Austin Metric

The Austin City Council is poised to make a decision on urban rail’s route based on incomplete data.  At the heart of this predicament is a 2010 document entitled the “Central Austin Transit Study” (CATS).  This document makes a set of fundamental assumptions about transit politics born out of …

The discussion around Austin’s ‘affordability’ was perhaps the most interesting policy theme from the recent municipal election.

Unfortunately, the discussion seemed to focus on economic development subsidies.  These subsidies - while they might contribute to reducing Austin’s affordability in some cases - are a tiny part of local public sector …

In this column, Wendler & Aleshire (W&A) throw several arguments at the Apple subsidy deal.  Some are worthwhile but not all are crisp. In general, there seems to be a brewing community desire for a 'better way' on corporate subsidies, but those articulating the desire for an alternative fail to …

This Statesman piece on local candidates sparring over economic development incentives is quite frustrating.

First, it leaves somewhat unclear what the candidates actually believe.  Certainly we know that Mayor Leffingwell supports their use (downtown hotel, Apple, LegalZoom, etc.) but the article doesn't convey whether Brigid Shea is in blanket opposition …

The City Council is trying to decide whether or not to provide relocation incentives to LegalZoom, an online legal form provider.

Here are the deal details.  The City pays out $20,000 for ten years for a nominal total of $200,000.  The state's recruitment- and talent poaching-focused Texas Enterprise …