Raves, Rants & Roses

RESPONSE: Tom Pauken, the new chair of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), jumped to the wrong conclusion about local taxes (Meaningful Tax Relief Still Not Accomplished, Sept 1).

When you use TWC numbers to compare one year to the next, Texas local government employment grew by only 19,900 (1.8 percent), while total private employment grew by 226,900 (2.6 percent).

As a result, local government employment has actually decreased as a percentage of total employment. Local government is not on a spending spree and nothing is out of balance. Our local communities, through our local governments supported by our local taxes, provide critical public infrastructure: public education for our children, good roads, and police, fire, and EMS.

An effective local government is essential to a strong local economy.

Dick Lavine
Center for Public Policy Priorities

Austin