Keeping the Belt Tight

It seems even with an influx of cash, Texas still does not want to get cozy with the idea of spending more when it comes to Government. As Ross Ramsey explains in this Texas Tribune article, Texas' increased wealth due to Oil and Natural gas (and probably a positive business climate) is more or less not going to be considered in future budgeting endeavors. Instead the budget board and the governor’s budget office has asked that state agencies to prepare their 2015 budgets with 5% less of what they are spending now (then 10% less the following year) excluding education costs and some social services like Medicaid. The reason: The chance of only having that amount to work with in the future. It seems like Texas is trying to be prepared with a little bit of conservative dieting. This article sheds light on how, in a state primarily conservative and viewing government spending with a critical eye, budget planners and lawyers are going to cover their bases all they can when it comes to tax dollars, and "for budget cutters, it's not about revenue."