Texas Comptroller Certifies $182 Billion Budget

KELLEY SHANNON

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.