Texas Legislature Passes $217 Billion Budget

The Senate voted 30-1 to pass the compromise package worked out by conferees from both chambers. The sole no vote was Houston Democrat Sylvia Garcia. The House approved the budget earlier that evening by a margin of 135-14.

The deal includes expanded funding for Child Protective Services and community colleges. But the House’s effort to increase state funding for public schools fell through.

“What’s going to happen is that local property taxpayers are going to continue bear the burden of increasingly funding our schools,” said Tarrant County Representative Chris Turner, leader of the House Democratic caucus.

The package also contains $300 million to replace or repair state mental health facilities.

Read more: http://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2017/05/28/202898/texas-legislature-passes-217-billion-budget/