Charles Blain

Charles Blain is the president of Urban Reform and Urban Reform Institute. A native of New Jersey, he is based in Houston and writes on municipal finance and other urban issues.
Road Bond Rhetoric

Road Bond Rhetoric

On Saturday Montgomery County voters overwhelmingly rejected the $350 million road bond presented by the county commissioners. Opposing residents warned for months leading up to the election that if the county did not listen to the residents and remove unwanted...

Bayou City Culture and Tourism

We previously reported on Houston creating its first general plan. The overarching question raised was, should the city fix something that isn’t broken? As we look at Mayor Annise Parker’s 5-year, $85 million “cultural plan” in conjunction with Houston First’s $8.8...

Harris County Appraisal Abuse

Harris County Appraisal Abuse

As property tax bills rolled out to homeowners, some Harris County residents were shocked to see their appraisal values of their homes more than double. Though the average increase was said to be 15% many property owners were handed above average tax bills. Harris...

The Burden of Parking Minimums

The Burden of Parking Minimums

Criticism of municipal regulations in Texas usually centers around Austin and San Antonio, while Houston is often praised for its zone-free model and relaxed land use regulations. Houstonians appreciate the absence of zoning restrictions that allow developers to...

Houston’s General Plan

Despite lacking a “general plan” over the years, Houston has nonetheless enjoyed economic diversity, expansive growth not confined to the city center, and an affordable lifestyle. These successes have to be attributed to the city’s ability to respond to the needs of...

Astrobond

Once called the “8th Wonder of the World,” the Houston Astrodome now sits desolate and decaying in the shadows of NRG Stadium and convention center. With ideas floating around about what should become of the architectural relic, the only thing certain is that...

Road Bond: For Better or For Worse

Road Bond: For Better or For Worse

At the introduction of the Montgomery County road bond a few months ago, County Judge Craig Doyal stated that a bond this large would result in a property tax increase for residents. He along with steering committee chair Nelda Luce Blair have since flipped, with both...

Montgomery County Moving Forward On Bond Package

Montgomery County Moving Forward On Bond Package

Montgomery County residents are calling it the most divisive political issue they have seen in a long time. But even with significant pushback from opponents, county officials are pressing forward with the countywide $350 million road bond. After countless blog posts,...

Houston’s TIRZ Explosion

Houston’s TIRZ Explosion

The blame for Texas’ local debt epidemic is typically assigned to city councils and school boards. But little attention is given to the unelected boards that govern Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ), which also have the ability to tax and borrow on behalf of...