Taxpayer Empowerment | Ep. 29: Project Connect & Government Transparency with Bill Aleshire

What happened to the promises behind Austin’s Project Connect? Why are taxpayers still paying billions for a transit plan that looks dramatically different from what voters approved? And what does government transparency have to do with rising property taxes and public trust? In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Former Travis County Judge Bill Aleshire and longtime government transparency advocate to discuss the future of Austin, Project Connect, open government laws, taxpayer accountability, and affordability. Bill breaks down: ✅ The origins of Project Connect and what voters were promised ✅ Why critics call the project a “bait and switch” ✅ Austin Transit Partnership and transparency concerns ✅ Public Information Act challenges and government secrecy ✅ Open Meetings Act violations and taxpayer rights ✅ How local governments use litigation and delays to block public records requests ✅ Austin’s growing budgets, rising property taxes, and affordability crisis ✅ The role of the Texas Legislature in protecting taxpayers ✅ Why transparency and fiscal responsibility matter more than ever Whether you're concerned about government spending, property taxes, public transit, or government accountability, this conversation offers valuable insight into the policies shaping Austin and Texas. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on taxpayer rights, government transparency, fiscal responsibility, and public policy. 📌 Topics Covered: Project Connect Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) Austin City Council Texas Public Information Act Texas Open Meetings Act Property Taxes in Texas Government Transparency Austin Budget & Spending Taxpayer Accountability Public Transit Policy Texas Legislature Austin Politics #ProjectConnect #AustinTexas #GovernmentTransparency #PropertyTaxes #TaxpayerRights #AustinPolitics #TexasPolitics #PublicTransit #OpenGovernment #FiscalResponsibility #TaxpayerEmpowerment #TPPF #BillAleshire #JoseMelendez #AustinCityCouncil #TexasPublicPolicyFoundation The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach. Funded by thousands of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Foundation does not accept government funds or contributions to influence the outcomes of its research. The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course. Website: https://texaspolicy.com X:   / tppf   Facebook:   / texaspolicy   Instagram:   / texaspolicy   LinkedIn:   / texas-public-policy-foundation