220 likes | 369 Views
Chapter 11. Public Finance in Texas. The Budget. The state constitution requires that the legislature operate within a balanced budget. The Texas budget five broad categories: general revenue funds budget general revenue-dedicated funds budget federal funds budget other funds budget
E N D
Chapter 11 Public Finance in Texas
The Budget • The state constitution requires that the legislature operate within a balanced budget. • The Texas budget five broad categories: • general revenue funds budget • general revenue-dedicated funds budget • federal funds budget • other funds budget • all funds budget.
Texas Budgetary Funds Appropriated, 2012–13 (inbillions of dollars)
Taxing and Spending in Texas • Texas Tax Policies • No state income tax • Relatively high property and sales taxes • 10th highest sales tax (6.25%) in nation • Texans pay less taxes compared to people in most other states • State taxes per capita rank Texas #48 • Local taxes at #13 • Overall at #32
Trends in State Government Expenditures, 1992–93 to2012–13 Biennia
Revenue in Texas • Revenue Sources • Taxes • Sales and Property (NOT income or corporate) • Oil and natural gas production taxes • Tobacco, Alcohol, Auto, Hotel, Other taxes • Federal Matching Fund Grants • Fees and Investment Earnings • Taxes were 41.2% of state revenue in 2011 • Sales tax is by far the largest source
State Revenue Biennial Comparison,by Source, 2010–11 and 2012–13Biennia (in billions of dollars)
Income Tax Debate • Some state taxes are regressive • Regressive: poor taxed at higher rate than wealthy • Sales and use taxes are regressive • Flat taxes are generally categorized as regressive • State income tax has been discussed • Mostly media, policy organizations • Elected officials both parties not interested • Might be pragmatic idea, but few want to pay new taxes, no matter how it is presented or explained
Other State Revenue • Federal funds • Matching grants for Medicaid, Temporary Aid to Needy Families, education, and roads • With matching funds, the more a state spends, the more it gets from the federal government • Texas spends relatively little (in part by state law) so gets less than some other states do in federal support
Other State Revenue • Texas also takes in revenue from: • Interest on bonds and other investments • Sales of goods and services it provides • Income from public lands that are rented • State lottery • Tobacco settlement
Constitution and the Budget • The legislature makes a 2-year budget • Agencies project out in manner that may miss unanticipated and consequential developments • Legislature only meets 140 days every two years • Not much time for long economic scenario simulations • A large portion of the budget is dedicated • Obligations payments that are non-negotiable
Constitution and the Budget • Pay-as-You-Go limit • The state budget must always be balanced. • Any bill that is to be appropriated must be cleared by the comptroller, who must certify there are funds.
Constitution and the Budget • Texas Constitution sets specific spending limits on some services • Welfare Spending Limit Article III, Section 51a • Texas will not spend more than 1% on poor children and their caretakers. • Non-dedicated spending cannot grow faster than estimated growth of the state’s economy. • 1997 Amendment to Article III • No more than 5% state budget spent on debt
Budgetary Process • Developing a state budget falls to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) • Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, chairs of House Appropriations and Ways and Means, Senate Finance and State Affairs committees, and two additional members from both the House and Senate
Budgetary Process • LBB • Analyzes agency programs • Estimates costs of new legislation • Creates a draft budget for the legislature
Budgetary Process • First stage of creating a budget • LBB reviews 5-year projections from each department • Hearings are held before legislature begins session • Comptroller determines Biennial Revenue Estimate (BRE) • The BRE can be updated if dramatic unforeseen changes take place
Budgetary Process • Second stage of creating a budget • House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees are sent proposal • Committees hold hearings and draft legislation • Final budget is passed • Comptroller certifies budget • Sent to governor for veto or signature