Analysis: A $5.5 billion shift in who pays for public education in Texas
It's an old and bittersweet story in Texas: Property values rise, local property tax revenue rises and the state government spends less on public education. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bbe694989910ac61be98187226e9f1f4/COVID%20Highland%20Village%20Elem%20ST%20TT%2058.jpg)
-
![Students walk with their desk barriers to their next class on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A Texas state budget — minus $38.6 billion in federal stimulus money
The state budget approved by the Texas Senate on Tuesday is just the start: Lawmakers still have to decide what to do with billions in federal COVID-19 relief money. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7991369bbd6208b4195745cad019ba11/COVID%20Highland%20Village%20Elem%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg)
![Levi Pedrick peaks out of his kindergarten class window on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Austin officer charged with murder in Michael Ramos' death as lawmakers file bills making it harder to withhold body camera footage
Almost a year after Michael Ramos, a Black and Hispanic man, was killed in Austin, Christopher Taylor, the officer who shot him, has been charged with murder. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/689f08837f0837c043706b112c840d17/ATX%20George%20Floyd%20Protest%20MG%20TT%2014.jpg)
![A protester holds a sign at a rally for George Floyd and Michael Ramos at Austin Police headquarters on May 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: How Gov. Greg Abbott's attack on "defunding the police" has divided Texas Democrats
The governor's pivot from a focus on racism and policing after protests last summer to an emphasis on police funding and public safety, creates cross-pressures for Texans of color — particularly those who are Democrats, our pollsters write. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0de38278b04e0c2742af7a3e2c01ef4a/Abbott%20Back%20the%20Blue%20Presser%20REUTERS.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a news conference with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and Speaker Dennis Bonnen before signing a Texas Backs the Blue Pledge at the Austin Police Association on Sept. 10, 2020.]()
Credit: Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via USA TODAY NETWORK -
Most white Texas voters believe the deaths of Black people in police custody aren’t a systemic problem
Texas voters support the police and don't want to cut their budgets. But they disagree on the reasons behind the deaths of Black people in encounters with law enforcement, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bd93877ea5b0b6924d36b645ddb4c87c/UT-TT%20Police%2002.jpg)
![Austin police officers stand guard outside of their headquarters during a protest against the death of George Floyd. June 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Pandemic response tops Texas voters’ legislative priorities, poll finds
Texas voters also think the state spends too little on mental health, and public education, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/83e0671ef088233c44f659119f483e64/UT-TT%20Legislature.jpg)
![The Senate Floor on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Rural Texas communities face long recoveries and stretched budgets without federal aid
Debbie Gosnell, city manager of Cross Plains, said it could take months for her community to recover from the winter storm. Without approval for federal aid, Gosnell worries the town's budget will not cover the numerous broken pipes and damaged buildings. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fcf206a66388ae1c9936b9923942f730/TheBriefPodcast_CMS%20Feb%2026.jpg)
![Marfa is covered with snow a second time. Another snowstorm came in early Thursday morning, the day after the power was restored in town. The temperature dropped to 7 degrees on Friday morning. Feb. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Sarah M. Vasquez for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: State Rep. Harold Dutton, chair of public education committee, discusses how Legislature should respond to pandemic, winter storm
Dutton joined The Texas Tribune on Thursday for a conversation moderated by Aliyya Swaby, the Tribune's public education reporter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/92be3f20e853d955ed498c2bcd6886c7/TTE-HDutton_leadart-v2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Speaker Dade Phelan shakes up Texas House leadership with new chairs on key committees
With assignments out, legislation that has been filed can be referred to committees for potential hearings. The committees overseeing public education, budget writing and redistricting are among those with new chairs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/24486be33edbabd1edece94a9193c490/Capitol%20Opening%20Day%20JV%20TT%2009.jpg)
![A committee hearing room featuring plexiglass dividers on Jan 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Not every legislative day in Texas is a workday
During the first month of the Texas legislative session, the House and Senate will have met for less than a week, and most lawmakers will have been away from the Capitol for most of that time. It’s an early sign that this pandemic-shadowed session might be limited in scope. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/30d4b097ff76fab23a48e17fb52cf643/Senate%20Floor%20Jan%2013%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![The Senate floor on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas House and Senate propose similar spending amounts in preliminary budgets
The proposals are about $7 billion over the amount Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said lawmakers have to spend during the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/10ccfdf5a2728929cf1371f4cd52a98b/House%20Floor%20Jan%2013%20JV%20TT%2002.jpg)
![The Texas House of Representatives on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The odds for legal pot and casinos in Texas just got worse
One argument for legalizing casino gambling and marijuana sales in Texas is that they would produce tax revenue for the state during the recession started by the pandemic. But a new, optimistic economic forecast for the state takes some wind out of those sails. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6a0428985d89399f3d893576415b75a5/Atlantic%20City%20Casino%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City is open for the first time since closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. July 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Karas/NorthJersey.com via REUTERS -
The Texas Legislature convenes for its 2021 session Tuesday. Here are 5 things to watch.
