It must be something in the water that’s causing elected officials in Austin to not follow up on promises when it comes to taxpayer protection and relief. The legislature promised to kill the TIF tax, and it took four years to do it, and even then they’re taking the money an additional year just because they can. They also failed to deliver on popular taxpayer protections and property appraisal relief.

Now, Travis County Commissioners are eyeing a spending increase of 7.6 percent – just months after voting to keep spending growth at half that amount.

That’s not appropriate, says one county official (who apparently only drinks bottled water). He had earlier in the year got his fellow commissioners to approve limiting spending growth to half that.

“I think people want government to stay within some reasonable (spending lines), just like they have to stay within some reasonable lines personally,” County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty is quoted as saying in the Austin American Statesman.

So where’s the money going? According to the Statesman, half of the budget increase is going to give county employees a 5-to-16-percent pay raise this year.

County Judge Sam Biscoe defended the budget increase in a rather surprising way.

“What I’m hearing is that with other governments increasing their services, we should be as well.”

As a kid, he’s the one who actually argued that because all the other kids were jumping off bridges into dry creek beds…

Growing government and spending more only results in growing government and spending more. What a cycle.

Michael Quinn Sullivan

Michael Quinn Sullivan is the publisher of Texas Scorecard. He is a native Texan, a graduate of Texas A&M, and an Eagle Scout. Previously, he has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine contributor, Capitol Hill staffer, and think tank vice president. Michael and his wife have three adult children, a son-in-law, and a dog. Michael is the author of three books, including "Reflections on Life and Liberty."

RELATED POSTS