Democrats say Abbott has used his authority during COVID-19, the Uvalde shooting and border operations to free up emergency funds.
Rainy Day Fund
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Winter Storm 2021
Gov. Greg Abbott says power is almost fully restored statewide and grocery stores will soon be restocked
Abbott said power should be fully restored across the state Sunday night or Monday.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Coronavirus in Texas: San Antonio expands free testing to asymptomatic residents; state to test all nursing home residents
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates.
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2019 Texas Constitutional Amendment Election
With Proposition 8, Texas would set money aside for future flooding
If approved by voters next month, the constitutional amendment would set aside $800 million from the state’s rainy day fund for flood mitigation efforts.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Point of Order: Investing in the future of Texas
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith asks state Rep. John Zerwas, the chief budget writer in the Texas House, whether we have enough money to fund today’s priorities and tomorrow’s — and which hard choices we have to make.
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Graphics and data reporting
Texas’ savings account is poised to hit $15 billion. How much will lawmakers spend?
As lawmakers debate costly investments in property tax reduction and public schools, they’re eyeing the state savings account for a sizable withdrawal.
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Texas Legislature 2019
After Hurricane Harvey, Texas senator eyes using state’s savings for flood control
State Sen. Charles Perry, chairman of the Senate Committee on Water and Rural Affairs, has a package of bills that could create Texas’ first statewide flood plan. He says coastal Texans aren’t the only ones at risk of property loss.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Retirement and low pay caused Texas agencies to lose nearly 29,000 employees last year
Advocates for state workers are calling for increased pay after a State Auditor’s Office report released in December found that agency turnover was at 19.3 percent in the 2018 budget year. The top reasons employees said they left were retirement, better pay and benefits and poor working conditions.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Legislative report: Harvey recovery has cost $2.7 billion so far — most paid by feds
A report released Friday by the Texas Senate’s budget-writing committee laid out past and future costs related to recovery from “the most costly disaster ever to hit the Texas coast.”
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Texas Legislature 2019
With record $12.5 billion in Texas’ savings account, lawmakers set $7.5 billion minimum balance
The decision means Texas can invest more of its massive rainy day fund — and signals lawmakers’ confidence that the current balance is healthy.