Texas Comptroller's Office of Economic Development and Analysis presentation at LCRA's Economic Development Forum in Austin on December 16th 2011

1. 2011 LCRA Open House
Economic Development
Tax Programs and Incentives
December 16, 2011
Presented by:
Julie Rabeux
Manager, Economic Development & Analysis
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
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2. Economic Development & Analysis
Previously:
Local Government Assistance and Analysis
Division focus:
• provide Economic Development and technical
assistance to local
governments, chambers, and ED entities on tax
programs and incentive support
• job creation initiatives
• economic impact analysis
• financial transparency
• budgeting and purchasing efficiencies
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3. Economic Development & Analysis
Rural Initiative
EDA provides economic development and technical
assistance to fit the needs of rural communities in Texas.
We specialize in subjects ranging from:
• tax programs and incentive support;
• job creation initiatives;
• economic impact analysis;
• financial transparency;
• limiting financial exposure
• budgeting and purchasing efficiencies.
The rural initiative provides local government officials and economic
developers a team of analysts who can provide technical assistance
on a variety of issues related to state and local tax
programs, financial management, and federal, state, and local
economics.
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4. Tax Programs and Incentives
• Sales Tax Programs:
Type A / Type B
New: Online Tutorial, Project Map
Municipal Development Districts
Manufacturing Exemptions
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5. Tax Programs and Incentives
• Property Tax Programs:
Property Tax Abatements
Tax Increment Financing
Freeport and Goods in Transit Exemption
Chapter 313 – Value Limitation and Tax Credits
• Event Trust Funds
Texas’ event trust fund programs help its communities
offset the costs of hosting sporting and non-athletic
events.
• Other programs
Hotel Occupancy Tax
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6. Local Government Transparency
Texas Comptroller Leadership
Circle Program
• Launched in December 2009
• Cities, Counties, School Districts
and Special Districts
• Voluntary Participation
• Self Scored (with CPA verification)
• Gold, Silver or Bronze certificates
• Certification is for one year, then must reapply
• NEW Monthly Community Spotlight
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7. Leadership Circle Program
Financial Transparency: Recommended Documents
• Annual Budget
• Annual Audited Report
• Expense/Check Register
*Two of the three recommended documents are only
updated annually which means less work time for auditors
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8. Leadership Circle Award Levels
BRONZE - Any 2 of the documents
SILVER - Any 2 of the documents + ‘financial
transparency’ Web page
GOLD - All 3 documents + ‘financial transparency’
Web page
Financial Transparency Web Page = One Web page where
users can find all recommended documents and any other
relevant information.
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9. Other resources for local governments?
Budgeting Manuals for Texas Cities and
Counties
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10. Purchasing Manual
Model Purchasing Manual for Cities and
Counties
• Understand the competitive
bidding process
• How to evaluate bidder
qualifications
• Learn how to stretch your
dollars with cooperative
purchasing opportunities
• Electronic procurement and
reverse auctions
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11. Funding Opportunities
JET- Equipment Fund
Job Building Fund
The job building fund provides grants
to community colleges to support
building and equipment demands for
high-growth industries throughout the
state in an era of rapidly increasing
enrollment.
Who Qualifies:
Texas public community colleges or technical institutes.
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12. JET- Equipment Fund
• 44 community colleges and technical
schools have bought state-of-the-art
equipment in the past two years to train
students for a wide range of high-demand
careers
• The state’s investment in 61
programs, was matched by local dollars
that will train more than 8,200 students
annually.
• The training on JET-funded equipment
will bring tangible financial benefits to
every successful student and their families;
on average, students should annually
earn $17,663 more than they would with
no postsecondary education
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13. SECO Programs
• Texas LoanStar Program
• More than $240 million in loans have
gone to state agencies, school
districts, colleges and universities, local
governments and hospitals to finance
building modifications designed to save
energy.
• Energy Conservation Funding & Incentives
• Pollution Mitigation Program
• Solar Energy for Schools
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14. www.TexasAhead.org
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15. Economic Outlook
 Refreshed weekly data on: Jobs, Housing, Consumer
Confidence, Oil & Natural Gas, and Stimulus activities

16. TexasEdge Tool
http://www.texasahead.org/texasedge/

17. Web and Multi Media Resources
Websites
 Texas Ahead: www.TexasAhead.org
 New page dedicated to Rural Initiative:
www.TexasAhead.org/rural
GovDelivery
 Sign up for topic specific emails through our
govdelivery system
Social Media
 Facebook and Twitter
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18. Questions?
Julie Rabeux
Economic Development & Analysis
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
_______________________________
Julie.Rabeux@cpa.state.tx.us
(512) 475-5601
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