The Texas budget is the one piece of legislation the Texas Legislature is constitutionally required to pass. Last month the House passed House Bill 1, the General Appropriations Act, and Senate Bill 30, the Supplemental Appropriations bill. I voted for the budget as it uses our record surplus to invest in the future of our state and it is the product of true bipartisan leadership.
This budget is a big win for our students, teachers and community schools. This includes more than $60 billion to fund our public schools, $1.6 billion for school safety, $3.5 billion for our retired teachers and $875 million for TRS-ActiveCare premiums. This biennium’s budget makes a historic investment in public education.
We also made significant strides by helping children and their families before they reach school. This includes $56 million to improve access to pediatric services for children 4 and younger, and $2.4 billion for child care and development including federal funds. Additionally, some of our most vulnerable children are helped in this budget by including $177.8 million for foster care rates and $91 million to expand community-based care.
The budget also takes care of state employees who help do the vital work of the state for us. It provides $1.8 billion for a 5% increase in employee salaries, with a minimum of $3,000 per year in both fiscal year 2024 and 2025. The budget also helps with private workforce development by providing $60 million for job development; included in that $60 million is $25 million for apprenticeship and skills development programs.
There is also $200 million for a maritime port capital improvement project and $629 million for the Flood Infrastructure Fund, for clean drinking water infrastructure and rural water projects. It also provides $5.4 billion to the State Highway Fund for non-tolled roadway project development and delivery, an increase of $678 million from last biennium.
Of course, I will keep working to provide additional pay raises for our teachers, pull down additional dollars from the federal government to provide health care and secure funding to our growing population in the Rio GrandeValley. However, this budget wisely uses our record surplus to invest in our future through caring for children, improving infrastructure and developing and maintain our workforce.
State Rep. Erin Elizabeth Gámez
District 38
Brownsville
MakeValley
a better place
We live in Harlingen and it makes me wonder why we need to drive to Brownsville, Weslaco or McAllen to do our shopping. Our mall looks empty and like downtown Brownsville with second-hand stores. It’s hard for me to comprehend. We are like a diamond in the rough; we need to cut it and make it shine to catch up and compete with our neighboring cities/towns.
Let’s stop being complacent and eliminate that cloud of “mañana people” and “Por eso estamos como estamos” (that’s why we are the way we are) practices. I’m proud to be a native of the Valley. Now let’s make it better for everyone.
Ruben Garcia
Harlingen
LETTERS — Limit letters to 300 words; all letters are subject to editing. Mail: P.O. Box 3267, McAllen, TX78502-3267; Email: [email protected]
