ZacCast

Mar 05 2025 81 ep. 46 mins 2
ZacCast Podcast artwork

The official podcast for local government nerds, from the folks behind ZacTax. We talk about everything from sales tax to city management to college sports, and bring you stories from the front lines of local government administration.

  Government  Technology
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What happens in Austin doesn't always stay in Austin

Mar 05 2025 77 mins  
In this episode, Chad and Patrick highlight 5 bills pending in the Texas House. What are they, and what might they mean for local governments across the state? Join us to find out!Timestamps00:00 Greetings07:13 On to the legislative session14:23 HB 25016:33 HB 41630:18 HB 21737:18 HB 143352:21 HB 92456:21 School funding and wrap-up

Hold onto your butts... (property tax edition)

Jan 16 2025 70 mins  
In this first episode of 2025, Pat and Chad hit a wide range of topics and do our best to avoid derailing the conversation with too much college football.Timestamps04:25 - TPPF Property Tax Proposals29:51 - TPPF on "Home Sharing"40:16 - Congestion pricing in New York City54:12 - Texas AG sues Allstate67:48 - Comptroller's Biennial Revenue Estimate for 2025-26LinksAsterisk (Merriam-

The earth's axis vs groundwater

Dec 05 2024 51 mins  
In this (probably) final episode of 2024, Pat has a couple of water related articles to discuss. Join us as we talk about how groundwater use is affecting the earth's axis; how bottled water may be way less healthy than tap water; and of course, as we recap the return of Texas vs A&M after 13 long years.00:00 - Welcome back... 01:37 - Patrick makes excuses for A&M's perform

The case for public space

Oct 08 2024 48 mins  
This week's episode centers on a Texas Monthly piece titled "Why does Texas have so little public land?" Pat and Chad talk about the article and discuss whether cities can improve their development patterns and fiscal health by emphasizing the acquisition of more public space.Topics00:52 - Why does Texas have so little public land?04:28 - Patrick proposes using public land acquisit

The housing trap with Chuck Marohn

Sep 26 2024 96 mins  
On this epic episode, we welcome Chuck Marohn, founder and president of Strong Towns. Chuck's bestselling new book, Escaping the Housing Trap, kicks off the conversation, which winds its way through a variety of important issues facing cities today. Topics02:33 - What is the housing trap?04:05 - Pre-Depression era housing finance08:00 - Government response to Depression vs the 2008

The tizzy

Sep 18 2024 70 mins  
On this somewhat feisty episode of ZacCast, Patrick and Chad discuss the built-in assumptions behind our development patterns, compare development in DFW and Houston, talk traffic planning, and talk about the problems with the electricity rate-making process in Texas. Stay tuned for a semi-lighting round at the end.03:58 - Do we have some built-in assumptions about how cities grow?

The appraisal district drama

Sep 05 2024 60 mins  
In this episode, Patrick and Chad drop some hot takes on the appraisal changes recently approved by the Tarrant Appraisal District. We talk about addressing the symptoms of the property tax system in Texas versus addressing the illness. We discuss the upcoming September sales tax allocation. And college football is back, so we spend some time talking about week 1 to wrap up the epi

What's the deal with the economy?

Aug 14 2024 63 mins  
Summer break is over and ZacCast is back at full strength. Today's episode is all about the economy. From macro to micro, how can cities prepare for what's next?01:04 - Dr Evil and Mini-me07:00 - What's the deal with the economy?08:02 - The Sahm Rule: triggered11:02 - August inflation numbers14:40 - Real estate and interest rates17:14 - Have cities already been in recession mode?20

The Vacation Episode

Jul 12 2024 63 mins  
Join us as we catch up and chat about life and cities in this grab bag episode:00:10 - Patrick's waterpark excursions02:53 - Patrick reviews Kalahari01:40 - Is Schlitterbahn slipping?12:09 - Kalahari vs Great Wolf Lodge13:48 - Patrick reviews Schlitterbahn20:41 - Fast Pass, yea or nay?26:05 - The value of good customer service, and lessons for cities33:48 - Good customer service -&

The kind of problem a city is

May 30 2024 57 mins  
In this episode, Patrick and Chad look at the Scottie Scheffler arrest and subsequent dismissal of charges from the perspective of a city manager. What went wrong and how can you do better? Then we consider the legacy of the Progressive Movement's impact on city management and discuss whether the paradigm it ushered in has us thinking about cities the wrong way.05:47 - The Scottie