Balancing the Texas State Budget
Description
Using the chart provided below, you are to make a budget for the state of Texas.
Lesson
Balancing a state budget is much harder than most of us conceive. The state government operates on set revenue. Unlike the federal government, they state cannot print money at will. The state also has a smaller tax base than the federal government. Few of us take the time to consider the balancing act of appropriating money to the various government departments. This assignment is created to provide you with some perspective on how funds are appropriated throughout the state. It is very basic and rudimentary. Yet, it can serve as a great starting point for understanding the political debates that occur around state funds.
Instructions
Fill in the budget sheet provided below. You should place your appropriation amounts in within the highlighted areas. Notice how the budget cycle lasts for 2 years. The budget numbers for the 2018-2019 cycle are provided for you to give you some guidance on what the state already spends.
Grade Rubric
1. 30 total points for the assignment
1. Your budget must not exceed the comptrollers revenue estimate (5 points)
1. Your budget must include one or two sentences in each category explaining why you increased, decreased, or maintain your budget appropriations compared to the previous budget cycle. (2 points for each category, for 22 total points)
1. Grammar and spelling (3 points)
Assignment Submission
Once you have filled out this document, save it to your computer. The title of the saved document should read your last name followed by an underscore and the assignment title:
Example: Naples_state budget.docx
You may submit the assignment as either Microsoft Word document or a PDF file. Submissions as a Pages or other document program will not be accepted. Submit this assignment, including this instruction page, to the assignment Dropbox on D2L.
Note: the information in this assignment is taken from the legislative budget board.
Student Name: _____________________________________________
Course Name and Number: ___________________________________
Date of Submission: _________________________________________
Budget Rules
The budget is based on a two-year cycle. The budget funds cannot exceed the estimated revenue projects put forward by the state comptroller. Using the information provided, you are to create a brief budget for the state for the 2020-2021 biennium. The Texas budget is divided into 10 separate articles. Each section has a few rules to follow. Write the amount of money would spend in each category in the highlighted line. Then, in one or two sentences, describe your rationale for your appropriation. At the end of the document, add up the amounts of your appropriations. They may not exceed the comptrollers estimate. Pay close attention the rules of the economic stabilization fund toward the end of this budget plan.
Estimated Revenue
State Comptroller Glenn Hegar estimates Texas will have $119.1 billion dollars to spend for the 2020-2021 budget.
Article I: General Government
Funds include: government departments (governor, comptroller, attorney general, employee retirement, pension review board, secretary of state, Texas ethics commission, etc)
2018-2019 Budget: $3.277 Billion 2020-2021 Budget: ____________
Briefly describe the rationale for your appropriation :
Article 2: Health and Human Services
Funds include: family and protective services, state health services, health and human services, employee benefits,
2018-2019 Budget: $33.464 Billion 2020-2021 Budget: ____________
Briefly describe the rationale for your appropriation :
Article 3: Education
Funds include: public schools, Texas universities, community colleges, technical colleges, teachers retirement, bond debts, and employee group insurance.
2018-2019 Budget: $55.894 Billion 2020-2021 Budget: ____________
Briefly describe the rationale for your appropriation :
Article 4: Judiciary
Funds include: Texas supreme courts, circuit courts, judicial council, state commission on judicial conduct, and employee benefits.
2018-2019 Budget: $494.6 Million 2020-2021 Budget: ____________
Briefly describe the rationale for your appropriation :
Article 5: Public Safety and Criminal Justice
Funds include: department of justice, fire protection, alcohol and beverage commission, dept. of public safety, juvenile justice dept., military dept., and commission on jail standards.
2018-2019 Budget: $11.416 Billion 2020-2021 Budget: ____________
Briefly describe the rationale for your appropriation :
Article 6: Natural Resources
Funds include: department of agriculture, animal health commission, water development, commission on environmental quality, general land office, parks and wildlife, soil and water conservation,
2018-2019 Budget: $894.2 Million 2020-2021 Budget: ____________
Briefly describe the rationale for your appropriation :
Article 7: Business and Economic Development
Funds include: department of housing, Texas lottery, department of motor vehicles, department of transportation, Texas workforce commission, unemployment compensation.
2018-2019 Budget: $547.7 Million 2020-2021 Budget: ____________
Briefly describe the rationale for your appropriation :
Article 8: Regulatory
Funds include: State facilities, dept, of insurance, health professional council, board of dental examiners, board of nursing, board of pharmacy, board of examiners, public utility commission, licensing and regulation, occupational therapy, and medical examiners.
2018-2019 Budget: $344.7 Million 2020-2021 Budget: ____________
Briefly describe the rationale for your appropriation :
Article 9: General Provisions
Funds include:
2018-2019 Budget: $4.5 Million 2020-2021 Budget: ____________
Briefly describe the rationale for your appropriation :
Article 10: The Legislature
Funds include: legislative pay, staff, benefits,
2018-2019 Budget: $387.3 Million 2020-2021 Budget: ____________
Briefly describe the rationale for your appropriation :
Economic Stabilization Fund
The state constitution requires that 10% of state revenue be placed in the economic stabilization fund, also known as the rainy-day fund. This money can be used by the legislature under certain fiscal conditions, such as a natural disaster.
2018-2019 Budget: $10.6 Billion 2020-2021 Budget: ____________
Your Total Appropriations (cannot exceed the Comptrollers estimate): _______________________
