Free Republic

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas comptroller said Monday that the economic recovery is taking hold, producing higher than expected tax revenues and possibly resulting in a budget surplus in 2013. In a letter to the Legislature, state Comptroller Susan Combs said tax collections were on pace to produce a $1.6 billion budget surplus for the fiscal biennium ending in 2013. That means the state could earn $82.7 billion over the next two years, while the 2012-2013 budget is only $81.1 billion. That represents an 8.2 percent increase in state revenues over the 2010-2011 budget cycle.

AUSTIN – State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn today certified as balanced the $139.4 billion spending plan crafted by state lawmakers for the next two years. The state budget covers items ranging from health care to education to transportation. "I can announce today that the budget passed by the 79th Texas Legislature is balanced," Strayhorn said, although she added, "It does not mean that I agree with all of the budget decisions." Among points of disagreement, she said she is troubled that budget-writers stretching to find money for state services decided to "completely raid the state’s rainy-day fund." The next budget...

$139 billion spending plan headed to governor 05/29/2005 By BRANDI GRISSOM / Associated Press A $139 billion two-year budget plan is on its way to Republican Gov. Rick Perry's desk after the House passed it Sunday. With a vote of 104-40, lawmakers approved a proposal that would increase state spending by about 10 percent. The Senate approved the same plan Saturday with a vote of 30-1. Perry has the authority to veto specific items both in the budget plan and the supplemental budget plan expected to receive a vote later Sunday. "He's going to go through the budget very carefully,...