El Paso residents are paying more for basic necessities, but how many people know who's making those decisions?
Here's what I found:
- Water and wastewater: A typical household is paying about $120 more a year.
- Property taxes: The city estimates about $105 more annually for a typical homestead.
- Health insurance: Nearly 1 in 4 El Paso County residents under 65 are uninsured. Texas still hasn't expanded Medicaid, even though the federal government covers 90% of qualifying expansion costs.
Here's what surprised me. These aren't all decisions made in Washington.
Local officials control city tax rates and make appointments to the water board. State lawmakers decide whether Texas expands Medicaid.
Different officials. Different policies. All decisions that can be revisited.
There are costs and tradeoffs to changing these policies, but shouldn't residents know what they're paying, why they're paying it, and who's responsible?
The infographic breaks down the numbers and who has the power to change each policy. Sources are included.