AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released a paper by Center for Fiscal Policy Director Talmadge Heflin and Economist Dr. Vance Ginn on Articles VIII, IX, and X that include regulatory, general provisions, and legislature functions, respectively, in Texas’ state budget. The paper, Texas Budget Trends in Articles VIII-X, is the sixth of six in a series that examines trends in each article of the Texas budget.
“The 2016-17 budget increases funds to Articles VIII and X by less than population growth plus inflation from the previous budget and includes Article IX funding for the first time since at least the 2004-05 budget,” said Mr. Heflin. “Article VIII’s budget declined 18 percent because of a one-time decrease for the low income discount program for electricity in fiscal year 2016. Despite one budget cycle changes, these areas must be watched closely as agencies make their requests and during the legislative process next session.”
“Since the 2004-05 budget, the total state budget is up 40 percent for Article VIII and up 18 percent for Article X compared with an estimated 55 percent increase in compounded population growth plus inflation,” said Dr. Ginn. “While these trends indicate that these areas of the budget haven’t grown too fast over time, there are several functions that should be scrutinized to manage growth in the total budget.”
To read the full report, visit: http://txpo.li/spotlight-texas-budget-trends-articles-viii-x
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.