“We have substantial costs associated with Hurricane Harvey that the state needs to address,” Dale Craymer at theTexas Taxpayers and Research Association . “But I think also the state has a number of problems such as our pension systems.”

More than in any legislative session since the Great Recession, Texas lawmakers are signaling a willingness this year to dip into the state’s massive savings account. As the Legislature debates costly investments in property tax reduction and public schools, and with big bills coming due for retired teachers’ pensions and Hurricane Harvey recovery, Texas’ Economic…

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey and devastating flooding in Central Texas last year, a key Republican lawmaker has proposed tapping the state rainy day fund for $1.2 billion to pay for flood-control projects.

Texas lawmakers have been calling this legislative session the session of public education. And now they’re backing up that talk with money. This week budget documents were filed showing just how much lawmakers want to put into public education.

AUSTIN, Texas — The good news Texas lawmakers will head back to work with on Tuesday is there’s more money to spend. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar offered his estimate Monday, giving lawmakers nearly $9 billion more for the next budget.