Lawmakers could use $5 billion of a record surplus for raises, flood prevention and border operations

The Capitol building after sunset on Jan. 6, 2022, in Austin. (Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune)

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Some $5 billion of the state’s historic $32.7 billion surplus would be earmarked for state employee pay raises, mental health hospitals, border security, flood mitigation projects, Medicaid costs, state debt reduction and other items under a bill that a key Senate committee advanced Wednesday.