Bill Aleshire: Property Taxes and Other Government Secrets

Bill Aleshire: Property Taxes and Other Government Secrets

About the program:

The keynote will present data and analysis on the growing property tax burden in Travis County, highlighting the potential "tax tsunami" facing local residents. The session will address challenges faced by the Austin City Council in balancing its budget for essential services while allocating $214 million to Project Connect Light Rail, and simultaneously asserting the need for approximately $110 million more to close a $31 million deficit. The discussion will also examine Travis County’s trajectory in joining what has been described as the "Taxaholic Club."

About the speaker:

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Bill Aleshire received his license to practice law in 2001. Prior to his law practice, Mr. Aleshire worked in staff positions in the Texas House of Representatives (members of the so-called “Dirty Thirty”) and the Texas Senate in the early 1970s. Mr. Aleshire worked on Sissy Farenthold’s campaigns for Governor in 1972 and 1974.

He served as Administrative Assistant to the house sponsor of the Texas Open Records Act, now the Texas Public Information Act. Mr. Aleshire also worked several years under State Comptroller Bob Bullock, last holding the position as Associate Deputy State Comptroller, reporting to the Chief Deputy Comptroller. Elected Travis County Tax Collector, Mr. Aleshire served in that position from 1980-1985.

He won election for Travis County Judge and served in that position from 1987-1998. In September 2003, Jennifer Riggs and Mr. Aleshire left the firm of Hill, Gilstrap, Riggs, Adams & Graham, L.L.P. and opened Riggs & Aleshire, P.C. In January 2015, Mr. Aleshire opened his solo firm, AleshireLAW PC, where he enjoys a law practice focused on government accountability and transparency. Recently, Mr. Aleshire was awarded the James Madison Award by the Texas Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas for his work for opening up government.

Agenda: