by Rich Wright From The Wealth of Nations: “To hurt in any degree the interest of any one order of
Category: City Management
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS IN TIRZ 13, THE LARGEST CORPORATE HANDOUT IN EL PASO HISTORY
by Max Grossman Vic Kolenc of the El Paso Times and the Staff of the El Paso Inc have both
DRAINING THE SWAMP: FOAC COMMITTEE TO AUDIT CITY 380 AGREEMENTS AND NO-BID CONTRACTS
by Max Grossman According to the Texas Comptroller, “Chapter 380 of the Local Government Code authorizes municipalities to offer incentives
Cassandra Hernandez and Gasgate
Last night I got this email from Max Grossman: The Financial Oversight and Audit Committee (FOAC) will be meeting tomorrow
Buried in Debt
I lifted this image from the FY2023 City of El Paso Budget Book: You’ll notice that this year we payed
My Take: About the City’s New Bond Rating
by Rich Wright I get it. If you can believe everything the City is telling us (always a dubious proposition),
Max Grossman: About a New Bond Rating for the City
by Max Grossman Luisa Barrios of KTSM 9 News broke the “news” on Thursday that the Kroll Bond Rating Agency
“Adios, Amigos”
El Paso’s population growth continues to stagnate, according to this report in ElPasoMatters.org: El Paso County’s population grew by fewer
Our Forecast Budget Shortfall
Look up at that graph there. I lifted it from the budget presentation that the City gave to City Council
The Strategic Plan of the City of El Paso – A Critique
It’s good to have a plan. Like the Cheshire Cat said to Alice, if you don’t know where you’re going,
Can’t We Do Better?
This item appeared in the Whispers column of this week’s El Paso Inc.: So, who’s next? As you know, the
Why Tommy Gonzalez Got Fired
It happened. El Paso City Manager Tommy Gonzalez got canned Tuesday after 7 or 8 years on the job. By
Retrovision: Max Grossman — “OUR WATERPARKS ARE A GIANT FINANCIAL BLACK HOLE”
This is the text of an email that I received 30 September 2022. by Max Grossman THE OPERATING DEFICIT OF
Max Grossman — “THE CASE FOR FIRING TOMMY GONZALEZ”
by Max Grossman Tommy Gonzalez became City Manager of the City of El Paso on June 23, 2014. So what
Economic Development : We’ve Been Doing It Wrong.
The Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation hired the Perryman Group to study and propose some suggestions regarding Economic Development
The City’s “Slush Fund”
by Max Grossman If you pay a monthly water bill like I do, you will notice a tax levied by
New Chief, Same as the Old Chief
The City of El Paso has appointed an EPPD veteran as acting Police Chief. From the El Paso Times: City
The Problem With TIRZs
Part of the reason that property taxes are so high in the City of El Paso is because not everyone
Did You Feel That Earthquake?
My personal seismograph put the epicenter at City Hall. Damages haven’t been assessed yet, but I’m hoping it’s a lot.
About the Arena
Advocates say we need the arena as an engine of economic development. That’s not how economic development works. If you