December 2020

• Texas Holiday Traditions Help Brighten Spirits (and Wallets)

November 2020

• November 2020 Issue (PDF)
• Chapter 313: Trading Tax Limitations for Development

October 2020

• October 2020 Issue (PDF)
• Uninsured Texans
• “Local Funds”: State Money Outside the Treasury
• RV Sales and Rentals Gain Ground During Pandemic

September 2020

• September 2020 Issue (PDF)
• Revised Certification Revenue Estimate
• Texas Unemployment Still High

August 2020

• August 2020 Issue (PDF)
• Texas’ Electricity Resources
• ERCOT’s Role: Keeping the Lights on in Texas
• Amarillo’s Minor League Club Hoping Collegians Can Salvage Season

June-July 2020

• June-July 2020 Issue (PDF)
• Texas’ International Trade
• The Economic Impact of Texas Community Colleges
• Texas Community Colleges Prepare for COVID-19 Challenge
• Bexar County Foster Youths Pursue College Success
• Despite Pandemic, Texans Get the Job Done

May 2020

• Texas Telemedicine’s COVID-19 Response Reveals Health Care’s Future
• May 2020 Issue (PDF)
• Pandemic Drives Record Unemployment
• Recessions and Revenues

April 2020

• April 2020 Issue (PDF)
• Helping Foster Youths in Higher Education
• Bringing Space Down to Earth
• Texas ABLE^® Turns Two

March 2020

• March 2020 Issue (PDF)
• Student Loan Debt in Texas
• Young Texans: Part 2

February 2020

• February 2020 Issue (PDF)
• New Funding for Early Education
• Young Texans: Demographic Overview

December 2019 - January 2020

• December 2019 - January 2020 Issue (PDF)
• The 2020 Census: Why It’s Important
• Redistricting 101
• New Texas Tech Banking Program Prepares Students for Modern Finance Careers
• Austin’s Digital Inclusion Program

November 2019

• November 2019 Issue (PDF)
• Occupational Licensing in Texas
• Open Government Data
• The Texas Economy: Holiday Edition

October 2019

• October 2019 Issue (PDF)
• Texas’ Digital Divide
• Texas Driver’s Licenses
• Cedar Park Company Aims High with NASA Contract

September 2019

• September 2019 Issue (PDF)
• Post-Harvey Auto Sales Back on Track
• Fiscal Highlights from the 86th Legislature
• Taxing Out-of-State Sellers

August 2019

• August 2019 Issue (PDF)
• Texas and the 1115 Medicaid Waiver
• Texas State Jails
• Reinventing Probation in Harris County

July 2019

• July 2019 Issue (PDF)
• Motor Fuels Taxes in a Changing Texas Transportation Scene
• Equity Crowdfunding in Texas
• Kicking Back Kicks in for Rural Counties
• The Economics of Texas BBQ
• The Texas Sales Tax Holiday Turns 20

June 2019

• UNT Dallas College of Law Makes its Move: Unique Texas law school settles into historic Dallas Municipal Court Building

May 2019

• May 2019 Issue (PDF)
• Emergency Management in Texas: How the State Prepares for the Worst
• “Future-Proofing” Texas Against Natural Disaster: The State Plans for the Next Storm

April 2019

• April 2019 Issue (PDF)
• A Texas Two-fer: The North Texas Integrated Pipeline Project
• Texas Water: Planning for More
• Funding Water Infrastructure: How Texas Pays for Water

March 2019

• March 2019 Issue (PDF)
• Texas Cybersecurity: Protecting Data Systems
• Cyberdefense for Texas State Government

February 2019

• February 2019 Issue (PDF)
• Texas' Public Pensions: Growing liabilities could affect state finances
• Business Incubators: Getting Texas businesses ready for success
• Texas Cyber NSA-accredited Schools

Special Edition - January 2019

• Texas School Finance: Doing the Math on the State’s Biggest Expenditure (PDF)
• Message from the Comptroller
• Executive Summary
• A Note on Methodology
• Introduction
• I. Litigation that Shaped Public Education
• II. The Foundation School Program
• III. Texas Public Education Funding Sources
• IV. Cost Drivers and State/Local Shares
• V. Conclusion: A Collision Course?
• Appendix I: A Legislative History of Texas School Finance
• Appendix II: State and Local Revenue Shares – Three Approaches
• Endnotes

Special Edition - November 2018

• Budget Drivers: The Forces Driving State Spending (PDF)
• Introduction
• Message From the Comptroller
• Spending by Article
• Health Care
• Education
• Transportation
• Balancing the Budget

