Taxes

Is a Proposed Ban on a State Income Tax Really a Stealth Move to Undermine the State’s Business Tax?

The Legislature’s own budget advisors have warned that a constitutional amendment prohibiting an income tax could cost the state billions in lost revenue from the business tax.

By R.G. Ratcliffe

The Governor Wants to Replace Property Taxes With ‘Consumption’ Taxes. That’s a Terrible Idea.

Many Texans think their property taxes are too high. But the highly regressive sales tax would put even more of a burden on those who can least afford it.

By Christopher Hooks

State Agencies Ordered to Cut Supplemental Budgets Next Year by 10 Percent Even as Billion Dollar Windfall Looms

A U.S. Supreme Court decision that could mean more revenue comes as officials order spending cuts.

By Austin Corona

University Presidents Say Tax Reform Policy Will Hurt Texas Higher Education

Guest Column: University of Texas, Trinity University presidents believe the Congressional tax reform bill will limit endowments, student aid.

By Gregory L. Fenves and Danny J. Anderson

Abbott on the Knife Edge of Success/Failure

Greg Abbott is on the edge of whether his first legislative session as governor will end in success or failure.

By R.G. Ratcliffe

The Lopsided Fight Over Tax Cuts

The House’s proposal is better than the Senate’s, for at least half a dozen reasons

By Erica Grieder

Margin of Error

The sad and baffling tale of the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad business tax.

By Loren Steffy

At-Risk Ideas

Texas should take a look at the franchise tax

By Erica Grieder

Scott McCown: The Exit Interview

Reflecting on his ten years as the executive director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities, a center-left think tank based in Austin, Scott McCown makes the case for why some Texans should be paying higher taxes and explains why Governor Perry’s Texas doesn’t work for everyone.

By Nate Blakeslee

The State of Taxes

Texas won’t get its financial house in order until lawmakers have a thoughtful conversation about the T-word. Don’t hold your breath.

By Paul Burka

So Governor Brown Called Governor Perry’s Pitch to Californian Businesses “Barely A Fart”

How likely are Californian businesses to move to Texas?

By Texas Monthly and Madelyn Herzog

Rick Perry to Californians: Come Check Out Texas

Perry's thirty-second radio ad aimed at wooing businesspeople will run in six Californian cities.

By Texas Monthly and Madelyn Herzog

Teachers, Protect Yourselves

State legislators propose a bill that would allow communities to raise taxes in order to fund the school security measures they prefer.

By Texas Monthly and Ross Dubois

One Texas Lawmaker Wants Electric Vehicle Owners to Pay

Representative Drew Darby wants fuel-efficient vehicles, which naturally incur lower gas taxes, to be charged increased registration fees.

By Texas Monthly and Madelyn Herzog

Dollars and Sense

When the Legislature meets in January, lawmakers know they won’t be able to cut their way to a balanced budget. Instead, they should do what a certain Republican governor did more than twenty years ago: raise taxes.

By F. Scott McCown

Taxes for UT?

The university says that it cannot build and operate its proposed new medical school without a permanent source of funding. It is seeking an increase in local property taxes (amounting to $107.40 per homeowner for the average home), the revenue from which would help fund the medical school. Austin historically

By Paul Burka

Politics • Bill Archer

Taxes are his target.

By Paul Burka

Scattered Applause

Everyone at the Capitol that morning in late January knew George W. Bush was at a high plateau, and they were there expecting to witness history being made. Popular and successful after two years as governor, openly discussed already as a potential candidate for national office, he was, on this

By Gregory Curtis

Fee, Fie

By Paul Burka and Jan Jarboe Russell

Slow Learners Paul Burka

By Paul Burka

Straight Arrow

The new Ways and Means chairman, Bill Archer, takes aim at the federal budget.

By Paul Burka

Poor Willie

When the IRS seized all that Willie Nelson had, it was a case of the man who can’t say no meeting the men who won’t take no for an answer.

By Robert Draper

A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned

Did you know there’s more difference between Fudgsicles and Popsicles than the taste? The taxman does.

By Griffin Smith Jr.