the citizen.

The Housing Question in Willow Park

The constraints, the options, who builds them, and what the city can actually do for its current and future residents

May 25 • Spencer Hodge

The Backyard Tax Base

Why an Accessory Dwelling Unit Is the Cheapest Tax Base a Small Texas City Can Build

May 23 • Spencer Hodge

April 2026

The argument everyone’s having — and the one they should be having.

Why cities — not developers — must define the plan, and how value per acre and design determine whether growth pays for itself.

Apr 24 • Spencer Hodge

3

March 2026

Part 1: Before the Data Developer Arrives.

How data centers could transform rural Texas — and what happens when communities negotiate from the wrong side of the table.

Mar 29 • Spencer Hodge

2

The Tool That Makes Development Deals Easier to Evaluate — For Everyone

GFOA-grade deal analysis without the consultant invoice.

Mar 24 • Spencer Hodge

Fiscal Filters: How Cities Talk About Money

City councils don’t lie about municipal finance. They just tell you the parts that sound good.

Mar 16 • Spencer Hodge

Growth can add revenue. That does not mean it lowers your taxes.

The material omission in the "growth-pays-for-itself" argument.

Mar 9 • Spencer Hodge

1

The Beall Dean Ranch Report — Members Only

We gave the overview away. You funded the deep cut. Here it is.

Mar 2 • Spencer Hodge

1

Update: The Beall Dean Development Lawsuit

Aledo and Fort Worth allege the city annexed 317 acres it had no legal right to touch — and the financial exposure runs into the millions;

Mar 2 • Spencer Hodge

1

February 2026

What "Economic Development" Actually Means at the City Level

Nuts & Bolts

Feb 27 • Spencer Hodge

What “Economic Development” Means at the City Level

I've heard economic development described as one priority among many at the city level and I don't think that's right. It's the gas in the tank — the…

Feb 27 • Spencer Hodge

1

Data Centers in Texas: A Decision Maker's Guide

A resource for city council members, county commissioners, planning directors, and economic development staff navigating data center proposals in…

Feb 25 • Spencer Hodge