AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation released a paper today by Center for Fiscal Policy Director Talmadge Heflin and Economist Dr. Vance Ginn on Texas’ Article I budget. The paper, Texas Budget Trends in Article I, is the first of six in a series that will examine trends in each article of the Texas Budget.
“The Article I budget should only fund essential government services such that the total budget does not increase by more than population growth plus inflation each session,” said Heflin. “Functions in Article I that increase by more than this key metric should be watched as agencies make their requests and during the legislative process next session.”
“The 2016-17 state budget increases Article I for general government functions by 80 percent compared with an estimated 55 percent increase in compounded population growth plus inflation since the 2004-05 budget,” said Ginn. “This excessive budget trend indicates individual functions that increase by more than this key metric deserve scrutiny each session.”
To read the full report, visit: http://txpo.li/spotlight-budget-trends-in-article-i
The Honorable Talmadge Heflin is Director of the Center for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin. In the 78th Session, Heflin served as chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and navigated a $10 billion state budget shortfall through targeted spending cuts that allowed Texans to avoid a tax increase.
Vance Ginn, Ph.D., is an Economist at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.