Texas will have another budget surplus heading into next session

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Texas Comptroller will release its estimated revenue the day before the start of the next legislative session and the comptroller said the state will have another surplus.

"Once again the legislature here is in a very positive position to make some real monumental decisions and life-changing decisions for Texans," Glenn Hegar, the Texas Comptroller, explained.

Two years ago state lawmakers were given a record $32.7 billion surplus which it used to make a lot of one-time expenses on infrastructure funding and giving out property tax cuts. The state was able to carry over some of that surplus into the next budgetary cycle.

The surplus money could be used to set up an education savings account program, fulfilling one of the top priorities for state Republicans. An education savings account would allow Texas families to use state money to pay for their child's private school.

How that program would look is still a mystery right now. State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R - Conroe, told Nexstar late last year he believes the bill will be a universal program -- meaning any family could take advantage of the program. Creighton said the program will have a set dollar amount and that money would come from the surplus. A school choice bill has not been filed yet.

There are some state Republicans who are not fully on-board with establishing an ESA program. State Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R - New Boston, voted against the bill last session. Ahead of the new session, he said he is open to discussion about a possible program but wants to make sure money is not taken away from public schools.

"We've been told that certain proposals will not affect funding of public schools, and if that's the case then certinaly that is great. I appreciate that. We need to be careful that we're not just looking at today but looking to the future implications of this bill," VanDeaver said.

Hegar said his office will most likely be responsible for standing up the program and managing it. He provided some insight into how it could be funded. He is suggesting the state start small, focusing on certain demographics, like economically disadvantaged students and those with disabilities.

"If you're making it universal but you're also taking one step at a time so you know actually what are the parameters and how you balance the entire education system in the state of Texas," Hegar explained.