question

Public education is the ___________ largest source of expenditures for Texas

answer

second

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The revenue generated by the sales tax

answer

is larger than the revenue generated by any other tax.

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A balanced budget is required for the state of Texas by

answer

the Texas Constitution.

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Stage agencies create their own strategic plan to

answer

provide the information the Legislative Budget Board needs to make funding recommendations.

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Compared to most other states, the sales tax rate (6.25 percent) in Texas

answer

is one of the highest in the country.

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According to the authors of your textbook, one important consequence of a biennial (two-year) budget is that

answer

government agencies must project their budgetary needs well in advance of any clear understanding of the particular problems they may be facing

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The responsibility for preparing an initial draft of the budget belongs to

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both the governor and the legislature; Texas has a dual budget system.

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The settlement the state reached with tobacco companies

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has provided a major source of nontax revenue for the state.

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As a result of the trust funds and other direct funds in the state budget

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the governor controls most of the state budget process.

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Those who favor the state's current tax system, which has no income tax, argue that it

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makes the state attractive to businesses.

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The General Revenue Funds budget is for

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nondedicated revenue that functions as the state's primary operating fund

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It is unlikely that Texans will have an income tax in the foreseeable future because

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nondedicated revenue that functions as the state's primary operating fund.

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Health and human services are the ____ largest state expenditure for Texas

answer

single

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One way to reduce the regressive nature of the Texas tax system would be to

answer

implement a state income tax.

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Federal funds are the ____ largest source of revenue for Texas

answer

2nd / second

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What is the consequence of the requirement that the comptroller must certify that all bills proposed in the legislature are within available budget projections?

answer

Texas has a pay-as-you-go limit to its budget process.

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The Legislative Budget Board (LBB) was created by a 1949 law to

answer

recommend appropriations for all agencies of state government.

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Texas is regarded as providing a ____ level of government services while having a ____ rate of taxation

answer

low; low

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Compared to most other states, per capita state government expenditures in Texas are

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among the lowest of all states.

question

Aside from the Great Recession, what was the other major cause of the financial shortfall faced by the 2011 state legislature?

answer

property tax reform

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Since the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program was passed, the number of people on welfare

answer

has declined.

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The act that merged various water-rights doctrines into a unified water permit system, expanding the ability of the state to control and manage surface water, was the

answer

Water Rights Adjudication Act.

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Education reforms instituted in the 1980s and 1990s

answer

have been mixed, with improvements in dropout rates and scores on the state's assessment text, but below-national-average performance in graduation rates and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores.

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Compared to the nation as a whole, the poverty rate in Texas is

answer

higher

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The biggest source of water use in Texas is

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in irrigation

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Desegregation of Texas schools

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occurred when the state legislature created financial incentive programs for reluctant districts to comply

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The no pass, no play rule, which keeps students who fail a course from participating in extracurricular activities such as sports, was implemented

answer

in the 1980s, at the recommendation of the State Committee on Public Education (SCOPE), chaired by businessman Ross Perot

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The Affordable Care Act (ACA)

answer

is more commonly known as Obamacare; it compels the state to expand its Medicaid program to provide insurance to the uninsured

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While a majority of the Medicaid population is ____, a majority of the funds are spent on ____.

answer

children; aged and disabled

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What component in Texas Medicare has become an essential part of cost containment programs?

answer

managed care programs

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The 2012 state water plan

answer

represented an important shift in the focus of water policy from flood control or hydroelectric power generation to the provision of water

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The political impact of the Texas Supreme Court's ruling in Edgewood ISD v. Kirby

answer

created a political firestorm that swept through Texas politics throughout the early 1990s

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What effect has economic growth in Texas had on the state's poverty rates?

answer

surprisingly little

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Medicaid expenses in Texas

answer

are increasing and threaten to overwhelm the state budget.

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The percentage of Texas residents with health insurance

answer

is lower than in any other state.

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The Gilmer-Akins Laws

answer

supplemented local funding of education with public money, mandated a minimum length for the school year, and provided for more state supervision of public education.

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The Children's Health Insurance Program

answer

provides coverage for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid.

