Local Government

The transition from Comerica to Fifth Third is a mixed bag. One of my accounts is still in transition. It does not help when you talk to someone in customer service who is on another continent across the ocean. Frustrating for sure.

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In his latest TV ad, MAGA Gov. Greg Abbott attacks local government spending.

It looks like Abbott is hurting. I guess he thinks attacking local government is the way to go.

Along those lines, see this from the Chron:

Harris County commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday to adopt the highest county property tax rate in modern history in a bid to bridge a more-than $180 million projected budget deficit. 

Residents will pay 67 cents for every $100 in taxable property value, more than prior rates approved by Commissioners Court each year since at least the mid-1980’s. The deficit is the fourth consecutive shortfall county budget officials have projected since 2023, and is driven largely by law enforcement raises, rising healthcare costs and fees paid to attorneys appointed to represent defendants who cannot afford a lawyer. 

The increase will cost the average homeowner $198 more this year, according to the Office of Management and Budget. 

Judge Lina Hidalgo, a Democrat, voted against the increase alongside Republican Commissioner Tom Ramsey. Ramsey proposed leaving the rate unchanged. 

Here is the entire Chron read: Harris County residents to pay highest tax rate in modern history.

I think Texas voters are tired of Abbott’s act. So, Abbott is trying to divert attention to local property taxes and local government spending. I am thinking voters won’t buy into this meddling, err diversion.

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This does not surprise me. See this from the Trib:

David Maxwell, the former top cop under Attorney General Ken Paxton, has endorsed Paxton’s opponent, James Talarico, for U.S. Senate.

Maxwell spent nearly 50 years working in law enforcement in Texas, as a Texas Ranger, a sergeant in the Texas Department of Public Safety and the director of law enforcement for the attorney general’s office for nearly a decade.

In 2020, he and other top agency employees reported Paxton to the FBI, claiming he had improperly used the office to benefit his friend and political donor, Nate Paul. After Maxwell and others who reported Paxton were fired, they filed a lawsuit under the Texas Whistleblower Act.

Last year, a judge ordered Texas to pay the whistleblowers $6.6 million. Paxton did not appeal the judgement, but he has not admitted wrongdoing. Investigations into misconduct related to his relationship with Paul have been closed without action.

Maxwell testified against Paxton at his 2023 impeachment trial, saying that the attorney general pushed him to pursue investigations on Paul’s behalf. Maxwell warned Paxton he “was going to get himself indicted,” he said on the stand during the impeachment trial. Paxton was acquitted by the Republican-controlled Texas Senate.

In a new ad, Talarico’s campaign says Maxwell is “the best of the best,” who “knows a bad guy when he sees one.” The Austin lawmaker has put Paxton’s history of legal and ethical woes at the center of his U.S. Senate campaign, in which he is running neck and neck with Paxton.

“Ken Paxton ended my five-decade career in public service because I blew the whistle on his corruption,” Maxwell said in a statement. “Today, I’m endorsing James Talarico because Texans deserve a Senator who serves the people — not a crook who serves himself.”

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I am also not surprised at this. See this from the Chron:

Harris County commissioners rejected a proposed 30% raise for county Treasurer Carla Wyatt Tuesday.

It was the latest setback for the embattled Wyatt, who has twice been arrested on drunken driving charges, has had some of her office’s duties taken away, and may watch her position abolished entirely as early as next year. 

A committee of randomly selected citizens drawn from a pool of grand jurors recommended last month that Wyatt’s pay be increased to $181,411. Wyatt initially requested an increase to $250,000, but asked the committee during the hearing to instead consider setting her pay at $305,000 to match a recent slate of raises for elected officials approved by commissioners. 

Commissioners considered the item Tuesday but rejected it without discussion. 

We need to abolish the Harris County Treasurer Office.

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I have mentioned that KPRC Channel 2 News has been promoting “Enough,” their new program on accountability. The show will be launched this Sunday evening. The featured photo promoting the show is interesting. Not a newscast, they say. Interesting.

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We won in Philly last night and still have a 2-game lead in the AL West with 17 games left to play.