Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Comptroller Introduction (PDF)
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs is committed to making state government work better for Texans.
Bringing a strong fiscal conservative philosophy to the Comptroller’s office, which serves as the state’s treasurer, check writer, tax collector and revenue estimator, Combs insists that taxpayer money be spent wisely and that both citizens and their elected officials have a true accounting of the state’s finances.
Since being elected Texas Comptroller in 2006 and re-elected in 2010, she has driven sweeping reforms in state purchasing and contracting. The Comptroller also is focused on ensuring the fair collection of taxes. In 2007, a law was passed that expanded the Comptroller’s enforcement capabilities for beer and tobacco sales tax, helping the agency identify more than $260 million due to the state.
Through comprehensive reports on issues such as energy, water, health care and public education, Combs’ office provides insight into long-term solutions for the continued economic vitality of Texas. She is deeply concerned about the impact of federal mandates and policy proposals on the state’s future, and has provided in-depth analyses of potential costs and their impact.
Committed to further securing the private data for citizens and businesses, Combs joined the board of the University of Texas Center for Identity in the summer of 2011. The Center for Identity assembles public- and private-sector leaders with an interest in anticipating and combating identity threats.
Before beginning her tenure as Comptroller, Combs was the first woman elected as Texas Agriculture Commissioner. A fourth generation Texan, she was elected to two terms, during which she boosted rural economic development efforts and aggressively promoted made-in-Texas products throughout the nation and the world. She continues to serve as a knowledgeable and passionate voice for the state’s farmers and ranchers.
Prior to serving as Agriculture Commissioner, Combs served in the Texas Legislature where she introduced and passed government accountability reform and protected Texas landowners by authoring the state’s landmark private property rights legislation.