Tag Archives: Comptroller

How low can sales tax collections go?

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

If we’re lucky, no lower than this. Texas collected about $2.6 billion in state sales tax revenue in May, leading to the steepest year-over-year decline in over a decade, Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced Monday. The amount is 13.2% less than … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged budget, Comptroller, coronavirus, economy, Glenn Hegar, quarantine, sales taxes, Texas | 1 Comment

Down go the sales tax receipts

Posted on May 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s bad. Expected, but bad. Texas collected $2.58 billion in state sales tax revenue in April — a roughly 9% drop from what the state collected the same month last year, Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced Friday. That drop, from $2.8 … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged budget, Comptroller, coronavirus, economy, Glenn Hegar, quarantine, sales taxes, Texas | Comments Off

Coronavirus and the state budget

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Ain’t gonna be great. How bad, we don’t yet know. Comptroller Glenn Hegar briefed Texas House members on the state’s economy and budget Sunday night, saying that while it was too soon for specific forecasts, both are expected to take … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged budget, Comptroller, coronavirus, deficit, Dennis Bonnen, Glenn Hegar, Greg Abbott, Houston, rainy day fund, revenue cap, sales taxes, special session, Texas, The Lege | 2 Comments

Worrying about the restaurants

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Alison Cook laments the potential fate for her favorite part of Houston. Depending on local or state strictures, to help stem the spread of Covid-19 restaurants in most major markets would be able to provide takeout, drive-thru or delivery rations … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged Comptroller, coronavirus, Glenn Hegar, Greg Abbott, Houston, rainy day fund, restaurants, sales taxes, Texas | 1 Comment

We’re not going to get an independent redistricting commission

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Nice to think about, but the set of circumstances that might lead to it are exceedingly narrow. Most of the seven states that have independent commissions adopted them by a citizens’ initiative. Since Texas doesn’t have that option, the only … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020, That's our Lege | Tagged Attorney General, Comptroller, Congress, Election 2002, Election 2020, Election 2022, Governor, Land Commissioner, Legislative Redistricting Board, Lite Gov, redistricting, SBOE, SCOTUS, Senate, Texas, The Lege, Tom DeLay | 1 Comment

Texas versus AirBnB update

Posted on April 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From last week: The Texas Comptroller’s office said Tuesday it’s reviewing the inclusion of Airbnb on a list of companies that boycott Israel and are banned from doing business with the state after the company announced a change to its … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged AirBnB, boycott, Comptroller, Employees Retirement System of Texas, Glenn Hegar, Israel, Permanent School Fund, Teachers Retirement System of Texas, Texas, Texas County and District Retirement System, Texas Municipal Retirement System, The Lege | 1 Comment

House approves budget, and other news

Posted on March 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Always a major milestone. In Dennis Bonnen’s first major test as speaker of the Texas House, the chamber he oversees resoundingly passed a $251 billion budget Wednesday after a long but largely civil debate — a departure from the dramatics … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo, That's our Lege | Tagged appraisal caps, budget, Comptroller, Dennis Bonnen, Drew Springer, Dustin Burrows, Election 2018, feral hogs, Hurricane Harvey, John Zerwas, Jonathan Stickland, Lite Gov, Medicaid, Mike Collier, property taxes, revenue cap, school finance, school finance reform, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Texas versus AirBnB

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This is one to watch. Texas is adding short-term-rental site Airbnb to a list of companies that cannot receive state investments because it disallows Israeli-owned rentals in the disputed West Bank. Airbnb is the only American-based company on Texas’ anti-Israel … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, That's our Lege | Tagged AirBnB, boycott, Comptroller, Glenn Hegar, Israel, John Hagee, lawsuit, Pflugerville, Phil King, Texas, The Lege | 1 Comment

Our pretty decent revenue estimate

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve seen much worse. At a time when legislators are vowing to spend more money on public schools and slow the growth of Texans’ property tax bills, the state should have enough money at its disposal to do just that. … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged budget, Comptroller, economy, Glenn Hegar, Greg Abbott, Hurricane Harvey, property taxes, rainy day fund, school finance reform, schools, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Precinct analysis: The two types of statewide candidates

