The original, unamended Texas Constitution banned taxpayer financing of for-profit private development. Due to relatively recent amendments, half a billion dollars of public money has subsidized private development in Austin in the last 10-15 years. This abusive misuse of public money has created an affordability problem in East Austin. ‘Imagine Austin,’ Austin’s Comprehensive growth plan, needs to be reevaluated and the appraisal process for property tax purposes needs to be reformed.