A Message from Comptroller Susan Combs
With the summer months upon us, local governments across Texas are feeling the heat as they grapple with planning their fiscal 2010 budgets amid tight economic times. Many communities are counting on federal stimulus dollars, provided under the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to help patch budget gaps and pay for needed programs and services.
Our office is closely tracking these dollars and how they are spent. Our new Tracking the Stimulus Web site, offers Texas communities a listing of available grants, contact information and late-breaking stimulus-related news and information.
As your strategic partner for local government management, the Comptroller’s office is pleased to present this issue of Texas Rising, which explores how Texas local governments are managing their budget planning as they juggle reduced revenues with possible new funding streams.
In this issue, we visit Baytown, which has received some stimulus funding for police equipment and is working to pull together more shovel-ready projects to compete for dollars for transportation, water and sewer projects.
We travel to Bexar County, where despite declining revenues, officials have employed careful financial forecasting, along with belt-tightening, to avoid tax increases. County officials are also speeding up capital projects, such as flood control and a new county office building, to take advantage of near historically low interest rates.
We visit the High Island and Bridge City independent school districts, among the hardest-hit by Hurricane Ike. Officials tell us how they are looking at alternative funding sources in the face of declining property values and falling enrollment.
In our recurring “Transparency Spotlight,” we share how Harlingen is saving time and money by posting financial reports, budgets and detailed property tax rate information at www.myharlingen.us.
In our “Partnering for Impact” section, we explore multiple funding options for the state’s 250-plus Emergency Services Districts.
When it comes to economic development, creating jobs and generating new levels of prosperity, local governments in Texas are focused on rising to the occasion every time.
Susan Combs
Tell Us Your Story!
E-mail us at texas.rising@cpa.state.tx.us.
We want to hear about your town’s economic development accomplishments. Whether you’ve landed a new employer or partnered with a university to train tomorrow’s work force, please tell us the unique solutions you’re using to create success in your community every day.