Economic Development, Affordable Housing, and Eminent Domain

October 22, 2007

Eminent domain is seen by cities as a “tool” to be used to foster economic development. However, this presentation to the Texas Association of Community Development Corporations shows that eminent domain harms those in need of affordable housing.

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The Explosion of Transmission Costs in ERCOT: Causes, Forecasts, and Policy Solutions

KEY POINTS • Transmission costs in ERCOT rose from $1.5 billion in 2010 to over $5 billion in 2024 and could increase to over $12 billion per year by 2033. • After adjusting for inflation and overall rising electricity demand, the average ratepayer in the ERCOT region paid 57% more in transmission charges in 2024...

January 8, 2026

Economy

Austin’s Simple Fix for Soaring Housing Costs

After years of watching home prices skyrocket out of reach for first responders, nurses, and young families, in December 2023, Austin city council voted to rewrite its zoning code. The first phase of its HOME Initiative—known as HOME-1—effectively allowed up to three homes on most lots that previously could host only one. A year later,...

December 9, 2025

Local Government

Small Towns, Big Tax Increases

The city of Whitesboro ignited a firestorm recently when officials suggested adopting a tax rate that would have skyrocketed the average homeowner’s property tax bill by 61 percent. The initial public hearing to discuss the matter drew hordes of angry Whitesboro residents who voiced their discontent. So much so, in fact, that city councilmembers tabled...

September 17, 2025

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The Explosion of Transmission Costs in ERCOT: Causes, Forecasts, and Policy Solutions

Austin’s Simple Fix for Soaring Housing Costs

Small Towns, Big Tax Increases