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Texas Tomorrow

Texas Scorecard

Charles Blain focuses on the issues impacting urban and suburban communities now that will shape the future of Texas for years to come. Texas Tomorrow, a show dedicated to covering the issues important to families living in the fastest growing parts of Texas.

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22 episodes
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English

Episodes 22

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Thursday · 4 min
What Does Government Accountability Look Like When it Actually Works?
Harris County’s appraisal district acknowledged a control failure and promised corrections; the next test is whether the public can verify the fix.
August 20 · 3 min
Who’s Responsible When Government AI Gives the Wrong Answer?
If human reviewers fade away and government work product is AI-produced, who will be held responsible for when things go wrong?
August 13 · 4 min
When do Local Governments Decide What You Vote On in November?
Most voters will not see their November local ballot until October. But cities, counties, school districts, and special districts are making the real decisions now: what gets ordered onto the ballot by August 17.
July 30 · 4 min
Did a Judge Just Kill Race-based Contracting?
Houston awarded $579 million to certified minority-, women-, and small-business contractors last year. Now, a federal judge has blocked the city from using race in those contracting decisions. What happens next?
July 23 · 3 min
When the Data Gets it Wrong, Who Pays the Price?
A private company built a 100,000-camera surveillance grid, wired it so federal authorities can access it, and operated it for more than a year without a license. Is that okay?
July 16 · 5 min
The Hidden Cost of Rising Home Prices
Texas home prices are still climbing in some of the state’s most expensive communities; can the property‑tax system keep up without shifting costs onto everyone else? The places seeing the biggest dollar jumps tell us something important about who pays for local government.
July 9 · 5 min
San Antonio’s 33-Year Tax Streak Is About to End — And Every Texas City Should Be Watching
San Antonio hasn’t raised its property tax rate in 33 years. But with a $172 million deficit looming, a September 17 council vote ahead, and projections showing the shortfall could grow to $264 million by 2031, the city is nearing a choice it can’t avoid: raise the rate by the maximum allowed without an election or cut more than $130 million in services. This Texas Tomorrow episode uses San Antonio as the warning flare for every major Texas city squeezed between the state’s 3.5% revenue cap, rising public-safety and infrastructure costs, and years of deferred budget decisions.
July 2 · 4 min
They Got Caught. Now What?
The homestead exemption investigation is producing results. The Harris County Appraisal District is reviewing 19 Doors Holdings properties, and Austin’s St. Tropez Rentals LLC just had its illegal exemption flagged as a vendor error and corrected. But the loopholes that made all of this possible are still on the books, and Senator Bettencourt is warning cheaters that the attorney general may be coming for them next.
June 25 · 6 min
Who Pays for Property Tax Fraud?
Across the state, property owners are claiming ineligible exemptions, but who covers the cost?
June 18 · 3 min
Who Has the Power to Handle Data Farms?
With no zoning powers, counties are coming up with unique ways to stop emerging data centers. Will they work?
June 11 · 4 min
Corpus Christi’s Cost of Indecision
Texas' eighth-largest city is on track to become one of the first major U.S. cities to run short of water — and it just spent 15 hours deciding not to decide, while its mayor fights removal in court.
June 4 · 4 min
Can Government Combat Loneliness?
If loneliness kills as many men as smoking, why isn't a single Texas county treating it like the public health emergency it is?
May 28 · 3 min
What Happens When Cities Leave their Regional Transit Authorities?
Highland Park has left DART—the first city to do so in 37 years. Might this start a trend?
May 21 · 4 min
Every Major Texas City Is Broke, Why?
Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Austin, El Paso, Arlington — all running deficits at the same time. What's breaking Texas city budgets, and why isn't anyone connecting the dots?
May 14 · 4 min
$6.2 Billion, Decided by 8 Percent
Texas just approved the largest school bond in state history and barely anyone showed up to vote. What does it mean when billions ride on single-digit turnout?
May 7 · 3 min
Is Wall Street Really Buying All the Houses?
There are thousands of rental homes Texans will never own—because corporations do. And a new $4 billion deal is set to add even more to their portfolios.
April 30 · 4 min
$174 Billion and Counting: Texas Got the Water Bill It Spent 50 Years Ignoring
Texas just learned it needs $174 billion to keep the water running, more than double what it projected four years ago. Corpus Christi may run dry by next year. So where did all the planning go?
April 23 · 5 min
The County Judge Might Have More Power Than You Think
Your county judge can order you to evacuate, override your mayor, commandeer your property, and govern by executive order — all without a single vote from anyone else. Did you know that?
April 16 · 4 min
Cities Face A Tough Choice, Autonomy or More Money. Which Will They Choose?
Who gets to pass an ordinance in Texas, or more importantly, who gets the final say? Not always who you think.
April 9 · 5 min
When your city council starts making immigration policy, who's actually running the city?
Houston City Council just passed an ordinance limiting when HPD can contact ICE. Chicago, Denver, New York, and Long Beach have done the same thing.

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