The Texas Public Policy Foundation released its threshold for the 2022-23 Conservative Texas Budget, which is the organization's recommended limits to the state budget in order to keep it from outpacing the ability of Texans to pay for it.
The Conservative Texas Budget appropriations limit is $246.1 billion, which includes a 5% increase above the 2020-21 appropriations.
“The Conservative Texas Budget is an effective maximum threshold for prioritizing the taxpayer in the state budget process as every dollar spent comes out of the pocket of Texans,” said TPPF’s Chief Economist Vance Ginn in a release. “Since this approach was implemented ahead of the 2015 legislative session, budgets have grown less than half the rate of the five prior state budgets. This trend should continue for the 2022-23 Texas budget, especially as many families are recovering from the recession due to COVID-19 and government lockdowns.”
The Texas Public Policy Foundation created this limit, which includes both state and federal funds, to give Texas residents more opportunities to thrive financially. The figure is the combination of population increases and inflation.
It allows the Texas Legislature to set appropriations with some flexibility, as long as the total budget does not exceed the TCB’s amount. For 2022-23, the $246.1 billion figure excludes figures for COVID-19 response in the current budget cycle, Hurricane Harvey relief and property tax relief in the previous budget cycle, according to the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
“With Texas businesses and families taking a significant financial hit as a result of the unprecedented pandemic, what matters most is ensuring they can make ends meet," Americans For Prosperity Texas Policy Director Samuel Sheetz in the release. "The last thing Texans want – or can afford – is to have more of their hard-earned paychecks taken away. For several budget cycles, Texas leaders have fought hard to limit government growth. Our activists thank them for their leadership and encourage that responsible trend to continue.”
The Texas Public Policy Foundation calculated the 2022-23 budget by adding together a population growth amount of 2.6%, and the consumer price index of 2.4%, to get a 5% total. Then they increased the 2020-21 budget by 5%, to come to the $246.1 billion threshold.
“Our communities across the state are first and foremost focused on providing for their families," LIBRE Initiative Coalitions Director Jorge Martinez said in the release. "To ensure that’s possible in these difficult times, we are taking a hard look at our own budgets and making the cuts necessary to survive. Likewise, the Texas Legislature should continue the hard work they’ve previously shown in adopting a fiscally responsible state budget. Our community members look forward to working with them in securing another win for taxpayers.”