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The federal block grant program for welfare was

answer

created in the 1990s and called the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

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Water consumption is expected to ____ over the next half-century; existing water supplies are expected to ____.

answer

increase by 10 percent; increase by 10 percent

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In the case of Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that

answer

glaring disparities in the funding system for rich and poor school districts violated the Texas constitution

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There are currently more than ____________ independent school district across the state of Texas.

answer

1,000

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Which unit of local government performs a single service in a limited area?

answer

special district

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A board of regents is designed to govern

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community colleges

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Who keeps county records for property transactions?

answer

county clerk

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An election in which voters elect officials from the entire geographical area, rather than from a smaller district within the area, is called

answer

an at-large election

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How do county officials gain office?

answer

elected by the voters

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The key problem with counties in Texas is that

answer

many of them are too small and underpopulated to function well

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____________ is chartered for localities with a population of less than 5,000.

answer

A general-law city

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A municipal utility district (MUD)

answer

specifically addresses the needs of developers

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San Antonio operates under which form of city government?

answer

council-manager style

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In Texas, what is the name of the officer who presides over the county commissioners' court?

answer

county judge

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What are the main sources of revenue for special districts in Texas?

answer

property taxes and user fees

question

Dallas operates under the ____________ of city government.

answer

council-manager style

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Which city official is the financial officer of the local government?

answer

city comptroller

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How many counties are there in the state of Texas?

answer

254

question

Why are county governments important in Texas?

answer

They provide the main form of government in rural areas.

question

The ____________ of government makes use of a professionally trained city manager.

answer

council-manager style

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When a mayor has the authority to appoint department heads and advisory board members, he or she is called a ____________ mayor

answer

strong

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A council of governments is intended to increase the coordination between

answer

local governments

question

A home-rule charter allows for some degree of ____________ for a city with a population in excess of 5,000.

answer

self-rule

question

General Revenues Fund budget

answer

a budget for a nondedicated revenue account that functions as the state's primary operating fund. (page 313)

question

General Revenue-Dedicated Funds budget

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a budget composed of funds for dedicated revenues that target money for specific purposes. (page 313)

question

Federal Funds budget

answer

a state budget that includes all grants, payments, or reimbursements received from the federal government by state agencies and institutions. (page 313)

question

Other Funds budget

answer

a budget consisting of all other funds flowing into the state treasury that are not included in other state budgets. This includes the Texas Highway Fund, various trust funds operated by the state, and certain revenues held for local higher education accounts. (page 313)

question

All Funds budget

answer

the budget that aggregates all monies flowing into the state treasury and all state spending. (page 313)

question

regressive tax

answer

a type of tax where the tax burden falls more heavily on lower-income individuals. (page 320)

question

progressive tax

answer

a type of tax where the tax burden falls more heavily on upper-income individuals. (page 322)

question

matching funds

answer

federal monies going to a state based on state spending for a program. (page 322)

question

General Revenues Fund

answer

the state's primary operating fund. (page 324)

question

Permanent School Fund (PSF)

answer

fund created in 1854, which provides monies for primary and secondary schools. (page 325)

question

State Highway Fund

answer

fund that supports the construction, maintenance, policing of roadways, and acquires rights of way; funded through a variety of taxes such as motor vehicle registration fees, the federal highway fund, and the sales tax on motor lubricants. (page 325)

question

Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF)

answer

established by constitutional amendment in 1988 to provide funds for the state during times of financial stress, commonly known as the Rainy Day Fund. (page 325)

question

Permanent University Trust Fund (PUF)

answer

established in 1876 and funded from the proceeds from land owned by the state; monies go to various universities in the UT and Texas A&M systems. (page 325)

question

Higher Education Fund (HEF)

answer

a state higher education fund for universities not having access to PUF monies. (page 327)

question

National Research University Fund (NRUF)

answer

established in 2009 to provide funding to universities seeking to achieve national prominence as research institutions. (page 327)

question

Article III, Section 49a

answer

portion of the Texas Constitution that requires the state to maintain a balanced budget. (page 329)

question

appropriations

answer

authorization by the legislature to a government agency or body to spend up to a particular amount of money. (page 329)

question

debt service

answer

money spent by the state to pay off debt; includes interest and principal payments. (page 330)

question

• The state constitution requires that the legislature operate within a balanced budget. • The Texas budget five broad categories: - general revenue funds budget - general revenue-dedicated funds budget - federal funds budget - other funds budget - all funds budget.

