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Texas Comptroller Certifies $182 Billion Budget

The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Comptroller Susan Combs certified the state's two-year $182 billion budget Monday, saying there is enough revenue to support it.

Lawmakers approved the budget covering the 2010-11 spending cycle before adjourning their session June 1. Republican Gov. Rick Perry has yet to weigh in on what parts of the budget he agrees or disagrees with.

In her role as comptroller, Combs must decide whether to certify the spending plan. She announced that she certified the main budget and the supplemental budget, a $2.4 billion plan to cover unexpected costs for the rest of 2009. That supplemental budget includes money to address damages from Hurricane Ike.

"There is sufficient revenue available to support all of the budget bills passed by the 81st Legislature," Combs wrote in a letter to Perry. The letter was also sent to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, House Speaker Joe Straus and other legislative leaders.

Unlike other states, where money is tight and budgets are in trouble, Texas moved through its legislative session without major budget hurdles. At the start of the session it appeared Texas would face a difficult revenue year, but the state was helped in large part by billions of dollars in federal economic stimulus money.

The budget includes $12.1 billion in stimulus money.

Most of the budget's money is dedicated to education and health care. The massive spending plan increases funding for pre-kindergarten programs, makes it possible for 35,0000 more eligible students to receive college tuition help from the TEXAS Grants financial aid program and gives correctional officers a 3.5 percent raise.

Perry has line-item veto power over the budget and has until June 21 to review the 900-plus page document crafted by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

The budget leaves an estimated $9 billion balance in the state's so-called Rainy Day Fund, a savings account that may be desperately needed when Texas legislators convene again for a regular session in 2011. Perry has praised lawmakers for leaving that money alone.

Perry spokeswoman Allison Castle said Monday the governor is pleased the comptroller certified a budget that "provided a tax cut to 40,000 small businesses and increased financial aid for college students by more than 40 percent." She also said the budget cut state general revenue spending by $1.6 billion.