While an economic and fiscal reversal depends on many unknowns, including the severity of the epidemic and the speed and magnitude of federal assistance to states, municipalities, corporations, and individuals, it is clear that states that used the nearly 11-year-long recovery to build rainy day funds and other cash reserves may withstand the fiscal impact…

With oil prices plummeting to their lowest level in decades, Texas’ economy and budget stand the most to gain and lose as the nation’s top oil-producing state.

“The consequences for Texas of the drop in prices over the weekend will depend on two questions: 1) how low, and 2) how long,” Dale Craymer, president of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, wrote in an email. “Of course, we can’t look at the impact of a drop in oil prices on Texas in…

Texas cities are at odds over a proposal from the state comptroller to curtail deals that give companies including Dell Technologies Inc. and Best Buy Co. Inc., substantial chunks of their local sales tax collections as incentives to locate or stay there.

Between the school finance bill that cut property tax rates and the property tax reform bill which limited future growth of them, 2020 is the first year the Legislature’s plan for tax relief kicks in. Last year, lawmakers estimated the former bill would lower school district property tax rates by an average of 8 cents per $100 valuation in…