Much about the session — including how it will be conducted during a pandemic — remains uncertain. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/679a71cbb184a24b24f172fa3e496034/05_HB2_House_Floor_MG.jpg)
![House floor on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Recession cuts how much lawmakers can spend with the next state budget, but decrease isn’t as bad as feared
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar estimated that lawmakers have $113 billion to spend when they write the next two-year budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2c80fe77f6e2a3c06be6bd8c4a7baeeb/06%20Glenn%20Hegar%20Biennial%20Revenue%20Estimate%20MG%20TT.jpg)
![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state capitol on Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Balancing Texas' budget is always complicated. The pandemic and recession will make it even harder in 2021.
Lawmakers could face a multibillion-dollar budget deficit due to the coronavirus pandemic and its accompanying recession. That will only compound the difficulties of balancing the budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6995ce84b024ede97030cd1d1730ca4e/06_Budget_Night_BD_TT.JPG)
![Debate on HB1, the House state budget bill, continues into its 12th hour as State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Dallas, shows the strain of a long night.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analyzing 2020: The pandemic recession in Texas
We've selected some columns from 2020 on the recession and the budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/15efcc60d423642a3d4160939a4248e1/ATX%20Covid%20May%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![COVID related street art on Sixth Street in downtown Austin on May 6th, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texans might be ready for casinos, but lawmakers aren’t convinced
Casinos are making a serious run at Texas lawmakers, hoping to open up to five gaming destinations in a state that has resisted them for years. But gaming in Texas hasn’t been expanded in almost three decades. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dfd343c2bbc82245c4e7cd21d4885c7b/Casino%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![A woman is seen reflected wearing a protective face mask, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, outside a closed poker room in a casino in New Orleans on Aug. 30, 2020.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton -
Analysis: Adding a new tax might be easier than ending an old tax break
It might seem that closing tax loopholes and ending exemptions would be an easy way to balance a state budget during a pandemic. It's not. In fact, that might be the hardest option available. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc5f100b96b207f7a0fc2927e8a1a253/House%20Floor%20MKC%20TT.jpg)
![The Texas House of Representatives chamber on Nov. 20, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Despite staggering pandemic losses, Texas budget forecast better than expected, state comptroller says
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar didn't provide details as he told lawmakers Monday that the financial forecast isn't as dire as earlier feared. But he said revenues are still down "significantly" compared with last year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6a18563ed67e1f5ccd5bd2ce25e4d165/Glenn_Hegar_Biennial_Revenue_Estimate_5.jpg)
![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state capitol. Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Lawmakers discuss the state budget, redistricting and their priorities ahead of Texas’ 2021 legislative session
Plus, what the Legislature will look like in a pandemic, and what Tribune reporters are watching most this legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/24f34d009f5c455b4e838750b23d93d9/TTE-87thLeg_leadart-v3.png)
![Article thumbnail]()