Lawmakers start $7 billion away from target

Image
  • Texas Capital Highlights
    Texas Capital Highlights
Body

Texas House and Senate leaders appear to agree on their proposed budgets. Next, they just have to figure out how to cut $7.2 billion.

Senate Finance Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, worked with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to propose a state budget of $119.7 billion in general funds. House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, proposed the same budget figure, indicating a collaborative spirit at the start of the 87th session.

That spirit will be tested as legislators try to meet Comptroller Glen Hegar’s budgeted revenue forecast of $112.5 billion.

“We have many tools available to balance this budget, which will require us to re-establish our priorities, stretch every dollar and find more efficient ways to deliver services,” Nelson said in a statement.

Among the priorities she set:

• Maintaining the education funding increases and teacher pay raises established in 2019, including $3.1 billion to fund enrollment growth for public education and $1 billion in additional state aid related to property tax compression in the 2022-23 biennium.

• $5 billion for payroll growth and continued reforms to the Teacher Retirement System passed last session.

• $8.1 billion to fund higher education institution formulas.

• Combined projected funding of $8 billion for mental health across 24 state agencies, including an increase of $19.5 million to maintain operations for the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium; more than $1 million in new funding to create a peer-to-peer counseling network and increase access to licensed mental health providers for Texas Law Enforcement Officers; and $145 million to continue community mental health grant programs.

• $352.6 million for women’s health programs, including the continuation of the Healthy Texas Women program’s enhanced postpartum care services implemented by the Legislature last session.

• $57.6 million to continue fighting human trafficking through prevention, detection, victim services and the justice system.

• $1.3 million to perform necessary maintenance on the Texas Election Administration Management System, which manages voter registration in Texas.

• $39.1 million in new appropriations to fortify security at the Texas Capitol, including additional troopers and enhanced safety measures.

• $30.4 billion to the Texas Department of Transportation to address the state’s transportation needs, including $26.4 billion dedicated for highway planning, design, construction and maintenance.

Phelan’s statement indicated the same support for public education and also included an appropriation of $74.2 billion for the Texas Medicaid program, including $27.4 billion in general revenue.The House version includes an additional $920 million to address projected caseload growth.

“The decisions we make during the 87th legislative session will have lasting effects on the future of our state, which is why the House will work to improve our business climate, foster economic prosperity, and do what’s right for our students,” Phelan said.