answer

• Texas Tax Policies - No state income tax - Relatively high property and sales taxes • 10th highest sales tax (6.25%) in nation • Texans pay less taxes compared to people in most other states - State taxes per capita rank Texas #48 - Local taxes at #13 - Overall at #32

question

• Revenue Sources - Taxes Revenue in Texas • Sales and Property (NOT income or corporate) • Oil and natural gas production taxes • Tobacco, Alcohol, Auto, Hotel, Other taxes - Federal Matching Fund Grants - Fees and Investment Earnings • Taxes were 41.2% of state revenue in 2011 - Sales tax is by far the largest source

answer

Income Tax Debate • Some state taxes are regressive - Regressive: poor taxed at higher rate than wealthy • Sales and use taxes are regressive -Flat taxes are generally categorized as regressive • State income tax has been discussed - Mostly media, policy organizations - Elected officials both parties not interested • Might be pragmatic idea, but few want to pay new taxes, no matter how it is presented or explained

question

• Federal funds Other State Revenue - Matching grants for Medicaid, Temporary Aid to Needy Families, education, and roads - With matching funds, the more a state spends, the more it gets from the federal government • Texas spends relatively little (in part by state law) so gets less than some other states do in federal support

answer

Other State Revenue • Texas also takes in revenue from: - Interest on bonds and other investments - Sales of goods and services it provides - Income from public lands that are rented - State lottery - Tobacco settlement

question

Constitution and the Budget • The legislature makes a 2-year budget - Agencies project out in manner that may miss unanticipated and consequential developments - Legislature only meets 140 days every two years • Not much time for long economic scenario simulations - A large portion of the budget is dedicated • Obligations payments that are non-negotiable

answer

Pay-as-You-Go limit - The state budget must always be balanced. - Any bill that is to be appropriated must be cleared by the comptroller, who must certify there are funds.

question

Texas Constitution sets specific spending limits on some services - Welfare Spending Limit Article III, Section 51a • Texas will not spend more than 1% on poor children and their caretakers. • Non-dedicated spending cannot grow faster than estimated growth of the state's economy. • 1997 Amendment to Article III - No more than 5% state budget spent on debt

answer

Developing a state budget falls to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) - Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, chairs of House Appropriations and Ways and Means, Senate Finance and State Affairs committees, and two additional members from both the House and Senate

question

• LBB 1. Analyzesagencyprograms 2. Estimatescostsofnewlegislation 3. Creates a draft budget for the legislature • First stage of creating a budget - LBB reviews 5-year projections from each department • Hearings are held before legislature begins session - Comptroller determines Biennial Revenue Estimate (BRE) • The BRE can be updated if dramatic unforeseen changes take place

answer

• Second stage of creating a budget - House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees are sent proposal • Committees hold hearings and draft legislation - Final budget is passed - Comptroller certifies budget - Sent to governor for veto or signature

question

Education Policy in Texas - Debate over Texas public education extends back to period when Texas was part of Mexico. - Republic of Texas Constitution requires public education system; legislature adopts one 1854 - Constitution of 1876 established the Permanent School Fund, specifies funding guidelines. - Public education policy was left to local school districts until the 1940s • State legislature attempted to address problems associated with public school funding and facilities. - Debate over Texas public education extends back to period when Texas was part of Mexico. - Republic of Texas Constitution requires public education system; legislature adopts one 1854 - Constitution of 1876 established the Permanent School Fund, specifies funding guidelines. - Public education policy was left to local school districts until the 1940s • State legislature attempted to address problems associated with public school funding and facilities.

answer

• State Board of Education - 15 members, 4-year terms - Oversees the Permanent School Fund - Executes the education budget - Nominates commissioner of education - Purchases textbooks and shapes what is in them • Curriculum, content, and materials covered in books reflects what the SBOE wants—Texas is a huge market for companies selling textbooks and testing services - Sets education standards for students and schools Three issues have shaped Texas public educational policy over the last fifty years: 1. Desegregation 2. Equity in public school funding 3. Search for educational excellence - How to measure and demonstrate - High stakes testing

question

Education Policy in Texas: Segregation • Texas Constitution called for segregation - Black students had fewer school days, - One-third less funding than white students • State legislature passed a resolution in 1957 opposing Brown v. Board (1954) decision desegregating public schools. • Many districts are still de facto segregated by residence patterns Education Policy in Texas: Funding • San Antonio ISD v. Rodriguez landmark case addressed equity in public school funding • 1971, Texas school finance system ruled unconstitutional - Violated 14th Amendment equal protection clause. - Overturned on appeal by the U.S. Supreme Court. • Edgewood ISD v. Kirby (1989) - State Supreme Court declares existing funding system in violation of state constitution - Funding public school districts with local property taxes violated Texas equal protection and efficient systems clauses • Vast differences in property values from one school district to another produced an unequal system of school funding

