What Will Texas Lawmakers Do With The $20 Billion Surplus Next Session?

With the start of the next Texas legislative session now less than a month, Texas is once again going to have a sizable budget surplus. But it won't be as much as the one lawmakers had last session.

"They're looking at potentially a $20 billion dollar surplus, where as two years ago I told them it was a 'once in a lifetime', and it was actually over $30 billion dollars" said state Comptroller, Glenn Hegar.
It's roughly $12 billion less than last session, but still enough to do some good for Texas taxpayers.

"So while it is a smaller number, the fact is $20 billion is a significant number" Hegar told KTRH, "It shows the health of the state economy continues to grow."

Some critics also believe that it shows Texans are taxed too much.

One thing that is the same this time around, is how to spend it, with property tax relief and education topping the wish list.

"The legislature has opportunities to deal with continued investments in the state of Texas, whether it's tax cuts, so they have different options" noted Hegar, "Options are a good thing, and it just reminds me to continue to tell people, we are blessed to be in Texas."

The 89th Texas legislative session is set to start on January 14th, in Austin.

Photo: Pgiam / iStock / Getty Images


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