Texas Senate passes budget stressing tax cuts, mental health, employee pay raises

The Senate on Monday unanimously passed a two-year, $308 billion state budget that stresses property tax cuts, mental health, the electric grid and pay raises for state employees and teachers.
 

While the senators would spend several billion more of state discretionary dollars than the House, they still would leave more than $17 billion on the table, said bill author Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston.

“We must craft a budget that is responsible and sustainable in future years, which requires leaving revenue in the Treasury to support new, ongoing expenses moving forward,” she said.