answer

• "Robin Hood" funding system emerged as a result of the Edgewood decision - Property wealthy districts share their local tax revenue with poor districts • Wealthy districts pay "wealth equalization" share of their local property taxes back to the state • The state redistributes funds to poor districts - Poor districts retain their local property tax dollars and receive additional funds the state collects from the wealthy districts • Robin Hood system remains in place today • Texas has 1,265 school districts • As of September 2012, 374 districts designated by state as "property wealthy" - First year of program, only 35 in that category • Education Reform in 1980s - Select Committee on Public Education (SCOPE) - Made 140 recommendations - Centralized state control over education • Education Reform in 1990s - Students in low-performing schools have some ability to move out of them - Gov. Bush lead effort, foundations of NCLB • Twenty years after reforms, mixed results - Dropout rates declined • Controversy remains about how these data are derived - Scores on standardized tests rose • Controversy remains about curriculum and daily classroom effort driven by state testing • 2011 state legislature budget cuts to education may jeopardize many of the reform initiatives of the previous 20 years.

question

Welfare Policy in Texas • Poverty in Texas - 18% of Texans (over 4 million) in poverty (2011) • Compared to 15% national average • Federal Poverty Guidelines 2012 - Income of $11,170 for an individual • + $3,960 for each additional household member • This means individuals earning $935/month are not, by legal definition "poor." • 58% of poor households are employed • Most major state welfare programs are cooperative using federal matching funds - Medicaid: medical care for the poor - TANF: welfare • income assistance, medial and social services - Public Housing & Section 7 vouchers - School meals and SNAP (Lone Star Card) • Temporary Aid to Needy Families - Temporary: limited to 36 months (3 years) • Not more than 5 years over a lifetime - Aid Types: Income, child care, social services - Often vouchers or direct agreements with providers, less direct cash payments since Clinton Era Welfare Reforms - Needy: Must be near poverty - Families: Must be children in household - Adults must be caring for young children, working or in school/job training

answer

Medicaid and Health Care Policy • Medicaid: health insurance for poor, disabled, or otherwise needing financial assistance • Evidence required demonstrating disability or inability to pay for private health insurance - Joint state-federal program established under the Social Security Amendments of 1965 • Requires Texas (all states) follow certain principles and meet set standards to receive federal funds. • Not to be confused with Medicare, a federal contribution health care program for the elderly. Medicaid began as narrowly defined targeting people on public assistance • Today Medicaid is large, complex insurance program serving many identified groups including: - adults not fully covered by Medicare - people with disabilities - individuals receiving TANF and SSI - Impoverished children • Texas administers Medicaid through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission - The federal government monitors the state Medicaid program • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid in the Department of Health and Human Services • Establish what constitutes basic services, and set delivery, quality, funding, and eligibility standards.

question

In 2010, Congress passed two bills known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), often referred to as Obamacare. - The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - The Health Care and Reconciliation Act of 2010 • Two key provisions for states to implement - State Health Care Exchanges - Expand Medicare • State Health benefit Exchanges - Assist in accessing affordable health insurance • Texas (among other states) has indicated the state will not establish a state health exchange - The federal government will run exchanges in states that choose not to set up their own system

answer

• Governor Perry also rejects expanding Medicaid provision of ACH - Opposes expanding government and the state absorbing more program responsibilities • The Texas Legislature and/or future Texas government administrations may compromise on the exchanges and Medicaid provisions - Rejecting Medicaid means Texas does not receive millions in federal dollars WATER POLICY • Access to water is necessary for a thriving economy and expanding population • Texas's water consumption projected to increase by 82% in next 50 years. • A statewide water policy is difficult because of the diverse climates within the state - Floods and droughts simultaneously occur in Texas

question

• Private property rights make Texas water policy even more complicated. - Spanish law, traditional English common law, and statutory law • Texas law recognizes several legal classes of water rights governed by different rules - For example: laws governing surface water and ground water, for example, sharply differ.

answer

• The Texas Water Development Board - Primary water planning and financing state agency • Several more local and state government agencies and boards oversee water policy and planning - Drainage districts - Conservation and reclamation districts - River authorities - Water and control improvement districts

question

• Local officials should be easily accountable to the public. • Conditioned upon public and media attention - More time cost to follow local news and politics • Easier to keep informed of higher offices - High volume of national media coverage in virtually all outlets, including local news

answer

• Texas has more than 4,835 local governments. - That is *a lot* of government for a state so much associated with limited and small government. • 254 county units • 1,209 municipal (cities) units • 1,082 school districts • 2,291 special districts - Ex.: water, utility, community college, hospital

