[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6364172,"mediaKeyId","2165200-802bdfe6bfb3a3aa540b9a7889b911e9","parentId",2165200,"title","Comptroller seeks $50.4M to boost disabled‑veteran property tax reimbursements; senators warn of spiraling costs","audioSeconds",3798,"startMs",368000,"endMs",4166000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165200-802bdfe6bfb3a3aa540b9a7889b911e9&start=368&end=4166","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165200-802bdfe6bfb3a3aa540b9a7889b911e9/thumbnail_368000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6364172/Texas/Comptroller-seeks-504M-to-boost-disabledveteran-property-tax-reimbursements-senators-warn-of-spiraling-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364172-e01fd59b1801d63793ae18e33a0d2d13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140046&Signature=BZrmneOjYvTY2Ap3JMWKVWdI9dvp6XBJuTnN-lg~sGoSrAtgUeipBhocQbCerICEgDimsYaxI4PbT39DVS7NluJUHJV2z6pwXipTteCHa1CmoBtF8NeLjBXPPtwrjmdOX0fVhLIOKxJ~ayEgYv00TLu7fFfYzj960tOZsQoJ~9E9ElmqS-~tLZr90hXX8LoNHLP8pTfD-VBFsKDQyR5jCj19HDUercy73xjHpy1wUPqRia4JdPeumI2nZ-QWJaQsrBVRoH77c8CQgXYINOV~nCJhjPXKdSCgJKriNVTRQEm~uwVLmOzkIkequcL3b4WOUSkQhLL8VZXN7ArlWupCng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Senate Sessions","date","2025-01-29T00:00:00Z","article","Comptroller Glenn Hager told senators the agency requested an additional $50.4 million in the 2026–27 biennium to increase reimbursements to local governments that lose property tax revenue because of state‑authorized disabled‑veteran exemptions.

Hager said the requested $50.4 million would be added “on top of the $19,000,000 currently in the base” with the goal of restoring the program to the original 77% replacement level for affected local revenue. He suggested that at the program’s inception the appropriation replaced roughly 77% of exempted revenue but that due to growth in qualifying exemptions the program currently replaces roughly 27% of local revenue, and that local requests have risen from about $11 million in 2020 to roughly $35 million in 2024.

LBB staff told the committee the increase for disabled‑veteran assistance payments was the principal exceptional item not included in the LBB recommendations. Committee members asked how the program is administered and how funds are distributed; the comptroller’s office said distribution is pro rata among qualifying local governments and noted the existing pool would not be brought to 100% reimbursement by the requested funding — the request would restore reimbursement to the original 77% target for the current pool of eligible local entities.

Senators pressed on growth in the number of qualifying jurisdictions and applicants and warned the program’s cost has grown quickly; several members suggested policy options such as capping benefits, phasing benefits by home value, or otherwise tightening eligibility or apportionment to limit future biennial growth. Comptroller staff said historical appropriation last year was $9.5 million, the locals’ requested total was $34.7 million and that the appropriation funded roughly 27.4% on a pro rata basis for that cycle — figures the comptroller’s office said it would confirm and provide in writing.

Why it matters: the program shifts fiscal burden to local governments when state reimbursement does not match exemption growth. Senators signaled interest in examining eligibility metrics, pro‑rata distribution methods and whether the program should be capped or otherwise restructured to avoid runaway biennial cost increases.

The comptroller and LBB agreed further discussions are needed; LBB said it had not included the requested increase in its recommended package.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","01/29/2025\tSenate Committee on Finance (Part I) Note: Due to technical difficulties, the audio begins at the 26 second mark.","oneSentenceSummary","The comptroller requested an additional $50.4 million to increase local reimbursements for disabled‑veteran property tax exemptions (on top of $19 million in the base) to restore a prior 77% replacement level; LBB did not include the request and senators raised concerns about eligibility growth and escalating costs to local governments.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16215,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364174,"Comptroller outlines opioid abatement fund split, council awards and timing for local payments",0,1067000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165200-802bdfe6bfb3a3aa540b9a7889b911e9&start=1067&end=1067","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165200-802bdfe6bfb3a3aa540b9a7889b911e9/thumbnail_1067000.jpg","/articles/6364174/Texas/Comptroller-outlines-opioid-abatement-fund-split-council-awards-and-timing-for-local-payments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364174-fea620da261e2911757cec1ea58013b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140046&Signature=IOIiTUo8~H0Eb13mu8TiETokFc~yVD5BkhO3RL9drCaafREOf8KcBMXX4tZZqY4F5VI0wxT4XtluykpetPvUsm2ZLDuL0G6595umm9w4pth-tdr-TQGnrncfK306WKSY7AASIN0D3PBzjmLSQpXmY2pcN~XPPyL~95I4q1gge-FvJmnvVt3f5Fde3qC1jcixeg0ppH5qqxlV-EXqgrlCdq2jRM6fz7VHZG7Mmk4gmQ0JoJM0xOGBH97PJjKrgjGBl~AIm8ApoBxFuGONivpCsh6-Z23Lg3OtmJe48fIwgYYxENqvFhBusHnFJ6WmZg6wytIuv~7~pTsNW~5i5~5JQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Comptroller Glenn Hager told senators the state splits opioid settlement dollars into three designated buckets and provided an update on council awards and timing for local disbursements.

Hager said settlement dollars that come to Texas are split roughly into three buckets: 70% to the opioid abatement council, 15% to local entities and 15% to the legislature for appropriation. The timing of funds varies by settlement; some payments are lump sums and others are spread over many years, Hager said.

Hager told senators the office has been distributing local payments roughly on a March–April schedule in recent years but that some small jurisdictions have trouble providing required wiring and banking information; the office has been working with county and city associations to collect accurate payee information so funds can be disbursed. He said the council recently approved vendor selection for an education program and that the council approved roughly $75 million for three different strategies to be deployed across the state.

Separately, the LBB recommendation package noted that $42 million had been appropriated to the comptroller from the opioid abatement account in a prior session but remained largely unexpended; LBB recommended reducing that appropriation to $5 million for the biennium to cover administrative costs incurred by the opioid abatement fund council.

Why it matters: the process and timing determine when local governments and regional programs receive settlement funds for prevention, treatment and other abatement strategies. Senators pressed the comptroller for timelines and asked how the public can track distributions; Hager pointed to a dedicated website and offered staff assistance in answering member questions about specific local providers and timing.

Hager said the opioid abatement council members (appointing authorities include the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general) review ranked applications and approve awards; the comptroller’s office hires third parties to perform technical rankings and then the council reviews and approves awards.","Comptroller Glenn Hager described how opioid settlement funds are split among the abatement council, local governments and the legislature, and said local distributions have typically been made in March or April; LBB proposed reducing a prior $42 million appropriation to $5 million to cover administrative costs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364175,"Comptroller, LBB detail federal BEAD funds, county targeting and a satellite pilot for rural broadband",2961,256000,3217000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165200-802bdfe6bfb3a3aa540b9a7889b911e9&start=256&end=3217","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165200-802bdfe6bfb3a3aa540b9a7889b911e9/thumbnail_256000.jpg","/articles/6364175/Texas/Comptroller-LBB-detail-federal-BEAD-funds-county-targeting-and-a-satellite-pilot-for-rural-broadband","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364175-b01c5dd36f13fd850b929d1cdf9bc15b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140046&Signature=j0yRK1tIXM8qW-xmYvEVuDIIfrPhqDR5pr3teAN-RGlx~vpGjUBHNebSiEpzql9hDzpG5K9GCViVv-oscEtOWYb2U6NDBiA0P0~5fxV~LxR6HNwzJRuxkfK0XIB6Jnrgqi3x6UZ8RGR0yLE92fH2uOHIvA2-oKAGHG466kl6pz9riLt-6Tv9qdi6zOlp3lFrigt9I1huGOFOT5Rk~n7Jk99QHKLuc214vxWi53fkYTeOEAUGo6rGZQyG12Elw7bVQIMpkYDrSMHrHB-HD6zG3puEUJcnSAzT4a2KsxUBSbdCieBnDUxAy9XV6trDec0A2C6ZsvT2GTwUx1YQaVr~RQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative Budget Board staff and Comptroller Glenn Hager described federal and state broadband funding the comptroller’s office plans to use to expand service in unserved areas of Texas.

The LBB brief noted a net increase in fiscal program funding to about $5.7 billion in all funds for the 2026–27 biennium, driven primarily by newly available federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) grant funding and a rider appropriation of $1.3 billion for a transfer to the Texas Fund. LBB recommended reclassifying federal funds in a specified GRD account and granting an exceptional item request for $1.67 billion in BEAD funding to deploy broadband.

Comptroller Hager said the agency anticipates receiving approximately $1.67 billion from the federal BEAD program and is using a mix of federal and state dollars and program design choices to meet federal timelines. He told senators the office targeted the remaining funds to 24 counties — two in each of the state’s 12 economic regions — to ensure the funds could be deployed within federal deadlines and to avoid overlapping awards across competing ISP proposals.

Hager also said the office opened a $30 million pilot for low‑earth‑orbit satellite proposals to reach locations where fiber is not feasible and that the agency is working with technical partners to review ISP proposals and past performance. The comptroller’s office said matching and timing requirements from federal partners mean some awards and disbursements will take months to finalize; staff said they expect some local disbursements next year after federal approvals.

Why it matters: BEAD and state broadband programs determine which rural and hard‑to‑reach communities receive funding and set the technology mix (fiber, wireless, satellite) used to expand service. Senators asked for lists of targeted counties and asked the comptroller to provide clearer timelines and historical accounting of broadband project funding.

