The taxpayer-funded university’s focus on “LGBTQ friendliness” has earned it a 4.5 star-rating by an LGBT index.
Local
Former La Joya Mayor Arrested in Fraud Case
The arrest of Salinas comes months after the city administrator pleaded guilty to federal theft.
Trump, Freedom Caucus Issue Conflicting Endorsements in West Texas Race
Trump and the Freedom Caucus are backing different candidates in the upcoming GOP primary, an unusual conflict between the strong allies.
Is Life-Saving Judge Alex Kim Being Targeted by an Establishment Judge?
An emergency meeting of county district judges has been called, allegedly to remove all cases involving CPS from the court of Judge Alex Kim.
New Data Reveals Austin’s Homeless Violent Crime is Rising
After the progressive-run Austin City Council enacted controversial homeless policies last year, new police numbers have revealed more of the consequences.
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Corrupt Ex-Dallas Official Sent to Federal Prison for Taking Bribes
Dwaine Caraway sentenced to 56 months for his role in the Dallas County Schools bribery and money-laundering scandal.
Former Keller Councilman Endorses City Council Candidate
Local conservative endorses candidate he believes will be a “voice for Keller taxpayers.”
Controversy Continues Over Dallas Citizens Police Review Board Reforms
Controversial reforms of the board removed subpoena power of police officers, but still costs taxpayers over a million dollars.
Cedar Park Candidates Have Records of Higher Taxes and Corrupt Deals
Cedar Park citizens have reason to pay attention to candidates running for their city council.
Seliger-Aligned Group Backs Amarillo City Council Incumbents
Major Amarillo political action committee throws its weight behind Mayor Ginger Nelson and Amarillo City Council incumbents.
Who Pays the Biggest Tarrant County Tax Increases?
Data from Tarrant County Appraisal District completes study of metroplex showing growth of city and school property taxes across all four counties.
Who Pays the Biggest Collin County Tax Increases?
Official data shows that even residents in conservative Collin County are experiencing property tax increases.
Austin Mayor Speaks Out Against Citizens
The mayor is strongly opposed to giving any power back to citizens.
Hearing on Controversial Dallas Citizens Police Review Board Reforms This Week
Dallas City Council to open for public comments on reforms.
Dana McKelvain: A Passion for Patriotism
Growing up in a proud Navy family, Dana McKelvain loves her rural Texas community and has a passion for defending Christian conservative values at every level of government.
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Austin Apparatchiks Have Waste and Nepotism in Store for Taxpayers
For those outside Austin, there have been a flurry of reports lately illustrating why Austin is known as the People's Republic of Travis County. The City Council is considering banning plastic bags from stores and they gave a $750,000 forgivable loan to a politically connected Mexican restaurant, Las Manitas. Now here's another big enchilada on the taxpayer dime – the latest report is that the City has been running a souvenier store in City Hall at a loss of $250,000 per year to taxpayers.Â
Got Tax Relief? Not In Houston…
So you think you’re getting tax relief? If you live in Houston, chances are you are not. The school district there are doing everything they can to reach into your family’s pocket-book and exact every last dollar they can.
Property Tax Appraisals Skyrocket from Metroplex to Killeen
In Dallas County, total property values are up 16 percent, with about half of that attributable to increases on existing properties, according to a Dallas Morning News report.
Although Collin County has not posted 2007 average home values yet, the Dallas Morning News reports that total appraisals are up 47 percent in Celina , 38.9 percent in Prosper, and 30.3 percent in Melissa, all of which are in the northern part of the county. Assuming half is due to new construction, that is still 15 to 24 percent increases in average home value.
Hitchcock and Galveston Engulfed by Rising Tide of Property Taxes
If you've ever been to Hitchcock, which is situated in the shadows of Texas City and its effusive refineries, despite the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, you might be forgiven for not having thought you were in Palm Beach. Hitchcock may not seem like a ritzy resort rolling in money, but don't tell that to the Galveston County Tax Appraiser. It turns out that property values in Hitchcock are increasing by 27.41 percent this year, according to a Galveston Daily News report.
Small Businesses Bracing for Burdensome Business Tax
The San Antonio Express-News reports that many small business owners around the state are facing huge bills due under the new state gross receipts tax which starts in 2007, with the first payment to the state due by May 2008. The article notes that many firms are seeing a tenfold increase in tax due as compared with the franchise tax, which it replaces.
What Wine Goes Best With Pork-Fat?
The Texas Department of Agriculture will this Sunday serve up a heain' helpin' of taxpayer dollars as the chief sponsor of an artsy "wine dinner" in Austin. Were you invited? Me, either…
Dallas Shopping Centers Ring Up Lawsuit Against Apprisal District
According to a Dallas Business Journal article , the owners of several Dallas-area shopping centers, including Highland Park Village and Preston Trail Plaza, are suing the Dallas Central Appraisal District and the Dallas Appraisal Review Board, saying the method the entities use to calculate tax appraisals violates the Texas Constitution.
Too Much Dust, Not Enough Results
Besides just bad philosophy, one of the worst contributors to government growth is our misplaced emphasis on defining success by activity. When you stand on the plains and look to the horizon, a great cloud of dust can be either an army purposefully on the move, or a lone idiot riding his horse in circles.Â
Too often, we are just interested in seeing a great cloud of dust, and not interested enough in the results. In every debate in Austin (and in Washington) the discussion centers too much on "how much we have/are/will spend" and not nearly enough on "what we have/are/will accomplish."
Texas Hotel Taxes Enough to Make You Lose Sleep
Found this revealing tidbit on the Austin American-Statesman's entertainment pages:Â
Those hotel occupancy taxes in Texas’ big cities are so high they’ll give you a nosebleed. Example: My $279 stay at the lovely Granduca Hotel in Houston a few days ago carried $46.93 in occupancy tax: That’s 6 percent for the great State of Texas, 7 percent for the city, 2 percent for Harris County and another 2 percent for the Houston-Harris County Sports Authority, the entity that builds stadiums.
More Taxes, Courtesy of Republican Fred Hill
There was once a time when Republicans were known as the tax-cutters; people who – if nothing else – would work to make sure the taxpayers’ money stayed in the taxpayers’ wallet (as State Rep. Rob Eissler likes to say).
That was then, this is now. State Rep. Fred Hill (R-Richardson) wants to raise your local taxes. Sure, he wants to start with the Dallas-Fort Worth area. But don’t worry; this new tax will spread like a virus to every city in Texas. He is pushing a bill to let those cities raise their sales tax to fund mass transit. (Never mind that mass transit is usually spelled “B-O-O-N-D-O-G-G-L-E.†or, in the original French, “P-O-R-Kâ€)