How bad is the state budget looking? On Nov. 15, the Legislative Budget Board adopted Comptroller Susan Combs’ estimated growth rate of 8.92% for the 2012-13 biennium. That’s down from the 9.14% estimate adopted for 2010-11. But considering that the Republican leadership already shoved through a 5% cut in general revenue spending in the current budget and that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus already asked state agencies to brace for deeper slices, not everyone is convinced that state leaders are acting aboveboard in the budgetary process. Hours before the LBB released its figures, Austin Sen. Kirk Watson spoke out: “For years, those in control have balanced the budget with a combination of debt, diversions, and deception.” At a legislative preview of the 82nd session, Watson announced what he called his “Honesty Agenda” as a structural solution to the state’s predicted $24 billion deficit. The senator’s reform package proposes regular budget updates from the comptroller – a move previously resisted by Gov. Rick Perry – as well as a change in Senate rules to allow for more public examination of the budget before final approval.
This article appears in November 19 • 2010.