Posted on December 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

When we look at the precinct data in Harris County, we can separate the statewide candidates into two groups. Here’s the first group: Dist Abbott Valdez Tipp Abbott% Valdez% Trump% Clinton% =============================================================== CD02 146,399 112,272 4,345 55.66% 43.40% 52.38% 43.05% … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Ag Commissioner, Attorney General, CD07, Christi Craddick, Comptroller, Dan Patrick, Donald Trump, Election 2016, Election 2018, George P. Bush, Glenn Hegar, Governor, Greg Abbott, Harris County, HD132, HD134, HD135, HD138, Justin Nelson, Ken Paxton, Land Commissioner, Lite Gov, Mike Collier, precinct analysis, Railroad Commission, SBOE, Texas | 3 Comments

New frontiers in strip club tax collections

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

A new-ish development in a decade-long battle. Dozens of “bikini bars” from Houston to San Antonio are suing the state after the Texas Comptroller accused them of skirting the so-called pole tax on nude entertainment and slapped them with seven-figure … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Comptroller, Glenn Hegar, lawsuit, strip clubs, Texas, Texas Entertainment Association, The Lege | 1 Comment

SCOTUS and sales taxes

Posted on June 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This ruling will be good for Texas. Texas stands to gain hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue after the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that states may force online retailers to collect sales tax even when they … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Comptroller, Dale Craymer, lawsuit, sales taxes, SCOTUS, Texas, The Lege | 4 Comments

From the “Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash” files

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Same song, second verse. If budget writers don’t come up with money to address a state employee pension shortfall and mounting needs for public schools, health care and transportation, credit agencies are likely to downgrade Texas’ AAA rating in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged budget, Comptroller, economy, Glenn Hegar, Hurricane Harvey, Medicaid, pension fund, rainy day fund, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

2018 primary results: Statewide

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Statewide Dem totals Statewide GOP totals Harris County Dem totals Harris County GOP totals (Please note that all results were coming in very slowly. I expect there will still be some precincts not yet reported by the time this publishes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Ag Commissioner, Andrew White, Christi Craddick, Comptroller, Dan Patrick, Democratic primary, early voting, Election 2014, Election 2018, George P. Bush, Governor, Greg Abbott, Joi Chevalier, Land Commissioner, Lite Gov, Lupe Valdez, Miguel Suazo, Mike Collier, primaries, Railroad Commission, Republican Party, Roman McAllen, runoff, Senate, Sid Miller, Texas, Tim Mahoney, turnout | 5 Comments

Endorsement watch: A veritable plethora, part 3

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Part 1 is here, part 2 is here, the full endorsements page is here, and today we have the rest of the statewides, which I appreciate since these are the races I wanted more input on. US Senate: Beto O’Rourke … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, Chris Spellmon, Comptroller, Democratic primary, Election 2018, endorsements, Joi Chevalier, Land Commissioner, Miguel Suazo, Railroad Commission, Roman McAllen, Senate, Tex Morgan, Texas | 2 Comments

From the “Nothin’ but good times ahead” department

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Given the good economic conditions in Texas right now, you’d think the budget outlook would be better than it is. The Texas economy is growing healthily, but that doesn’t mean state budget writers will have more money at their disposal … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged budget, Comptroller, Constitution, economy, Glenn Hegar, Greg Abbott, Hurricane Harvey, Medicaid, rainy day fund, sales taxes, Texas, The Lege, TxDOT | 1 Comment

The statewide lineups

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the statewide lineup for Democrats. I’ll add in some notes afterwards. U. S. Senator Beto O’Rourke U. S. Senator Edward Kimbrough U. S. Senator Sema Hernandez Governor Adrian Ocegueda Governor Andrew White Governor Cedric Davis, Sr. Governor Demetria Smith … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Ag Commissioner, Attorney General, Chris Spellmon, Comptroller, Demetria Smith, Democratic primary, Edward Kimbrough, Election 2018, George P. Bush, Governor, James Jolly Clark, Jefferson County, Joi Chevalier, Ken Paxton, Land Commissioner, Lite Gov, Nick Lampson, primaries, Railroad Commission, Sema Hernandez, Senate, Tex Morgan, Texas | 3 Comments

