Local Debt

Midland Hospital Proposes Tax Hike

Midland Hospital Proposes Tax Hike

Despite the fact that residents are already faced with higher overall tax burdens from rising home values, the Midland Hospital Board recently proposed a property tax rate increase that will further burden local taxpayers. The proposal was passed in a split 3-2 vote....

Highland Park ISD Debt Plan Raises Eyebrows

Highland Park ISD Debt Plan Raises Eyebrows

School debt would skyrocket in Highland Park from $18,700 per student to more than $93,000 per student if school officials have their way. Highland Park ISD board members are pushing a new $361 million debt proposal that, if approved by voters, would dramatically...

Local Control or Local Tyranny?

Local Control or Local Tyranny?

With the legislative session in full swing, Texans will soon face a barrage of political propaganda disguised with “conservative-sounding” messaging designed to sell them on anti-taxpayer policies. One of the most prominent will be the effort by state and local...

The Conservative Approach to Limiting Government Growth

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The Conservative Approach to Limiting Government Growth

While the grassroots may disagree on the means from time to time, the end goal of the conservative movement remains the same: put government in its proper size and role in order to ensure that individual liberty is maximized. That includes our state government, where...

HISD Comes Up Short Again

HISD Comes Up Short Again

At a Special Meeting on January 22nd, Houston ISD Board Members were delivered an unpromising update from the bond department on the status of their 2012 bond program and ongoing projects. The report notified board members that after asking Houston voters to approve...

School Districts Lobby for Unlimited Government

School Districts Lobby for Unlimited Government

In response to state-imposed debt limits, school districts and their corporate sponsors have created the Fast Growth School Coalition (FGSC)—a lobbyist group pushing for more debt and higher property taxes. To further their aims, the coalition is poised to lobby...

Harris County Cities Taking on Millions in Debt

Harris County Cities Taking on Millions in Debt

Two Harris County cities have published notices that their councils will authorize millions of dollars in Certificates of Obligation without approval from their respective taxpayers, and it’s all legal according to the Texas Local Government Code. The first to make...

Why Not Number One?

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Why Not Number One?

Texans take pride in our state’s frequent “Best in America” characterization when it comes to job creation. It should come as a surprise then that we are not rated the number one tax climate for business. According to the 2015 State Business Tax Climate Index,...

Katy ISD’s Information Sharing Indicative of Objectives

Katy ISD’s Information Sharing Indicative of Objectives

In a letter sent September 25th, Katy Independent School District apologized to parents for releasing their email addresses via Public Information requests to PACs participating on both sides of the November bond election. The release resulted in parents receiving...