The Dallas Morning News reports that government officials in Cedar Park recently approved a plan to create a special tax zone in the city’s downtown area. The plan is expected to generate $160 million in investments in the area. Such tax zones are used throughout the state to generate funds to improve the infrastructure in…
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, officials in Harris County have announced plans to buy some homes that have flooded multiple times. The argument is that it is cheaper for taxpayers to buy the homes, demolish them, and turn the land into green space rather than continuing to rebuild. While this may be true, it…
The Texas Tribune reports that Rep. Mike Conaway, a Midland Republican and chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, has begun laying the foundation for the next rendition of the farm bill. He recently hosted other congressmen during a tour of West Texas. Ostensibly, the tour was intended to give the congressmen an opportunity to hear about…
We often hear exhortations that government officials should act on the “will of the people.” But since the citizens are not monolithic, which people should those officials be listening to? As an example, in 2012 El Paso voters approved a bond referendum to build an entertainment center in downtown. But when more detailed plans became…
Texas politicians have been pressuring the Trump Administration to fund the Ike Dike as a part of infrastructure improvements. On the surface, this might seem like a great benefit for Texans and a number of justifications have been offered, including issues of national security. But surface benefits are only a part of the story. While…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on April 20, 2010. Comments have not been migrated. Yesterday I looked at the moral premise that underlies the belief that taxation is necessary. Today I will look at an implication of that view–that government is a necessary “evil”. On a daily basis we can observe individuals voluntarily…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on August 14, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. I am simultaneously amused and disgusted with politicians who do verbal gymnastics to support a particular position while ignoring its implications. Tax holidays are one example. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia now offer tax holidays in the…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on July 15, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. Dear Mr. McIngvale, I recently read a story about the Greater Northside Management District (GNMD) suing you for back taxes. The Chronicle quotes you as saying, “To me, it’s taxation without representation. If they were doing something that was…
This was originally posted as a series on Live Oaks in May 2009. Comments have not been migrated. Death and taxes, we are often told, are two inevitable facts of life. However, a crucial distinction exists between the two—death is a metaphysical fact, while taxes are a man-made fact. As such, death is in fact…
This was originally posted in a series on Live Oaks in March 2009. Comments have not been migrated. Last week it came to light that the city was considering a plan to help potential home buyers pay off debt in an effort to improve their credit scores. Though that plan was quickly pulled following public…