As they attempt to steer their economic future, many state and local governments have adopted the practice of providing incentives to expanding and relocating businesses. A wide variety of policy instruments are used to create these incentives, ranging from taxes on very specific items (e.g., hotel occupancy taxes) to tax abatements and public subsidization of infrastructure. In recent years, certain questions have arisen regarding these incentives:

  • Will incentive-based projects truly add to the existing base of economic activity in the region?

  • How much new tax revenue will each taxing jurisdiction receive because of these projects?

  • Do local governments ever recoup their investment?

TXP's economists have extensive experience partnering with local leaders in order to adequately address these and other questions with in-depth economic impact and cost-benefit analyses. For each client, TXP builds a customized econometric model that simulates a regional economy. In addition to standard economic impact results (e.g., employment and direct and indirect economic activity), TXP's models capture an individual project's effect on the local tax base including sales, city and county ad valorem, and hotel/motel taxes. Community leaders can then use these results to create inducement packages specifically tailored to each project.

TXP’s past economic and fiscal impact studies have covered a wide range of topics, including expanding and relocating businesses, tourism activity, arts and music festivals, transportation projects, and mixed-use developments.

EXAMPLE PROJECTS
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Estimated Economic and Tax Revenue Impact of an Expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center
Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority
Travel and tourism is important in the Philadelphia region, and an active convention center brings diverse and substantial benefits, both in terms of its overall economic impact and its role in enhancing the image of the region. TXP was retained by the PCCA to measure the anticipated economic and tax revenue impacts of increased delegate, exhibiting company, and event organizer spending associated with the proposed expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
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Economic Impact of Austin's Entertainment Digital Media Industry
City of Austin, Texas
The growth of entertainment software and digital media into a vibrant industry that creates thousands of jobs, improves the performance of other industries and spurs technological advancement has been established, and Austin is on the global map when it comes to this important sector. TXP was hired to help determine what is required for the local entertainment software/digital media industry to thrive. A survey was conducted to help determine the "footprint" of the industry as well as to solicit identification and prioritization of the key factors influencing entertainment software's local prospects, a process that was amplified by individual interviews with industry leaders. The findings led to a series of specific recommendations related to the City's role in the economic development of this sector.
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Texas Economic Development Act Impact Studies
Various School Districts in conjunction with Moak Casey & Associates
In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature enacted House Bill 1200 creating Tax Code Chapter 313, the Texas Economic Development Act. As part of the Texas Economic Development Act, school districts considering a business’ application for a reduction in taxes were required to engage a third party to perform an economic impact evaluation. In conjunction with Moak Casey & Associates, TXP worked with over 100 school districts across the state to evaluate businesses wishing to take advantage of the change in law. The analysis resulted in a detailed report that assisted school districts and area leaders in determining the economic benefits generated by the proposed projects.

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Impact of Tourism in Comal County
City of New Braunfels and the New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation
TXP was engaged to provide an economic impact assessment of tourism in Comal County, including a specific measurement of river tourism. After meeting with various local stakeholders, TXP reviewed the academic and trade literature around the local economic impacts of tourism (including estimates produced for the State of Texas), conducted a survey of the origin and spending patterns of river tourists, and calibrated a model of Comal County in light of the most recently available data. The report noted that, in addition to “quality of life” considerations, the measurable value of travel and tourism to Comal County/New Braunfels was significant; economic activity attributable to the “importing” of dollars into the community due to non-Comal residents spending supported thousands of jobs and provided millions of dollars in local earnings each year.

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Impact of Expanding Fort Sam Houston on the San Antonio Economy
City of San Antonio, Texas
The decisions made as part of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 affected Fort Sam Houston, as the base was projected to add approximately 11,000 civilian employees, military personnel, and military students over the next several years, along with just over $2.4 billion in new construction. This would have a significant impact on the local economy, as payroll, procurement, and new building will create additional spending. TXP was tasked by the City of San Antonio with measuring the total economic impact, along with associated City of San Antonio sales tax revenue. The report detailed the impacts of construction spending, as well as the ripple effects of increased earnings and job creation, resulting in increased sales tax revenue to the City of San Antonio.