Help Get Texas

On the Road Forward!

In 2012, Texans from across the state will come together to talk about money. Youre invited to help lead the conversation! Texas lawmakers have known for years that the state budget was unstable and getting worse every year. In 2011, budget leaders dodged the historic shortfall with accounting gimmicks and fingers crossedbut already they are warning that they cant do it again. Whats worse, legislators created a built-in shortfall for the next biennium. They deliberately appropriated $5 billion less for health and social services than they expect state agencies to spend, to make it look like they were living within the states means. But they jealously guarded against spending the states Rainy Day Fundbecause they expect that in early 2013, they will have to use that Rainy Day Fund for overdraft protection.

You can help get the Texas budget out of the ditch by joining a local On the Road Forward team and helping to host a budget conversation in your community. Working with other community leaders in your area and with the support of staff from statewide groups, youll plan and carry out an event that engages your community and generates new ideas. The event will take place sometime in the summer or early fall of 2012. The conversation can be really big, or small and intimate; it can be town hall style with elected officials, or a roundtable discussion in a local school cafeteria or church basement. If you agree to participate

Youll be invited to join in a statewide conference call in April where youll meet other local leaders from around the state who are planning similar events in their areas; You and a other folks from your area will work together as a team to plan the event, promote it, turn people out to it, hold it, and do some follow-up tasks like preparing a short report; Youll get whatever resources you needincluding staff timefrom Texas Impact and our colleague organizations to ensure your event is a success.

Sounds great! Sign me up! Email Kymberlie Quong Charles at QuongCharles@cppp.org. Shell send you an invitation to the April call and answer any additional questions you have.

Texas is great, and it can be even better. Thanks for being a leader in your local community, and thanks for all you do for Texas!