Commentary

Commentary

The Biggest Loser in the Wake of 2022 Midterms in Texas: Fiscal Sanity

Much to the chagrin of fiscal conservatives, perhaps the most significant thing to come out of the 2022 midterm elections was the overwhelming success of many bond propositions and tax rate increases on the ballot. In a country where we…

Commentary

A Texas-sized History of Corporate Handouts

Texas elected officials like to point out the economic success the state has found in the last few decades. It is true the state has an economic climate that many businesses and individuals across the world and the United States…

Commentary

Should We Have Secret, Nonpartisan Local Elections in Texas?

As we find ourselves in the midst of election season, it is a great time to talk about how elections are conducted in Texas. In my time traveling the state and speaking to taxpayers about a myriad of issues related…

Commentary

Slowing the Growth Is a Losing Strategy for Taxpayers

For all of Texas’ economic successes, the ever-increasing property tax burden on Texas taxpayers casts a long and dark shadow. In 2021, the Tax Foundation reported that Texas had the sixth most burdensome property tax in the United States. Just…

Commentary

Texas Taxpayers Weigh Concerns Ahead of November Election

With only a month before the November general election, we surveyed subscribers of our weekly email, The Fiscal Note, about the issues they consider most likely to impact their decisions at the ballot box. The question posed to subscribers of…

Commentary

Texas Taxpayers Do Not Support Continued Corporate Welfare

Following a recent interim hearing of the Texas House Ways & Means Committee where they discussed several issues important to Texas taxpayers (including the potential revitalization of Chapter 313 tax abatements), we surveyed subscribers to The Fiscal Note about whether…

Commentary

The Importance of Political Activism in Fiscal Policy

In the past year, conservatives have seen a lot of political activism in reaction to the Biden administration’s failures. We have also seen backlash from social norms moving away from traditional values. For instance, we have seen conservatives become politically…

Commentary

Confidence Low That Texas Legislature Will Act on Property Taxes Next Session

Following a recent interim hearing of the Texas House Ways and Means Committee, where among the many issues they discussed was that of recent attempts by the Texas Legislature to reform property taxes and appraisals, we surveyed subscribers to The…

Commentary

One Texan’s Exemption is Another Texan’s Increased Burden

A reprieve from taxes, however significant, is always welcome news for Texas taxpayers, well… at least for the ones that directly benefit from that reprieve. At a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing, State Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) inquired about the…

Commentary

Introducing the Texas Prosperity Plan

At Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR), we hear from Texans every day, impacted by the rising costs of living, rising property tax burdens, and general dismay towards a government that seems to represent their own interests less and less. For too…

Commentary

No… We Don’t Have To Replace The Property Tax With Anything

In a year where most property owners find themselves getting overwhelmed with inflation driving up the costs of basic goods and services as well as major increases in property tax burdens, it has not been surprising to see millions of…

Commentary

Texas Legislative Races to Watch on Primary Runoff Election Day

In what seems like a perpetual election cycle, Texans find themselves yet again about to go to the polls to vote in the Runoff Election for the Republican and Democrat primaries, which took place in early March. Given the political…

Commentary

Conflicting Messages Across the State for Local Bond Propositions

Saturday marked election day across the state for a whole host of ballot propositions, including over 200 bond proposals from various local governmental jurisdictions. A total of $18.5 billion of proposed spending was considered by Texas voters and after reviewing…

Commentary

10 Facts About Property Taxes In Texas

Property taxes are one of the most confusing systems that taxpayers are tasked with understanding in Texas. The system itself is purposely complicated, with lawmakers changing definitions and the state Tax Code nearly every two years, it is nearly impossible…

Commentary

Fiscal Conservatives Start From Wrong Premise on State Spending

Ask yourself, do you believe the government is too big already? More often than not the answer we get at Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) as we travel around the state, visiting with Texas taxpayers, is a resounding yes! Despite…