House panel advances new Texas budget with property tax cuts, teacher pay raises (Texas Tribune)

House panel advances new Texas budget with property tax cuts, teacher pay raises – By Karen Brooks Harper (Texas Tribune) / Mar 23 2023

The proposal recommends spending billions on programs including property tax cuts, teacher pay raises, mental health services and border security. It leaves out requests for pay raises for retired state employees and funding for rent relief and childcare programs.

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A key Texas House panel on Thursday gave final approval to a two-year $302.6 billion spending plan that includes property tax cuts, border security initiatives and the first pay raises for state employees and teachers in more than a decade.

The House Appropriations Committee’s signoff with a 23-3 party-line vote on the 2024-25 plan, which spends $136.9 billion in general revenue, sends it to the full House. The committee’s budget plan also recommends an additional $5 billion for public schools, more funding for higher education, $3 billion to boost mental health services and another $3.5 billion for cost-of-living adjustments for retired teachers — their first in nearly 20 years.

“You should be very proud of the work that you guys have done, committee chair Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, told committee members. “You’ve worked extremely hard for many hours and made some very difficult decisions, and I’m very proud of what you have delivered.”

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