A Report to the
Citizens of Texas
Sept. 1, 2008 – Aug. 31, 2009
State Performance Measures
The following performance measures show Texas’ achievements in education, transportation and public health and safety – all key government services influencing and affecting residents’ quality of life.
| Education | Fiscal 2008 | Fiscal 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Percent of Students Completing High School | 88.6% | 89.5% |
| Percent of Students Passing All Tests Taken | 69.25% | 72.02% |
| Natural Resources | Fiscal 2008 | Fiscal 2009 |
| Percent of Private Land Acreage in Texas Managed to Enhance Wildlife | 15.04% | 15.72% |
| Number of Grant Assisted Projects Completed Note: Grant assisted projects are local park acquisition, development, or construction projects that receive a state or federal matching grant. |
39% | 31% |
| Public Safety | Fiscal 2008 | Fiscal 2009 |
| Number of crimes committed per 100,000 population (Index Crime Rate) | 4,631 | 4,495 |
| Number of Emergency Incidents Coordinated | 6,206 | 5,783 |
| Public Health | Fiscal 2008 | Fiscal 2009 |
| Prevalence of Tobacco Use among Middle & High School Youth in Target Areas of Texas | 24.5% | 23.7% |
| Number of Women and Children Served (Family Violence Services) | 74,801 | 77,739 |
| Transportation | Fiscal 2008 | Fiscal 2009 |
| Dollar Volume of Construction Contracts Awarded | $2,773,640,000 | $2,681,390,000 |
| Number of Construction Projects Awarded | 657 | 677 |
Source: Legislative Budget Board
Texas Leads the Way
The saying that everything is bigger in Texas rings true in a host of areas. The state continually ranks as a leader among states for its energy production, exports and cutting-edge research and technology. For example, the Lone Star State:
leads… the nation in renewable energy potential. Texas represents nearly 30 percent of wind generation capacity and 27 percent of net wind energy in the nation.
leads… the U.S. in exports for eight years running. According to the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER), Texas exported $163 billion worth of goods from January to December 2009; California was a distant second among states, with $120.1 billion in exports.
hosts… more than 1,000 traditional biotechnology companies, biomedical research concerns, business and government consortia, medical manufacturing companies, and world-class universities and research facilities. These institutions and facilities employ more than 33,500 workers.
ranks… as the state with the lowest cost of living among the 10 largest states. It also had the fifth-lowest cost of living among all U.S. states in the third quarter of 2009, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.
generates… $9 billion in federal tax revenues each year through Texas ports. The Port of Houston is the Gulf Coast’s largest container port. Texas ports provide 1 million jobs and more than $30 billion in personal income to Texans.
Sources: Odessa American, World Institute for Strategic Economic Research, Office of the Governor, Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, Texas Ports Association