AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Fiscal Policy and Center for Local Governance will hold a joint policy primer, “What Do You Owe and What Do You Know?” on Wednesday, August 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Legislative Conference Center inside the Texas State Capitol.

This is the first policy primer for the Foundation’s Center for Local Governance, which launched on July 1, 2013.

During the 83rd Texas Legislature, several bills were debated that would have meaningfully improved government transparency. Unfortunately, the majority did not pass, meaning that there is still much work to be done.

“There is a lack of transparency when it comes to issuing debt and the impact that has on taxpayers. This primer aims to shine a light on and talk about the kinds of government debt which are most consequential to the life of Texas’ biggest cities to its smallest school districts,” said Talmadge Heflin, Director of the Center for Fiscal Policy. “For the taxpayer to understand what it means to pass a bond issue and to see what those newly allocated resources are buying is a completely reasonable request and this panel will help forward the discussion on opening the books even further.” 

Panelists include:

    • The Honorable Dan Flynn, Co-Chairman, Transparency in State Agency Operations, Texas State House of Representatives
    • James Quintero, Director of the Center for Local Governance at the Texas Public Policy Foundation
    • Bennett Sandlin, Executive Director at the Texas Municipal League
    • Pam Waggoner, President, Leander Independent School District

                                         

To schedule an interview with TPPF Center for Fiscal Policy Director Talmadge Heflin or Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero, please contact Kristen Indriago at 512.472.2700 or [email protected].