(The Center Square)–On the third to last day of session, the Texas legislature advanced a two-year $338 billion budget that fiscal conservatives argue is “California style budgeting.”
The Texas House and Senate approved a conference committee bill Saturday that finalized SB 1, the state’s budget.
“Texas becomes stronger and stronger each biennium because our conservative principles guide our approach to budgeting,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said. “These principles have kept our state on the right track and will continue to do so for years to come. The Senate’s All Funds budget for Texas was 1.2% larger than last biennium, well within our limit of population growth times inflation.”
Patrick says the bill commits “a record $51 billion for property tax relief” with “nearly one out of every four dollars in state funds” devoted to property tax relief. The budget also includes a record $8.5 billion for public education funding, The Center Square reported.
With record high spending, the legislature still kept the budget conservative, Patrick argued, “with billions of dollars unspent and without touching the rainy day fund” that will “keep our state prosperous over the next biennium and beyond.”
Despite Texas posting a $24 billion surplus and calls from fiscal conservatives to cut spending, waste, fraud and abuse, and implement meaningful tax reform, the Republican-led legislature expanded spending and spent the surplus.
Patrick said the state’s $338 billion All Funds budget was a 1.2% increase from the last biennium; the $237.1 billion All State Funds budget was a 4.8% increase.
These and other claims made by Republicans in support of the budget are “wildly misleading,” economist Vance Ginn argues in an analysis. Ginn helped author the 2017 federal tax cuts under President Donald Trump, led tax policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and now runs an Austin-based consulting firm.
If the budget “is what passes for fiscal conservatism in Texas, then California-style budgeting has officially arrived in the Lone Star State,” Ginn said. “Texans aren’t seeing relief – they’re seeing rising tax bills.”
The $51 billion claim refers to “every dollar allocated to property tax relief since 2019, spanning four budget cycles: 2020–21 through 2026–27,” Ginn said, not from a single two-year budget approved on Saturday. Since 2019, the legislature appropriated roughly $1.16 trillion in total funds, meaning “‘record tax relief’ equals just 4.4% of overall appropriations – while the other 95.6%, or $1.1 trillion, went to growing government,” Ginn said.
“Of the $51 billion, only $3.5 billion is truly new property tax relief,” Ginn added. Another $3 billion in property tax relief was already included in current law, after the legislature enacted HB 3 in 2019, which automatically implements relief “unless the Legislature deliberately chooses not to fund it,” he said. “At most, only $3.5 billion of new relief is at stake – barely a drop in the bucket” compared to the state’s $24 billion surplus.
State Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Waxahachie, said the budget that passed is “the most bloated, liberal, budget ever written in the history of the state of Texas.”
Instead of returning the $24 billion surplus to “the overtaxed, hard working men and women of the state of Texas,” the budget “funds just about every liberal priority under the sun,” he said. The budget includes “doubling down and increasing budgets for state agencies and entities that are engaged in DEI and transgender ideology” and “puts crony corporatism and corporate welfare on steroids.”
More importantly, he argues, is what the budget doesn’t do: reduce property taxes.
“The men and women of the state of Texas wanted us to do just one thing this session … only one thing … to get the crushing burden of property taxes under control,” and the legislature “abjectly failed.”
Based on current projections and what’s in the budget, “the vast majority of property taxpayers and property tax bills in the state of Texas are going to go up,” Harrison said. “This budget represents an absolute betrayal of the hard-working men and women of the state of Texas and they deserve better. There is no way a fiscally conservative Republican” could vote for it.
How to Prepare for Food Emergencies if You Don’t Have a Homestead or Bunker
In an unpredictable world, where supply chain disruptions, natural disasters, or economic instability can strike without warning, having a reliable food supply is more than just smart—it’s essential for survival. Whether you’re a “prepper” or not, we all know the golden rule: self-sufficiency is key. But what if you’re living in an apartment, working long hours, or simply don’t have the land to turn into a thriving homestead? Don’t worry; there’s a practical, effective way to build your food security without needing acres of soil or a fortified bunker.
The Ideal Prep: Building Your Own Food Empire
The ultimate dream for any serious prepper is controlling your own food production. Imagine waking up to a sprawling garden bursting with fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs—tomatoes ripening on the vine, potatoes ready to harvest, and greens that provide nutrition year-round. Add in livestock like chickens for eggs and meat, and you’ve got a self-sustaining system that keeps your family fed no matter what chaos unfolds outside.
This approach isn’t just about calories; it’s about resilience. A well-maintained garden can yield hundreds of pounds of produce annually, while a small flock of chickens might produce dozens of eggs weekly. It’s empowering, cost-effective in the long run, and teaches invaluable skills like crop rotation, animal husbandry, and preservation techniques. If you have the space, time, and resources, starting small and scaling up is the best path to true independence.
The Reality Check: Not Everyone Can Homestead
But let’s face it—not all of us are in a position to go full homesteader. Urban dwellers might be limited to a balcony or community plot that’s far from sufficient for long-term needs. Busy professionals juggling jobs, families, and daily life often lack the hours required for daily tending. And for those in apartments, condos, or regions with harsh climates, raising livestock or maintaining a large garden simply isn’t feasible. Factors like zoning laws, soil quality, water access, or even physical limitations can make this ideal out of reach.
That’s where the frustration sets in. You want to be prepared, but without a homestead or bunker, how do you ensure your pantry doesn’t run dry during a prolonged crisis? The good news is, you don’t have to sacrifice your preparedness goals. There’s a smart, accessible alternative that bridges the gap: investing in high-quality, long-term storage food.
The Smart Alternative: Long-Term Storage Food from Heaven’s Harvest
Long-term storage food is designed for exactly these scenarios—providing nutrient-dense, shelf-stable meals that last for decades without refrigeration or special conditions. It’s the perfect solution for preppers who can’t rely on fresh production but still demand reliability and variety in their emergency stockpile.
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Why Wait? Secure Your Food Supply Today
Preparing for food emergencies doesn’t require a homestead or bunker—it requires action. By choosing long-term storage food from Heaven’s Harvest, you’re taking control in a way that fits your lifestyle. Start small with a 72-hour kit to test the waters, or go all-in with a year’s supply for ultimate security.
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