Filing news: Jerry’s back

Posted on December 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Former Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson would like his office back, please. Patterson, who was first elected as the state’s land commissioner in 2003, wants to head the agency that manages state-owned lands and the Alamo. He gave up the job to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Alexander Karjeker, Beto O'Rourke, CD04, CD21, Comptroller, Congress, Damian LaCroix, Dan Patrick, David Romero, Democratic primary, Edward Kimbrough, Election 2018, filing deadline, George P. Bush, Harold Dutton, Harris County, HD129, HD142, Jerry Patterson, John Whitmire, Land Commissioner, Lite Gov, Mary Miller, Miguel Suazo, Paul Bettencourt, primaries, Richard Bonton, Scott Milder, SD07, SD15, Sema Hernandez, Senate, Texas, Tim Mahoney | 2 Comments

Filing news: Lupe Valdez is in for Governor

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here she comes. Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez announced Wednesday morning that she is running for governor, giving Texas Democrats a serious candidate for the top job with five days until the candidate filing deadline for the 2018 primaries. “Like … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Adam Milasincic, Allison Sawyer, Andrew White, Armando Walle, Brett Shipp, CD21, CD32, Chip Roy, Comptroller, Congress, Daniel Espinoza, Democratic primary, Election 2018, Elvonte Patton, Garnet Coleman, Governor, Greg Abbott, HCDE, HD126, HD133, HD134, HD138, HD139, HD140, HD146, HD147, Jarvis Johnson, Jeffrey Payne, Jenifer Pool, Josh Wallenstein, judicial races, Land Commissioner, Lupe Valdez, Martin Schexnayder, Matthew Mendez, Natali Hurtado, Randy Bates, Roy Owen, Sandra Moore, Shawn Thierry, Texas, Tom Wakely, Undrai Fizer | Comments Off

Who will run statewide for the Dems?

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

For several statewide offices, it is unclear at this time who might run. Lillie Schechter, the new chairwoman of the Harris County Democratic Party, has watched in recent months as at least seven candidates have come through the doors of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Ag Commissioner, Allen Vaught, Attorney General, Beto O'Rourke, CD02, CD07, CD21, CD31, CD32, Comptroller, Congress, Election 2012, Election 2014, Election 2016, fundraising, Governor, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, Kim Olson, Lite Gov, Mike Collier, Senate, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Who loves budget gimmicks?

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Senate Budget Committee, that’s who. Texas Senate budget writers on Wednesday unanimously approved their two-year budget, which avoided some steep cuts by using an accounting trick to free up $2.5 billion state dollars that were originally slated to go … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged budget, Comptroller, Glenn Hegar, Jane Nelson, Joe Straus, rainy day fund, Senate, Texas, The Lege, TxDOT | Comments Off

Mike Collier will run for Lt Gov

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is getting a Democratic challenger for re-election in 2018. The Texas Democratic Party said Thursday that Mike Collier is stepping down as finance chairman to start a campaign for lieutenant governor. “Dan Patrick has proven … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged Comptroller, Dan Patrick, Election 2014, Election 2018, Lite Gov, Mike Collier, Texas | 2 Comments

Here’s your 2018-19 revenue estimate

Posted on January 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It’s pretty mediocre. Facing sluggish economic forecasts amid low oil prices along with billions in tax revenue already dedicated to the state highway fund, Comptroller Glenn Hegarannounced Monday that lawmakers will have $104.87 billion in state funds at their disposal … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged budget, Comptroller, deficit, economy, Election 2014, Glenn Hegar, Mike Collier, property taxes, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Texas finds a new way to be hostile to women’s health

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I feel like it must be someone’s job somewhere to come up with stuff like this. A group led by an anti-abortion advocate appears to be one of the largest recipients of state funding from the “Healthy Texas Women” program, … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged abortion, Carol Everett, Comptroller, Healthy Texas Women, Heidi Group, HHSC, Planned Parenthood, Texas, Texas Department of State Health Services | 3 Comments

