Texas Comptroller, The State Bureaucrat Who Can Grind Budgets To A Halt

This elected official knows how much money the state has, and where it is.

By Ben PhilpottJanuary 23, 2018 9:30 am, , ,

From KUT:

The Texas Legislature writes the state budget. The governor signs it into law. But with a single action, the Texas comptroller can kill the entire appropriations process.

But before we get to that, let’s start with the real burning issue: How do you pronounce comptroller? Do you pronounce it controller or comptroller?

The name, job description and spelling originally come from England. The full title there is Comptroller General of the Receipt and Issue of Her Majesty’s Exchequer and Auditor General of Public Accounts.

Anyway, Texas started using it and pronounces it with the P.

“It’s really what side of the Red River you’re on is how you pronounce it,” says UT Law School Professor Hugh Brady.

OK, pronunciation aside, what does the office do?

The simple answer: The office deals with the state’s money.

Former state representative and budget writer Talmadge Heflin knows a thing or two about the comptroller’s office. He’s calls the comptroller the chief financial officer of the state.

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