Texas Revenue Forecast Timing Disputed Ahead of Budget
The state's two-year budget outlook depends on a revenue estimate due to lawmakers in January, and disagreement over its schedule could affect planning.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Economic Indicators
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Texas Comptroller-elect Sarah Eckhardt said she will ask Governor Greg Abbott to appoint her Comptroller before January, after disputing the agency's claim that the state's Biennial Revenue Estimate is on schedule. The estimate projects how much money Texas expects to generate over the next two years and is due to the legislature in January.
Why it matters
The Biennial Revenue Estimate sets the baseline for how much the state can spend over the next two-year budget cycle, so disagreement over its timing affects planning for state budgets that households rely on. Eckhardt cited federal information delays and a significant reduction in agency staffing as reasons the work could be late, while the Comptroller's Office says it is ahead of schedule.
The state's agency spending reduction directive requires a 3 percent cut, and the Comptroller's office terminated 41 employees in its first weeks under Don Huffines. The Biennial Revenue Estimate covers a two-year budget period, so the timing and accuracy of this single projection shape state spending decisions across that span.
The players
Sarah Eckhardt
Texas Comptroller-elect who is seeking appointment to the office and has raised concerns about the state's revenue estimate schedule.
Greg Abbott
Texas governor who appoints the Comptroller when a vacancy occurs and who directed state agencies to reduce spending by 3 percent.
Don Huffines
Texas Comptroller who oversees the state's tax collection and revenue forecasting, and who has offered to publish the Biennial Revenue Estimate in December.
The details
The Comptroller develops the Biennial Revenue Estimate and presents it to the governor and legislature in January, and it serves as the forecast that lawmakers use when deciding how much the state can spend over the next two years. Eckhardt said her concerns about delays came from conversations with people inside and outside the agency, and she pointed to a delay in federal information along with staffing losses. The Comptroller's Office disputes that account and says the estimate is ahead of schedule. Huffines has offered to publish the estimate in December, and the 3 percent spending reduction directive from the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the House is intended to bring state agencies in line with budget constraints.
Timeline
August: Don Huffines assumed the office of Comptroller and later announced a comprehensive performance review of the agency.
September: The Dallas Morning News reported that Huffines had terminated 41 employees.
Wednesday, November 5, 2026: Eckhardt held a news conference on her plans for the office and the revenue estimate.
December: Huffines has offered to publish the Biennial Revenue Estimate.
January: The legislature convenes, the Biennial Revenue Estimate is due, and Eckhardt is set to assume office.
Money Landscape
The Biennial Revenue Estimate is a recurring two-year state forecast that anchors Texas budget decisions each legislative session. Its timing and accuracy matter because the forecast determines how much room lawmakers have for spending and tax policy in the coming biennium.
If the revenue estimate is delayed or revised, lawmakers will have less certainty when setting the state's two-year budget, which can affect funding for services that households use. Households watching state spending priorities may want to track the December and January dates when the forecast is expected.
The takeaway
The Biennial Revenue Estimate will set the baseline for state spending through the next two years, so its release date is worth noting. Watch for the December publication date Huffines offered and the January legislative deadline.
What happens next
The Biennial Revenue Estimate is due to the legislature in January, and Huffines has offered to publish it in December, so the publication date will be a near-term checkpoint.
Further reading
For broader context on the data behind this dispute, see Economic Indicators coverage for Texas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KXAN.
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