Texas Rising - April/May 2011

A message from the Comptroller

Comptroller Susan Combs

It’s rare anymore that you can get something for nothing. But getting a good deal is something that never goes out of style. Whether you’re serving taxpayers, shareholders or yourself, the benefits of running an efficient, value-for-money operation are the common denominator.

In our Texas Rising cover story, read how the Financial Allocation Study of Texas (FAST) has looked at how spending matches up with academic progress in Texas public schools and districts. The report also details best practices that other schools can emulate to operate more efficiently and increase their effectiveness.

Successful government means doing the best job with the resources given us. Veribest ISD near San Angelo proves you don’t have to be big to be fiscally transparent and find savings. It is among more than 200 Texas local governments that have achieved the Comptroller’s Gold Leadership Circle designation.

We hear plenty about incentives that help new businesses get off the ground. But they aren’t always necessary thanks to the initiative of some Texans. Luis Morales took $500 and started an artisan food business in San Antonio, selling to restaurants and directly to consumers at weekly farmers’ markets. We hear, too, from farmer’s market operators about the keys to successful selling.

Given the tight financial times facing state government today, the Comptroller’s office has decided to make the leap to online-only publications. We’ll be able to save on printing and mailing costs while still providing you with the thoughtful and informative articles you’ve come to expect. I hope you’ll take the time to subscribe to our publications email list, so we can let you know when we publish new content telling you about fiscal transparency, government procurement, economic development and anything else that can help local governments be efficient and promote investment in your communities. See you online!

We’re going paperless

These cost-conscious times bring new challenges for all state agencies. At the Comptroller’s office, our goal is to provide the highest level of service for Texans without increasing spending.



To help meet this goal, we’re examining our printing costs and moving forward with plans to provide more content, including issues of Texas Rising, online. Subscribe to our Texas Rising email update list.