Public & Higher Education receives over Half of All General Revenue
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Today after more than 20 hours of passionate debate over the course of two days the Texas House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly without raising taxes to pass a balanced state budget for the 2012 -2013 biennium thereby meeting its state constitutional obligation to do so.
Committee Substitute to House Bill 1 provides funding for many important state services such as public and higher education health services and public safety. C.S.H.B. 1 provides funding for these and other services from September 1 2011 to August 31 2013.
Prior to passing the funding for the next budget cycle the House also passed the supplemental appropriations bill for the current cycle along with passing a $3.1 billion withdrawal from the Economic Stabilization Fund also known as the Rainy Day Fund.
Representative Four Price stated
It was important to pass the supplemental appropriations bill because of the shortfall we faced when taking office in January. When you promise to pay your bills you should do so and that also goes for the State of Texas. That is why I voted to tap into the Rainy Day Fund. Price further said By voting to use a significant portion of the Rainy Day Fund for this current budget cycle we were able to free up nearly two billion dollars for education and for vital services for the elderly and the disabled. Although major cuts still had to be made across the board this was an important step for us to take.
For the upcoming budget cycle the expenditures contained in C.S.H.B. 1 reflect the economic realities facing Texas. Further the budget only spends available revenue as constitutionally mandated. As passed C.S.H.B. 1 also preserved the remainder of the Rainy Day Fund.
Texas simply cant spend more than it brings in. Hardworking Texas families have been tightening their belts cutting back on their expenses especially if they experienced a layoff. With the prolonged national recession impacting Texas our state government must also prioritize its spending and live within its means commented Price.
Education both public and higher education is still the number one budget priority for the House as reflected by the appropriations contained in this bill as it should be stated Price.
From every tax dollar collected in state general revenue approximately 56 cents (over 43 billion dollars) is slated for education about 28 cents (over 22 billion
dollars) is appropriated for health and human services about 11 cents (over 8 billion dollars) is allocated for public safety criminal justice and courts and the remaining 5 cents is directed to run the rest of state government.
When asked Why not just raise taxes? Price said If raising taxes created prosperity then California and Illinois would be among the most prosperous and job creating states in the nation. They are not. Also any tax increase would surely be passed along to Texas consumers. Thus Texas families would be further crunched. I am not willing to do that.
As to spending additional monies from the Rainy Day Fund Price believes that suggestion to be unwise. There is absolutely no guarantee that the national recession will be over when the Texas Legislature reconvenes in January 2013 especially given the precarious economic policies coming out of Washington D.C. Price further commented.
Price thanked all of his constituents who provided input on the budget.
Throughout the past year and especially during my three months in office I and my staff have met with numerous and diverse constituencies both at the Capitol and back home in the district. All had compelling reasons for funding. Many extremely difficult decisions had to be made. I believe what we accomplished is the best for Texas now and for the future said Price.
State Representative Rep. Walter Four Price IV represents District 87 which includes Carson Moore Potter & Sherman counties. He is the only member from the region serving on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Culture Recreation & Tourism Committee.