Special Edition - September/October 2018

• Long-Term Obligations and the Texas Legacy Fund (PDF)
• Introduction
• Message From the Comptroller
• Pension Funding
• TRS Health Care
• Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan
• Texas Legacy Fund
• Endnotes

• CEOs Bring Their Companies to the Lone Star State and Earn a Texas-Sized Welcome

August 2018

• August 2018 Issue (PDF)
• First Things First: Program Offers Students a Debt-free First Year
• Paying for Texas Convention Centers: If You Build It, Will They Come?
• Sales Tax Holidays: Tax Relief for Important Purposes

June/July 2018

• June/July 2018 Issue (PDF)
• Engineering Entrepreneurs in College Station
• Women in the Texas Workforce
• State Contracting: Spending — and Watching — Taxpayer Dollars
• Tarleton State University Researchers Apply Science to Protect Texas Environment
• Apprenticeships: Learning on the Job

May 2018

• May 2018 Issue (PDF)
• Transportation Infrastructure: Keeping Texas Moving
• State Employees: Turnover Rises in Hot Economy

April 2018

• April 2018 Issue (PDF)
• Solar Power in Texas
• Bitcoin and Beyond
• Help Wanted: The Future of Texas Manufacturing

March 2018

• March 2018 Issue (PDF)
• Texas Housing Prices on the Rise
• Texas Manufacturing
• Shades of the Future

February 2018 — Special Edition

• A Storm to Remember: Hurricane Harvey and the Texas Economy (PDF)
• A Message from the Comptroller
• Introduction
• Economic Impacts
• Future Mitigation Opportunities
• Appendix 1 — Major Hurricanes in Texas and the U.S.: A Historical Perspective
• Appendix 2 — Detailed Methodology of Net Economic Impact Analysis
• Endnotes

December 2017/January 2018

• December 2017 - January 2018 Issue (PDF)
• North Texas Eases Silicon Valley’s Housing Squeeze
• Texas Tops the List of Renter Majority Cities
• State Agencies and “Legacy” Systems
• Meet CAPPS: Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System for Texas

November 2017

• November Issue (PDF)
• Women Entrepreneurs in Texas
• A Moniker That Means Business
• Trade Ruling Casts Shadow over Solar Energy
• Telemedicine in Practice: Austin Doctor Sees Benefit in Virtual Caregiving
• Federal Funding in Texas: A Vital Part of the State Budget
• Health IT in Texas The Doctor is … Online

October 2017

• October Issue (PDF)
• Texas Toasts: A Roundup of Bright Economic News in Texas
• HUB Success Stories: Latina Businesswomen Make Their Mark
• Gone To Texas: Migration
• Texas Biotech — Bigger and Better
• Four Small Texas Cities Rated Among the Nation’s Most Family-Friendly

September 2017

• September Issue (PDF)
• 2017 Legislative Wrap-Up
• The Texas Bullion Depository
• Texas Jobs Picture Remains Bright

August 2017

• August Issue (PDF)
• "Local Funds" and State Finances
• The Treasury Operations Division
• Global Grain Markets Down, But Not Out

June/July 2017

• June/July Issue (PDF)
• Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits
• Getting Paid – Claiming Unpaid Life Insurance Benefits in Texas
• Economic Growth and Endangered Species Management
• CID: The Long Arm of Texas Tax Law
• The Texas Sunset Review Process

May 2017

• May Issue (PDF)
• Service-Disabled Vets Boost State HUB Program
• Women-Owned Businesses in Texas: Striving and Thriving in Today's Economy
• The Audit Division: Ensuring Fair Taxation in Texas

April 2017

• April Issue (PDF)
• Texas Toasts: A Roundup of Bright Economic News in Texas
• Will an Expanded Panama Canal Increase Texas Trade? More Shipping May Favor Texas Ports
• The Criminal Investigation Division: Comptroller Cops Go After Tax Fraud

March 2017 — Special Edition

• Special Edition (PDF)
• Introduction
• Comptroller Message
• Employee Pensions
• TRS-Care
• Guaranteed Tuition Plan
• State Facilities
• Credit Rating
• Investing

March 2017

• March Issue (PDF)
• NRG’s Petra Nova Plant Captures Carbon, Boosts Bottom Line
• Counting the Cost of Texas Health Care: Comptroller Report Examines Vital State Spending
• Will the U.S. Open Up Trade with Cuba? Warmer Relations Could Boost Texas Imports
• On Point with Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella

February 2017

• February Issue (PDF)
• “Dark Store Theory” and Property Taxation: Legal Interpretation Could Cost States Millions
• Texas Ports: Gateways to World Commerce: Comptroller Study Highlights Economic Impacts
• Entrepreneurs at Work: Sharing Dreams and Space

January 2017

• December 2016/January 2017 Issue (PDF)
• Certificates of Obligation: A Flexible Funding Tool for Local Projects
• The Fiscal Noting Process: Doing the Math on New Legislation
• On Point with Dr. Diana Natalicio, President of The University of Texas at El Paso

December 2016

• On Point with Bob Harvey, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership

November 2016

• November 2016 Issue (PDF)
• Tax Volatility: The Ups and Downs of State Revenue
• Tax Incentives and GASB 77: New Transparency for Tax Breaks
• Jobs in the Apple Cart
• A Rainy Day That Never Came
• Brookings Shines Spotlight on the "Knowledge Capitals" in Texas

October 2016

• October 2016 Issue (PDF)
• So what does the Comptroller do anyway? The Many Roles of the Texas Comptroller’s Office
• Millennials - The New Normal: Largest generation accounts for a third of Texas workers
• HUB Means Business
• How Technology Will Shape the Workplaces and Careers of the Future
• Working for the State? Why are These Young Workers Excited?

September 2016

• September 2016 Issue (PDF)
• The Texas Economic Stabilization Fund: Saving for Rainy Days
• Military Installations Worth Billions for Texas: Comptroller Study Weighs Economic Impacts

August 2016

• August 2016 Issue (PDF)
• The Hazlewood Act — College for Veterans: Unique Program With a Spiraling Price Tag
• Texas Local Sales Taxes, Part II: Filing, Reporting, Allocations and More

June-July 2016

• June-July 2016 Issue (PDF)
• The Hotel Occupancy Tax: A Short History of a Complex Levy
• Texas Road Finance Part II: Economic Impacts

May 2016

• May 2016 Issue (PDF)
• Texas Road Finance Part I: Paying for Highways and Byways
• Texas Local Sales Taxes Part I: Vital Services for Two Pennies More

April 2016

• April 2016 (PDF)
• Chapter 313: Attracting Jobs and Investment
• Unemployment and Labor Force Participation: Examining Employment from Different Angles

March 2016

• March 2016 Issue (PDF)
• Capital Appreciation Bonds: Another Finance Option for Schools
• Industry Specialization in Texas: A Different Way to Examine the State Economy

February 2016

• February 2016 Issue (PDF)
• Starting a New Business: How Texas Compares
• Texas’ Motor Fuels Taxes: Essential Levies Support Roads, Education

January 2016

• January 2016 Issue (PDF)
• Entrepreneurship on the Decline: Slip in New Business Creation Poses Risks
• Keeping Up with the Jones Act: Has a Protectionist Law Outlived its Usefulness?

November 2015

• November 2015 Issue (PDF)
• How Texas Taxes “Sin”: Levies Play Dual Role
• “Setting Aside” Money for College: How Texas Funds Student Aid
• Microfinance Makes Big Impact: Small Loans Help Business Grow

October 2015

• October 2015 Issue (PDF)
• The (Long, Long) History of the Texas Property Tax: A Controversial Levy
• Advanced Industries Drive Job Growth: Higher Wages Lift Other Employment Sectors
• Recycling Fracking Water: Drillers Reuse, Repeat

September 2015

• September 2015 Issue (PDF)
• 2015 Legislative Wrap-Up: Financial Highlights from a Busy Session
• Texas and the Credit Rating Agencies: Determining the Cost of State Borrowing

August 2015

• August 2015 Issue (PDF)
• Taxing Internet Sales: Online Commerce and Government Revenue
• U.K. Leads Foreign Investment in Texas: Selling Texas By the Pound
• Comptroller News: State Will Not Issue Debt for Cash-Flow Management in 2016

June-July 2015

• June-July 2015 Issue (PDF)
• Franchise Tax Lawsuit Could Cost Texas $1.5 Billion a Year: Legal Case Turns on Fundamental Definitions
• Texas Automotive Manufacturing Growing, Going Fast: Transportation Industry is Driven to Succeed
• Mexico’s Energy Deregulation Could Benefit Texas: ‘Denationalization’ to Boost Business

May 2015

• May 2015 Issue (PDF)
• The History of the Texas Franchise Tax: The Complex Evolution of Our Main Business Tax
• Lotto Money for Texas: An interview with the Texas Lottery director