UPDATED August 26, 2020

For the latest information on COVID-19 check out the MISD, City of Mansfield, Texas Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control websites.  You can get up to date county information from the Ellis, Tarrant, or Johnson County websites.  Click the links below:

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UPDATED April 8, 2020

Texas Governor Abbott Updates: 

• Governor Abbott Announces Incoming Shipments Of PPE, Provides Update On Distribution In Texas (News Release Here)

  • Download the presentation on PPE distribution in Texas here

• Governor Abbott Announces Care.com Initiative To Increase In-Home Child Care Access For Frontline Workers (News Release Here)

• Texas WIC Expands Eligible Foods, Launches Updated App (News Release Here)

 
 Texas Comptroller Hegar, Update on Economy and State Budget – The Texas Tribune 
 
Major takeaways:  

• New revenue projection: likely coming in July for revised FY20-21.  Reduction will be “several billions”.

• Special Session: We will not need to have a special session to deal with the crisis for the current biennium.  There are enough tools in the tool-kit to move money around until next January.  “Tools” mentioned by Hegar:  ask agencies to reduce expenses, move money around, federal funding, borrow from the Rainy Day Fund. 

• Agency Reductions: Leadership needs to direct agencies to start reducing costs now – reductions should be over a long period of time to be most effective.  Can’t start in 6 months.  Hegar has already started implementing cost savings measures at his office – no new hires, cut IT projects.  He is advising other agencies to do the same.  

• Data Collection: Current data is lagging.  Won’t collect March sales tax receipts until April 20, etc. Right now, looking at impact of previous downturns and major events like 9/11, but nothing is really comparable.  Example: After 9/11 hotel occupancy (which impacts hotel occupancy tax) was down 28% at its worst point.  Right now it is down 67%.  Therefore, won’t start to see true picture until data collection catches up.  We know we are in a recession, we just don’t know how wide and deep.  

• Tax Relief:  Hegar is getting requests from multiple industries for relief.  Service industry asking for sales tax deferral, oil and gas industry asking for deferrals in severance tax.  Hegar said he is trying to work with the various industries, but he only has blanket authority to do a sales tax deferral across the board, which will impact all the local governments collection of sales tax.  He doesn’t have ability to pinpoint specific industries. Doesn’t seem likely he is considering this option at the moment.

• Federal Funds: “Feds have the power to print money, Texas does not”. Texas expects to receive $11B from the CARES Act to cover COVID expenses – 55% to Texas, 45% to local governments.  Hegar discussed package #4 being discussed by Congress – may be more about helping states recover (non-COVID expenses).  Package #2 included an increase FMAP of 6.2% for two quarters, which will save Texas $1 Billion in GR. Hegar hopes that will continue in package #4. 

• New Taxes/Revenue:  Hegar was asked if he had a list of new revenue options to give to the Legislature if we need new revenue sources next session.  Hegar replied that he always points people to his report on tax exemptions and exclusions – which lists out all services/products exempted or excluded from various taxes the state currently collects.  Ross Ramsey (Texas Tribune) mentioned that report lists $58-60 billlion in items. Hegar cautioned to be careful how you read it – one item may be exempted from one tax, only to be picked up in another. 

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UPDATED MARCH 30, 2020

The Senate unanimously passed the “CARES Act”, click below to see it's details.

 

https://www.kmklaw.com/pp/publication-Senate-Passes-CARES-Act.pdf

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UPDATED MARCH 19, 2020

Dr. Pat Rabjohn provides some great information about viruses. Check out his video concerning COVID-19