The Regular Session of the 88th Texas Legislature is like no other in Texas history. Record state tax collections have contributed to a historic projected state budget balance. State legislators have a unique opportunity to use the money in ways that could have a lasting, positive impact on the people of Texas — and accurate, timely information is crucial to their success.
As policymakers work to make spending decisions and members of the public strive to keep up with the process and provide relevant input, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts offers a wealth of easily accessible information to help both groups dive into the intricacies of the state budget and crucial programs.
“By ensuring lawmakers and all Texans have the information they need at their fingertips as the state navigates complex revenue and spending issues, we can help empower them to make and support the best decisions for Texas,” says Comptroller Glenn Hegar.
The Comptroller’s office has numerous data-heavy responsibilities, including the high-profile, constitutionally required Biennial Revenue Estimate (BRE), which sets the parameters for the state budget before every regular legislative session. The agency also houses programs ranging from the State Energy Conservation Office (which partners with local governments and public institutions to reduce utility costs and maximize efficiency) to the Texas Broadband Development Office (tasked with establishing a long-term plan to expand access to broadband services for people across the state).
Quote“While everyone has access to the same data that we use to help guide revenue estimates, our job is to make sense of the information and provide a trend line for the extremely complex Texas economy.”
– Comptroller Glenn Hegar
Each program, task and mandate assigned to the Comptroller’s office brings an abundance of data; the agency also is a repository of economic data from state and local entities. Ensuring Texans have access to reliable, downloadable and timely data from trusted sources so they can see how government spends their tax dollars is a tenet of the Texas Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
“While everyone has access to the same data that we use to help guide revenue estimates, our job is to make sense of the information and provide a trend line for the extremely complex Texas economy,” Hegar says. “When the data change, then it is our job to alert policymakers and the public that the direction of our economy is changing. Unfortunately, the job does not come with a crystal ball; rather, we spend a lot of time interpreting data that often come in the form of spreadsheets, graphs and charts.” DIVING INTO GOVERNMENT FINANCE
Data visualization tools and databases allow users to view, download and analyze state government financial data from the Comptroller’s website, including a searchable database of statewide contracts; visualizations of key economic indicators, such as inflation; and data including the unemployment rate and lists of state grants.
In addition, the Monthly State Revenue Watch lays out revenue collections each month compared with the previous year, allowing people to compare recent unprecedented increases to historical data (Exhibit 1). It includes revenues like state sales tax collections, franchise tax collections and lottery proceeds on a cash basis.
-- excerpt, rest at link above --
“We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent people.” ― George Orwell
I found a lot of interesting documents in the form of "Fiscal Notes" available at the State of Texas Comptroller's web site... you can download the 12 page current issue of the Fiscal Notes here.
(Well worth at least skimming through...)
An excerpt from the notes of Glenn Hager, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts:
QuoteIn this month’s issue of Fiscal Notes, read about the online reports and data visualization tools my office provides to promote statewide fiscal transparency. Arguably what my office is best known for is the Biennial Revenue Estimate (BRE) released before each regular legislative session to give lawmakers and the public a sense of the revenues available to spend. The historical and unprecedented budget surplus this year has put a spotlight on the BRE and is perhaps the defining characteristic of the 2023 legislative session. The BRE is constitutionally required, as is the Certification Revenue Estimate, but my office also goes beyond the mandate by periodically publishing other revenue updates when I think it’s warranted.
One of the reports we release each year is called the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), which comprises detailed, independently audited financial statements and statistics from all state government entities — and detailed might be an understatement. (Luckily, my office also maintains an online guide to help readers navigate this report.) Whereas the BRE forecasts revenues, the ACFR represents actual dollar figures from the previous fiscal year.
Another resource — and one that’s worth bragging about, I might add — is our state Revenue and Expenditures Dashboard. My team boils down impressive amounts of statewide financial data into user-friendly tables, charts and graphs of your choosing. This visualization tool can help researchers, policymakers and curious minds better understand the ins and outs of public dollars in Texas.
In this month’s issue, you also can read about local government transparency programs and initiatives. Take, for instance, our Transparency Stars program. Since this program began in early 2016, I’m proud to say we have recognized more than 200 local governmental entities — from cities to independent school districts to river authorities — by awarding more than 400 Transparency Stars for making financial information easily accessible and understandable. Accessible and understandable may not be the first words that come to mind when Texans think about government, but my office is partnering with these entities to change that.
I’ve highlighted only a fraction of the tools in my office’s transparency toolkit, so please read on to learn more!
I hope you find this issue informative!
“We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent people.” ― George Orwell
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
I sent a request to the Comptroller's office for the list of Limestone County properties they will use in their next property value survey.
Meanwhile, I was amazed to see a friend's former home in Austin on the Travis County tax roll. It's a nice home. Old, but livable. My friend bought it for $30K in about 1980, sold it a year ago for $300k, and today it's on the tax roll at $600,000 market value.
This madness may end with banks stuck holding under-secured loans that some - maybe many - borrowers will either walk away from or be unable to continue making payments.
I'm worried.
“A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.” Thomas Jefferson
Quote: Amontillado wrote in post #4I sent a request to the Comptroller's office for the list of Limestone County properties they will use in their next property value survey.
Meanwhile, I was amazed to see a friend's former home in Austin on the Travis County tax roll. It's a nice home. Old, but livable. My friend bought it for $30K in about 1980, sold it a year ago for $300k, and today it's on the tax roll at $600,000 market value.
This madness may end with banks stuck holding under-secured loans that some - maybe many - borrowers will either walk away from or be unable to continue making payments.
I'm worried.
That's a justifiable worry, IMHO.
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
Wed May 17, 2023 8:17 pm (Last edited: Wed May 17, 2023 8:23 pm)
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