| MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak | Subscribe to the daily email here | | TUESDAY || 1/14/25 | | Good Tuesday morning.
Thank you for being a paid subscriber. | | “If something of importance is known in Texas, Matt knows it. With a decline in the number of credible news organizations, the Must Read Texas morning email is indispensable for anyone that wants to continue to be informed.” – Former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) | | AUSTIN NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED | Are you one of the 100,000+ subscribers to ATX Pulse, a newsletter that delivers EVERYTHING you NEED TO KNOW about Austin? | | Subscriptions are $5/mo, $50/yr or $199/lifetime here: ATXpulsepremium.com. | » Read this morning's (free) edition here. | >> SUBSCRIBE HERE: ATXpulsepremium.com. ($5/mo or $50/yr or $199 lifetime) | | | “Texas lawmakers will have $194.6 billion to spend for the next budget, comptroller projects,” Texas Tribune's Pooja Salhotra — “Texas is projected to have $194.6 billion available in general revenue to fund the business of the state over the 2026-2027 biennium, a slight decrease from the last budget cycle, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said Monday in his biennial revenue estimate to state lawmakers and leaders.
The estimate comes one day before the Texas Legislature convenes on Tuesday for the start of the 2025 legislative session. The only thing lawmakers are constitutionally required to do during the 140-day session ending on June 2 is pass a balanced budget, one that spends no more than what is estimated to be available.
This year’s estimate reflects a 1.1% drop from the amount of funds available during the 2024-25 biennium, when lawmakers were flush with a “once-in-a-lifetime” cash balance, Hegar said. The drop is attributable to a smaller beginning balance compared to the previous budget cycle, not a drop in state revenue. Tax collections are projected to rise, and for the first time, the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund — also known as the rainy day fund — is expected to exceed its constitutional cap. As a result, lawmakers have more money than is typical for general purpose spending.
Still, Hegar said lawmakers should make thoughtful financial decisions that focus on improving Texans’ lives.
“Despite positive economic numbers, many of our residents continue to feel the higher cost of groceries, housing and other necessities. And the lingering impacts of persistently rising prices mean many are struggling to ensure a bright future for their children,” Hegar said in a Monday statement accompanying the budget estimate. | » BECOME A PAID SUBSCRIBER: $7/mo | » BECOME A PAID SUBSCRIBER: $70/yr | The estimate includes an anticipated $176.4 billion in new revenue, most of which comes from sales and energy tax collections and can only be spent in the upcoming budget cycle. Sales tax collections are projected to increase by 9% from the previous two-year period, reaching $94.2 billion the next two years.
The estimated funds also includes $23.8 billion expected to be leftover from the 2024-25 biennium. Part of those leftover dollars include $4.5 billion that were earmarked for public education and education savings accounts but were not used because lawmakers failed to reach a compromise to enact a voucher-like program.
This year, lawmakers are expected to prioritize passing a private school voucher program that uses taxpayer dollars to help pay for students’ private schooling. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Texas Senate, has called on Gov. Greg Abbott to declare school vouchers an emergency item to give lawmakers a jumpstart on pushing the bill through the Legislature. Lawmakers cannot pass any bills within the first 60 days of the session unless it has been labeled an emergency item by the governor." Texas Tribune | | FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS HAVE ENDED: As of July 11, 2022, we have moved to a paywall for free subscribers. Free subscribers will only receive the top story in their morning email. Free subscribers will need to become paid subscribers to receive full story summaries. | | TX TRIB: “The Texas Legislature is back. Here's what we are watching” Texas Tribune | TX TRIB: “Texas House to pick new speaker, concluding brutal proxy war” Texas Tribune | DMN: Editorial: “Texas House speaker race is a GOP purity disaster” DMN ($) | AAS: “How a school voucher program in Texas could affect policies across US: It'd 'be a big deal'” AAS ($) | KXAN: “Texas AG accuses Allstate, Arity of using tracking software to raise insurance rates” KXAN | TX TRIB: “Gov. Greg Abbott appoints Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. Shawn Thierry to juvenile justice board” Texas Tribune | KVUE: “Gov. Greg Abbott orders flags raised at Texas Capitol for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration” KVUE | SAEN: “San Antonio's H-E-B takes top spot again in national grocery ranking” SAEN ($) | | | > TX TRIB: "When is a business to blame for over-serving? Texas Supreme Court weighs the line in drunk driving case" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "Texas Supreme Court to decide legal battle over El Paso migrant shelter’s future" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "An education ecosystem is being built in Elon Musk’s image. It starts in Bastrop County." TX TRIB
> AP: "Company linked to Alex Jones doubles offer to buy Infowars after failed bankruptcy auction" AP
> FWST: "Eight arrested in Dallas-Fort Worth gun crime operation, police say" FWST
> HOU CHRON: "Top Trump aide joins Texas push to shutter a Catholic border nonprofit that helps migrants" HOU CHRON
> HOU CHRON: "Funding, culture wars amid higher ed concerns in Texas Legislative session" HOU CHRON
> HOU CHRON: "Will taxpayers have to cover Texas’ leaking oil gas and wells?" HOU CHRON
> DMN: "Dude Perfect reveals Frisco headquarters with Tom Brady, CeeDee Lamb" DMN
> DMN: "Morton’s The Steakhouse closed in Dallas after nearly 40 years" DMN
> FWST: "These North Texas school districts banned cell phones. What happened next?" FWST
> TPR: "Earth breaks yearly heat record and lurches past dangerous warming threshold" TPR
> DMN: "McDonald’s closing three CosMc’s in D-FW" DMN
> DMN: "2 dead following car crash in Grand Prairie early Monday morning" DMN
> DMN: "McKinney council votes to support airport terminal, passenger service" DMN
> DMN: "Bill Cox to run for McKinney mayor; Charlie Philips drops from race" DMN
> TPR: "Rural Texas needs more public defenders. A state commission wants nearly $44M to help" TPR
> TPR: "People are rushing to install solar panels before Trump becomes president" TPR
> TPR: "The pros and cons of at-home tests for colorectal cancer" TPR | | | Last weekend's Texas sports scores:
> NBA: Houston 120, Memphis 118
> NBA: San Antonio 126, LA Lakers 102
> NCAAM: Prairie View A&M 75, Arkansas Pine Bluff 64
> NCAAM: Texas Southern 82, Mississippi Valley State 53
> NCAAM: SE Louisiana 66, Stephen F. Austin 59
> NCAAM: UT-RGV 57, East Texas A&M 55
> NCAAM: Nichols 88, Incarnate Word 82
> NCAAM: McNeese 75, Houston Christian 59
> NCAAM: New Orleans 68, Lamar 62
> NCAAM: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 73, Northwestern State 64
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 6pm: NHL: Dallas at Toronto (ESPN+)
> 6pm: NCAAM: #11 Texas A&M at #8 Kentucky (ESPN2)
> 6pm: NCAAM: North Texas at East Carolina (ESPN+)
> 7pm: NCAAM: UTSA at Rice (ESPN+)
> 8pm: NCAAM: Texas Tech at Kansas State (CBS Sports Network)
> 8:30pm: NBA: Denver at Dallas (TNT)
> 10pm: NCAAM: #25 Baylor at Arizona (ESPN)
HOUSTON TEXANS: "Why the KC Chiefs are the best matchup for the Houston Texans" Houston Chronicle ($)
DALLAS COWBOYS: "14 candidates Jerry Jones, Cowboys could interview for Head Coach opening" DMN ($)
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Timing of breakup with McCarthy puts Jones, Cowboys in a bind" DMN ($)
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Once Jerry Jones finds new Head Coach, Cowboys owner can't ignore roster holes" DMN ($)
TEXAS FOOTBALL: "More Longhorns join growing list of UT players declaring for NFL Draft" KVUE
HOUSTON ROCKETS: "Green ties career high with 42 points as Rockets rally for 120-118 victory over Grizzlies" AP
SAN ANTONIO SPURS: "Lakers lose to Spurs 126-102 in their 1st game back after wildfire postponements" AP
DALLAS MAVERICKS: "Could Kyrie Irving return soon? Mavericks eager to add 'his gravity' back to the lineup" DMN ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Chris Martin guaranteed $5.5 million in 1-year deal with Rangers, can earn $500,000 bonuses" AP
JUSTIN VERLANDER: "Houston Astros: Ace Justin Verlander reflects on end of time with team" Houston Chronicle ($) | |
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