The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero testified today before the House Committee on Investments and Financial Services on House Bill 3654, which would improve transparency and accountability in local public finance.
“Local government spending and debt are growing in ways that should really concern Texas taxpayers,” said Quintero. “The Texas Comptroller’s report Your Money and Local Debt estimates that between 2000 and 2009, local debt rose by 144.4 percent while local spending grew by 84 percent. Yet, over the same period, combined population and inflation increases totaled just 44.9 percent. The first step in getting a handle on local government spending and debt problems is to help Texans better understand how and where their local tax dollars are being spent.”
To schedule an interview with Mr. Quintero, please contact Caroline Espinosa at [email protected] or 512-472-2700.
James Quintero is director of the Center for Local Governance at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.