Told to cut their budgets, Texas agencies respond with fatalism, flair

[TexasTowelie]

Studying state budget documents is usually a reliable way to promote a deep and restorative sleep. Unless you’re scanning the latest appropriations request from the Texas Department of Public Safety, which is more likely to produce night sweats.

The document outlines the agency’s proposed spending for the fiscal years 2018 and 2019, a period Director Steven McCraw warned could be particularly perilous for Texans. During that time, 900 “high risk criminals” would go unarrested by DPS. Troopers would let 98 potential traffic scofflaws pass unmolested — every day.

Building security provided by the agency would become more porous, placing government employees and elected officials at risk for their safety. Citizens seeking handgun licenses will suffer possibly dangerous delays.

The reason for the anticipated mayhem? Four months ago, state leaders instructed agencies to cut their budgets by 4 percent for 2018 and 2019. (Public education, border security and child protection were among a handful of services excluded from the mandate.)

Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/asked-to-cut-their-budgets-texas-state-agencies-re/nsmS5/

[tonyt53]

1. And yet, they want to secede. TX isn't much more than a welfare state.

Cut federal dollars going in, and they go bankrupt.

[Thinkingabout]

2. Oh my, I thought everything was going to be great in Texas if Republicans was in control.

Well this is a disappointment. Not really. When the concealed weapons license slow down then maybe they will start to understand. Texas could have received money with the Medicaid expansion but the hateful Republicans refused.

[Javaman]

3. this is the constant failure of the Texas repukes...

they always base their budget on the concept that there will always be a never ending supply of money from oil revenue.

now that oil is way down, they are panicking.

this is a rinse and repeat cycle of Texas politics.

oil goes up, repukes get in, oil crashes Dems come in to clean up repukes mess.

if this continues, there is a better than even chance that a Dem will be in the Gov's office next time around.