question

• More authority in sparsely populated areas • Administer state laws (do little legislation) • Historical origins, began as "municipalities" - 1835, 23 municipalities - 1836, Republic of Texas changes name to "counties" - 1921, there were 254 counties (same as today) • County commissioners court - Main governing unit of the county - Sets budget and county tax rate • County may not legislate much, but tax rates certainly impact local residents, business, and industry • Composition - One county judge - Four county commissioners

answer

• County judge - Elected countywide - Four-year terms, no limits - In rural counties, may also serve as actual judge - Most cases is administrator for the county • County commissioners - Elected by geographic districts • Each one-quarter of county - Four-year terms, no limits • County government responsibilities - Maintain roads, bridges, and county jails - Cover some health care costs for indigent - Large counties maintain public facilities • Libraries, parks, or public hospitals • Assist with natural disaster logistics and costs • Administer all elections in the county - No matter the offices on the ballot, counties are responsible for election administration

question

• County government responsibilities, staff, and resources vary dramatically - Reflect population and land size differences • Compare - Loving County: pop. 94; size 681 sq. mi. - Harris County: pop. 4.2 million; size 1778 sq. mi. • Medium and small counties vulnerable - Natural disasters, costly trials can exhaust budget FUNCTIONS OF GOVT • Five main functions of county government 1. Road and bridge construction and maintenance 2. Law enforcement 3. Disputeresolution 4. Record keeping 5. Socialservices

answer

• Law enforcement - Sheriff: chief county law enforcement officer - Provide deputies for courthouses - Maintain county jails • County and district courts - Attorneys for county and district • DAs typically handle the more serious crimes. • County prosecutors take less serious cases. • In smaller counties, duties are not split in that fashion • County clerks keep records. - Vital stats for county (births, deaths, marriages) - Issue licenses (driving, marriage) - Maintain court records - Record property transactions • Dispute resolution - Justice of the peace, county and district courts resolve civil disputes Functions of County Government • Counties may provide a range of services. - Some of them are a matter of administering federal- and state-funded programs • Nutrition and housing assistance • Health care (including mental health) • Public health monitoring and records • Public parks • Fire and sanitation

question

• 1,209 municipalities in Texas • Municipalities are state creations. - The state can create, merge, or disband them. • Towns with >5,000 residents may apply for "home-rule" status. - City charter recognized by the state • Alternatively, towns may follow the basic rules set out by the state for all municipalities. • Mayor-council form of city government - City has a mayor and city council - Mayor is elected from city at-large - Council either at-large or single-member districts - Council acts as city legislature • Strong v. weak mayor differences - Personnel: can hire and fire department heads - Budget authority - Degree of power shared with city manager • Council-manager government - Most common in Texas • 250 of 291 home-rule cities in the state - City council may select a mayor, or mayor elected - Council hires a city manager to run the city - Manager does not campaign or run for office • Applies for and holds executive public position much like public school superintendents, who are hired by local school boards

answer

special districts • Local government that performs a single service within a limited geographical area SCHOOL DISTRICTS • School board of trustees - Adopts a budget and sets the tax rate - Hires superintendent • Most districts, superintendent hires district personnel • Smallest districts, board may take on those duties - Selects textbooks - Sets school calendar NONSCHOOL DISTRICTS • Municipal utility districts (MUDs) - Provide services to certain areas outside of cities • Flood control districts • Community college districts • Hospital districts • Water districts COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENT • Councils of governments (COGs) - Regional planning boards that try to coordinate efforts of local governments - Comprised mostly of elected officials • May include other community members - Deal with issues relevant to several local governments • Make sense in large areas where there are many layers of local government and coordination may be useful

question

countywide officials! - county judge - possibly county court at law judges, possibly probate judges, and district judges county and district attorney or criminal district attorney sheriff county and district clerk or district clerk possibly county treasurer tax assessor collector possibly county surveyor

answer

Precinct level officials County commissioners Justices of the Peace Constables

question

Texas Medicaid Recipients by Age and Ethnicity

answer

65+ 6% 21-64 17% 15-20 12% 6-14 30% 0-5 35% Hispanic- 54% African - 18% Caucasian- 23%

question

Distribution of Medicaid Spending by Service in Texas

answer

Acute care - 19.2 billion 70.5% Long Term care - 6.3 billion 23.3% Disproportionate share hospital payment - 1.7 billion 6.2%

question

Distribution of Medical Payments by Enrollment Group in Texas

answer

Children- 36% Aged- 18% Adults- 8% Disabled- 38%

question

Water usage by sector

answer

Livestock 2% Municipal 27% Manufacturing 7% Mining 1% Steam electric 3% Irrigation 60%

question

24.6% texas is uninsured

answer

state taxes- 7.9% sixth lowest state

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