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Advocacy Guest Blog: The Spending Cap and Texans with Disabilities

Brakeyshia Samms
Center for Public Policy Priorities

December 4, 2014

With the 84th session of the Texas Legislature set to begin in about six weeks, lawmakers from across the state are setting the tone for budget negotiations. The Legislative Budget Board met on December 1st to adopt the state’s spending growth limit, which is required by the state constitution. They unanimously voted to set the limit at 11.68%, which was the lowest option available.

This limit caps the amount of certain tax revenue that the state can spend on programs and services used by Texas families and businesses, even if revenue is available to make larger investments. A simple majority vote by legislators can override the spending limit, as was done in 2007. But lawmakers have shown an unwillingness more recently to exceed this limit. Instead, they have punted major spending decisions to voters, or simply let underfunded programs languish.

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What does the spending limit mean for Texans with disabilities? I analyzed the budget proposed by the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) – a key state agency for Texans with disabilities –and found that the proposed budget cannot accommodate the anticipated increase in needed services with the limited funding available. Without increased investments from the state, some of our fellow Texans will no longer be able to benefit from independent living centers and other DARS services and programs.

On a broader scale, other priorities that we all share, such as education, health care, transportation, and public safety are affected by state budget choices as well. That is why we, as advocates, need to contact our lawmakers, write editorials, testify at hearings, send letters to the editors of local newspapers, and use social media to ensure that legislators understand how important state investments are in shaping the future prosperity of Texas.

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About Brakeyshia

Brakeyshia Samms joined the Center for Public Policy Priorities in August 2014 as a State Policy Fellow through the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ State Policy Fellowship Program. She works with the Investing in Texas team, where she analyzes state budget and tax policies to ensure that all Texans are able to thrive in today’s economy. She also coordinates the Texas Forward revenue coalition.

 

About CPPP

The Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) is an independent public policy organization that uses data and analysis to advocate for solutions that enable Texans of all backgrounds to reach their full potential. CPPP dares Texas to be the best state for hard-working people and their families.