PILOT

Leon County has responded to a Texas Public Information Act (PIA) request dated January 7, 2026, regarding communications involving certain county officials and identified entities for the period June 1, 2023 through the present. Summary of what the letter says The county acknowledges receipt of the request and states it conducted a reasonable search for responsive records. The county says some responsive records are being withheld under exceptions to disclosure, including: Attorney-client privilege (Texas Government Code §552.107) for confidential communications involving legal counsel. Economic development information (Texas Government Code §552.131), related to ongoing or prospective economic development negotiations. Internal advice and deliberations (Texas Government Code §552.111) connected to policymaking and decision-making processes. The letter specifically states that some withheld information involves discussions and negotiations related to: Potential tax abatements Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) Reinvestment zones Other incentive-related matters The county indicates it has requested a ruling from the Texas Attorney General to determine what may be withheld and what must be released. Non-exempt information, and any additional information required after the Attorney General’s ruling, will be released later. Why This Matters Public statements from county leadership have suggested that no tax abatements or incentive deals are being pursued. This letter confirms that the county is withholding information specifically because it relates to active or prospective negotiations involving abatements and incentives. ...

Leon County Judge Byron Ryder sent an email on January 17, 2026 to multiple state and federal officials regarding the proposed data center near Marquez, Texas. Summary of the Email In the message, Judge Ryder states that: On November 4, 2025, representatives from Belltown Power entered his office at the Leon County Courthouse and informed him they had options on land near Marquez, Texas, to build a data center. This was the first time he had heard of the plan. Leon County currently has several solar farms but no data centers. Residents in the proposed Marquez area are strongly opposed to the project. Major concerns include: Large water usage Large power usage Potential health impacts Loss of agricultural land Possible harm to cattle, calves, and hay production Judge Ryder explicitly asks that no incentives be offered at the state or national level for this project. He states that not all economic development is good development and requests a timely response. Why This Matters This email shows that the county judge has directly communicated opposition to offering incentives for the proposed data center and has documented community concerns to higher-level officials. ...

Yes — a PILOT can exist without a tax abatement — but it’s important to understand what that really means, because it works very differently than most people assume. This explainer focuses on how PILOTs work in Texas, especially at the county level. What is a PILOT? A PILOT is a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes. It is not a tax. It is a voluntary payment a company agrees to make by contract. ...