The Texas Legislature is about to pass a record $308 billion budget, but taxpayers are being misled. Despite claims of a budget surplus, the Legislature is using budget gimmicks to hide $36 billion in new spending, diverting funds away from the promised property tax relief. While $9.8 billion is allocated for tax relief, the rest of the surplus is funneled into Medicaid, energy company subsidies, and other state programs. This whitepaper calls for greater transparency, a cap on state and local spending growth, and a true commitment to property tax relief to ensure prosperity for all Texans.