Our tax system isn’t quite as stupid as it could be

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good news! A Texas Supreme Court ruling has spared the state from having to issue billions of dollars in tax refunds to oil and gas drillers — a prospect that had had threatened to shake up the next legislative session. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged budget, Comptroller, Glenn Hegar, lawsuit, sales taxes, Southwest Royalties, Supreme Court, Texas | 2 Comments

Abbott orders state agencies to obey the law

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Better late than never. Gov. Greg Abbott and Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Wednesday ordered state agencies to stop paying departing employees by placing them on “emergency leave.” “Pursuant to this directive, the use of emergency leave, administrative leave or other … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged Ag Commissioner, Attorney General, Comptroller, ethics, George P. Bush, Glenn Hegar, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, Land Commissioner, Sid Miller, Teacher Retirement System of Texas, Texas, Texas Rangers, Texas State Auditor, Texas Water Development Board | 2 Comments

More on severance pay and the Land Commissioner’s office

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The law doesn’t apply here. After reports of state agencies keeping former employees on the payroll after they stopped working, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other agency heads have taken heat for stretching the rules on paid “emergency leave” … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged Comptroller, Election 2014, ethics, George P. Bush, Jerry Patterson, Land Commissioner, Texas, The Lege | 3 Comments

Lawsuits and low oil prices

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Both are threatening the next Texas budget. Last week, lawyers for the state of Texas got the latest in a string of bad legal news. A lawsuit challenging the state’s foster care system as inhumane appeared to gain steam when … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged budget, Comptroller, Dale Craymer, deficit, economy, franchise tax, Glenn Hegar, lawsuit, rainy day fund, sales taxes, school finance, school finance reform, schools, Supreme Court, Texas | 1 Comment

The Supreme Court hears that case about how stupid our tax system is

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a lot of money riding on the outcome. With billions of dollars at stake, the Texas Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a tax showdown whose outcome could shake up the next legislative session while straining the historically friendly … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged budget, Comptroller, Glenn Hegar, lawsuit, sales taxes, Southwest Royalties, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Supreme Court to decide just how stupid our tax system is

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, goody. The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear arguments in a case that could deliver a multi-billion windfall to struggling oil and gas producers by taking a major bite out of state tax revenue. The issue before the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo, Legal matters | Tagged budget, Comptroller, Glenn Hegar, lawsuit, sales taxes, Southwest Royalties, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

We have a messed up tax system in this state, part deux

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sooner or later, it’s going to collapse under its own weight. The state’s highest civil court last week agreed to hear a case hinging on whether metal pipes, tubing and other equipment used in oil and gas production should be … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged budget, Comptroller, Glenn Hegar, sales taxes, Southwest Royalties, Supreme Court, Susan Combs, Texas | Comments Off

AG’s office upholds Abbott’s line item vetos

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Of course it does. Gov. Greg Abbott was well within his powers when he vetoed more than $200 million in funds approved by the Texas Legislature this year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office wrote in an opinion issued Monday. … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged Attorney General, budget, Comptroller, Dan Patrick, Glenn Hegar, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Legislative Budget Board, line item veto, San Antonio, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege, Trey Martinez-Fischer, veto | Comments Off

We have a messed up tax system in this state

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The latest exhibit: The volatile oil and gas industry already has prompted Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar to reduce his state revenue estimate, but that may not be the last of the bad budget news. A court decision potentially could cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo, Legal matters | Tagged budget, Comptroller, Dale Craymer, franchise tax, Glenn Hegar, lawsuit, sales taxes, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege, Third Court of Appeals | Comments Off

The economy takes its toll on state revenue

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Nothin’ but good times ahead, though, right? Transportation funding could take a hit under new revenue projections by State Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who on Tuesday lowered his forecast of state tax collections by $4.6 billion in the face of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged budget, Comptroller, economy, Glenn Hegar, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

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