The broadband development office uses a combination of technical reviews (with academic or technical contractors) and financial and past‑performance reviews to score ISP proposals and award contracts, the comptroller’s office said. The finance staff said they would provide lists of selected counties and award schedules to members on request.","The comptroller’s office and LBB discussed federal BEAD funding, state matches and program structure, including a county‑targeted round and a $30 million low‑orbit satellite pilot to reach unserved rural locations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364176,"LBB outlines Comptroller budget recommendation, flags FTE correction and IT priorities",492,78000,570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165200-802bdfe6bfb3a3aa540b9a7889b911e9&start=78&end=570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165200-802bdfe6bfb3a3aa540b9a7889b911e9/thumbnail_78000.jpg","/articles/6364176/Texas/LBB-outlines-Comptroller-budget-recommendation-flags-FTE-correction-and-IT-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364176-e134f4a4fafb524fcffad4e9ea594ce4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140046&Signature=CJq7VxzKeG-sSAZSpIZLzf0Cowi1SSt82MfYzXqo-NARTnrD2A6cz0WxgQO8aLTnKWyQRVWECr0-BfJOv0ZHiDoQ-r2uHobcCyDPV0XUp9bNOg9TYhBcPxm4lUCat4HwGR9wzTp1CVILJ4bh1eC0KVn5rQPEjOlLzLkBX~6oVKxeN9nbnGEbJc2IFoHzI67TFSBM2jhcvQMZ5cmVij-mm6gJT0mOGoe2RenpZDPtDjnaz4xDKF1inB191AXmCmycH5ZHwkWFXGkyZNrbO0oDSxr5YrKQgjuAcWgtBUTqEV~t0O6JKAvUQ2c1QsOFzgcY~R96714z5YeXUtpPaB0mzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Legislative Budget Board on Tuesday presented recommendations for the Comptroller of Public Accounts for the 2026–27 biennium that include $739,400,000 in all funds and changes to the agency’s FTE cap and riders.

The recommendation document identifies a technical error in the LBB calculation of the FTE reduction; LBB staff said the correct reduction should be 125.8 FTEs, which would provide a revised agency cap of 2,840.5 FTEs, and that the board intends to propose a technical correction during markup. Charlie Smith of the LBB summarized the recommendation and noted the correction to the FTE calculation.

Why it matters: the comptroller’s office handles statewide accounting, payroll and tax administration; funding and staffing decisions determine the office’s ability to keep the state’s financial systems online, complete IT modernization projects and provide taxpayer services.

The LBB summary lists several net funding changes: a $20.9 million decrease from removal of unexpended balances, an $8.0 million reduction in one‑time funding for statewide accounting and payroll systems, a $13.9 million increase transferred from fiscal programs for advanced tax compliance, and $11.6 million to biannualize statewide salary increases. Rider modifications include a net $10.7 million decrease in capital budget authority for the biennium and recommended changes to riders that would, among other things, uncapped an estimated appropriation of liquidity fees and removed the allocation from the opioid abatement account to the Division of Emergency Management.

On statewide IT systems, the LBB update and agency witnesses reiterated ongoing work to migrate agencies onto the centralized CAPS system; the LBB briefing said only three agencies remained to go live. The recommendation provides $106.9 million for ongoing CAPS support and management. Comptroller Glenn Hager described broader modernization priorities — replacing legacy mainframe systems such as the Uniform Statewide Accounting System (USAS) and the Texas Identification Number System (TINS/TENS), improving cybersecurity, and a STAR “bolt‑on” project to restore functionality not yet present in CAPS.

Hager asked the committee to restore some of the FTE reductions and to allow conversion of certain contractors to state FTEs. He outlined exceptional items in priority order, including funding for vacant positions and salary adjustments, targeted increases for the audit and enforcement divisions, STAR modernization, additional IT projects, and funding for Criminal Investigation Division positions.

Several senators questioned timeline, costs and recurring maintenance for IT projects and asked the comptroller to provide a historical summary of IT spending across sessions. The comptroller’s office said STAR and other modernization efforts would take multiple years and that some previous appropriations were insufficient compared with bid results.

The LBB presenter concluded the summary and opened for questions; the comptroller then testified and expanded on staffing and IT needs.","The Legislative Budget Board presented recommendations for the Comptroller of Public Accounts for the 2026–27 biennium, including all‑funds totals, FTE cap adjustments and funding for statewide IT projects; the Comptroller and senators questioned staffing, modernization and selected exceptional items.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Comptroller seeks $50.4M to boost disabled‑veteran property tax reimbursements; senators warn of spiraling costs

Comptroller outlines opioid abatement fund split, council awards and timing for local payments

Comptroller, LBB detail federal BEAD funds, county targeting and a satellite pilot for rural broadband

LBB outlines Comptroller budget recommendation, flags FTE correction and IT priorities