Bill
    SB 200
    
    
        85(R) - 2017    
    
    
        Senate Finance    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
        Senate Finance    
    
    
    
            Local Government
    
    
    
    
     
    
        Vote Recommendation
        
            
                Vote Yes; Amend            
            
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                    Neutral                
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                    Neutral                
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                    Neutral                
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                    Positive                
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                    Neutral                
 
     
    
            Author(s)
                    Donna Campbell
        
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
        
Bill Caption
        Relating to public access to boundary, financial, and tax rate information of certain political subdivisions.    
    
    
        
Fiscal Notes
        From the LBB: a negative impact of ($796,000) through the biennium ending
August 31, 2019, assuming the agency implements the program. The agency is not required to
implement the legislation in the absence of an appropriation.
    
    
    
        Bill Analysis
        SB 200 would require the Texas Education Agency to annually transmit an electronic copy of each school district’s adopted budget and financial reports to the comptroller. 
The comptroller would create an internet database, The Political Subdivision Information Warehouse, that contains information regarding all political subdivisions that are authorized to impose an ad valorem or sales and use tax or to issue bonds. The database must include the ad valorem tax rates of the political subdivisions and the boundaries of the subdivision. The database would be free to the public. 
     
    
        
        
Vote Recommendation Notes
        SB 200 enhances our limited government principle by increasing information available to the public which increases transparency. However, we believe this bill can be strengthened by including all political subdivisions and all tax and fee rates of each subdivision.    
    
    
    Organizations Supporting
            Texas Apartment Association
            Texas Taxpayers & Research Association