Corporate welfare, also known as economic development, is widely used throughout Texas and the nation. From local tax abatements to the Export-Import Bank, governments provide billions of dollars each year in benefits to businesses in an attempt to improve the outcomes of the marketplace. In Texas alone, tax abatements, renewable energy subsidies, development incentives, and direct payments total more than $3 billion annually.
Who Were Austin’s Highest Paid Public Employees in 2025?
Last month, the Austin American-Statesman launched an interesting new city salary database that shines a light on the “top-paid city of Austin employees of 2025.” The new details are quite interesting, especially given the city’s own recent admission that “Austin is experiencing a housing affordability crisis”—which is, of course, chiefly driven by government action. Using this tool, it’s obvious that city workers have become numerous and well-compensated. As the Statesman itself notes: “The city of Austin employed 13,567 full-time workers...