AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Director of the Center for Fiscal Policy, the Honorable Talmadge Heflin, issued the following statement congratulating the 84th Texas Legislature for passing a conservative Texas budget. The budget increases in all funds, including federal funds of 3.6 percent to $209.4 billion and state funds of 5.8 percent to $141.4 billion, are below the Conservative Texas Budget Coalition’s recommended 6.5 percent spending limit based on population growth plus inflation.
“We applaud the passage of a conservative Texas budget that increases from its predecessor by less than population growth plus inflation. The state’s strong economy led to substantial available revenue, which allowed legislators to appropriately look at returning money to the taxpayer in addition to meeting the needs of the state. In achieving this, legislators have been good stewards of taxpayer dollars, and have given Texans more opportunities to prosper. Limiting the size and scope of government is key to advancing liberty for all Texans.
“With this conservative Texas budget, the Legislature made Texas taxpayers, homes, and communities the true winners this session.”
For more information, please contact Caroline Espinosa at [email protected].
The Honorable Talmadge Heflin, Director of the Center for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. 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.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.