Reference no: EM133364900

Texas lawmakers in the 88th Legislature are working with a record-breaking budget surplus of $32.7 billion, on top of the $188.2 billion already in the budget. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and other GOP officials in the executive branch and the state's legislature have been at odds over what to do with the windfall, which lawmakers will be able to allocate for the 2024-2025 biennial budget cycle later this year. Some lawmakers have suggested spending it on one-time investments on infrastructure, while Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick say they want to return it to homeowners through property tax relief. Meanwhile, Democrats are emphasizing one-time infrastructure expenditures for roads, water, the electric grid and rural broadband internet access. They also are exploring investments in education.

What do you think? What do you believe the Texas Legislature should do with the surplus? Would you rather see the money spent on providing additional services, such as infrastructure and education? Or, do you think the surplus should go toward property tax cuts? Explain the reasoning behind your opinion. Give great detail and explanations on the response. Reference any material that needs to be referenced.