29, 2006

Read Full Article >>  

The state’s commitment to reduce school property taxes by one-third in fiscal 2008 has called into play a little-known restriction on state budgeting--the constitutional limit on spending--which limits the amount of state taxes that may be spent. The Legislative Budget Board met November 27 to consider setting the amount of the cap, as required by statute, but adjourned until January without taking action. This Policy Page explains the cap, the restrictions it imposes on the state budgets, and how it should be applied.