Austin (WBAP/KLIF) – The Texas Legislature has approved a $321 billion budget to run the state during the next two years. It includes a historically high $32 billion surplus. The budget also stays within constitutionally mandated spending limits. It includes tax cuts, increased funds for mental health care, pay raises for state employees, border security, expansion of state parks and the energy grid. It also re-fills the state’s emergency and highway funds, and makes payments toward stabilizing the state’s retirement investment fund.
Next step is for the Texas Comptroller to certify the budget is balanced, as is required by the state constitution. Then, Governor Abbott will have until June 18 to strike out any spending he doesn’t like.