After being the first journalist in the state to report on Gov. Greg Abbott's revelation that the state was considering a $20 billion budget surplus, I then proposed how to spend it.
Abbott said he wants to reinstate property tax rebates.
I countered that while property tax relief is great, “now is the time to spend money on people.''
I then asked readers who are citizens of surveillance states how our leaders should distribute $20 billion. Remember, this is in addition to a separate $23.7 billion rainy day fund.
Look at our state leaders. This is directly from people.
Richardson's Tom Spranger: “More than 80% should be spent on things like schools and teacher raises. No more football palaces. No more vouchers. …It's pathetic that Texas spends less per student than many other states. I'm confused as to why so many companies choose to move here. There is no future for talented people, only short-term profits.”
Katherine Reeves of Duncanville: “Let's spend money on health care like dental and vision care for our children. Let's introduce Medicaid and cut back on Byzantine red tape. Let's make sure our children have enough to eat. Let's build infrastructure. Let's fix it. This doesn't mean more roads, it means fixing roads, bridges, and public facilities. Let's spend more money on addiction and mental health care. I'm lucky. I have everything, and I want others to have the same. Thank you for giving us all the opportunity to jump on your soapbox!”
John Kalb of Fairview: “It is completely unconscionable for Texas not to expand Medicaid to all its citizens. It is one of only 10 states that has not done so. With budget surpluses running into the billions, the state The government should spend some of the surplus on expanding Medicaid to help low-income people pay for health care.
Scott Chase of Oak Cliff: “Do you really think Abbott's billionaire supporters who hate public education and Medicaid are going to use their surplus money to help those who need it most?”
Quitman's Bill Martin: “First, let's be thankful that we have this surplus, unlike many other states that are in a deep, dark fiscal hole.”
John Helmer of McKinney: “Fund child protective services, fund child services. For the homeless, revive the state hospital, bring together the homeless across the state and provide support. Each case is different. More funding could help rehabilitate some of them to become responsible taxpayers.”
Susan and Craig Johnson of Dallas: “It's not about surplus. It's about not paying all of the government's costs. If we don't pay for teachers, fixing the power grid, Medicare, installing air conditioning in prisons, and all the other things you mentioned, then of course the money is gone. I hope you get creative and come up with a better name for these unused surplus funds than “surplus money.” It's like putting off maintenance on your house or car. Someday you have to pay the piper. ”
Jesse Spurway of Farmers Branch: “The billions of dollars in surplus that the Texas Treasury holds does not belong to the state. It belongs to all Texans who overpaid. That money should be a tax cut that pays back overpayments to everyone in Texas, not just landlords.For example, by changing the sales tax, that money goes into everyone's pocket. Give the money back to all of us, not just the landlords.”
Buddy Babcock of Plano: “Does Texas have the best training facilities and equipment in the nation for fire and police departments?”
Randy Regan in Van: “I have thought long and hard about what I would do with the budget surplus if I had a say in how it was spent. We want to use whatever extra money we have to fix the system. We want to help the most helpless children. They have needs far beyond the typical child in our state. If I had any funds left, I would give every penny to help the mentally ill.
Kenneth Garshin of Pilot Point: “All retired state employees and retired teachers need an annual cost-of-living increase (COLA). I know teachers received a one-time COLA this year, but given inflation, it's It's not a long-term solution. There have been very few government-approved COLAs over the past 30 to 40 years.”
Thank you to everyone who participated. It's not every day you get to pretend you spent $20 billion.
Become a citizen of Watchdog Nation.
Learn how to become a super consumer with Dave Lieber.
Watchdog Newsletter: To stay informed, sign up for The Watchdog's free weekly newsletter: Click here.
SUBSCRIBE: Support The Watchdog's brand of honest journalism designed to save you time, money and frustration. Visit and treat yourself to a digital subscription (and make him look great!) https://dallasnews.com/subscribe
Watchdog homepage: You won't want to miss The Watchdog's two weekly reports. Always follow the latest reports. watchdog A homepage that posts all recent columns.
Check out this free training video from Dave. https://youtu.be/uhUEUCNKGjc
Facebook: Connect with The Watchdog in our Facebook Group. Search for “DallasNews Watchdog Posse.”
dallas morning news The Watchdog column won the 2019 National Association of Newspaper Columnists' top award for column writing. The contest's judges called the winning entry “a model of suspenseful storytelling and public service.”
Read his award column.
* Helps the widow of Officer J.D. Tippit, the Dallas police officer killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, be buried next to her late husband.
*Helping a waitress who was victimized by an unscrupulous used car dealer
