JOHN HILL

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 P.O. Box 21
Abilene, Texas 79604

750 N. Judge Ely Blvd.
Abilene, Texas 79601

university office: (325) 670-5871
personal office: (325) 672-4807
cell: (325) 721-4428
facsimile: (325) 677-3500

I provide forensic economic consulting specializing in the valuation of economic damages arising from personal injury, wrongful death, wrongful termination, wrongful birth, medical malpractice, and client loss due to breach of non-compete agreement. I provide litigation support and expert economic testimony for both plaintiffs and defendants throughout the United States. 

I provide retaining attorneys with valuable analyses and support throughout the duration of their case. I have 10 years experience in the area of forensic economics.

My training in urban and regional economics allows me to understand local labor market conditions in forensic economic analyses.  This, combined with my applied and academic experience in public finance, provides me with the perspective to perform local studies to evaluate public projects and regional economic issues.

While not directly contributing to my skills as a consulting economist, I work as a university professor who consistently receives strong classroom evaluations from my students.  My community service life on committees, as a board member, and as an former city councilman in my community have honed my skills of presentation in a variety of situations that allow me to be an effective communicator in depositions and in the courtroom.
 
Recently, I was approached by a group of local businesspersons to conduct an independent study of the proposed Abilene Youth Sports Authority (AYSA) sports venue.  The report is entitled The Efficiency of Economic Development Expenditures: Returns to Primary Job Creation Under the Stewardship of the Development Corporation of Abilene.  A full text copy of my report is available online with citations. I have archived this study on this site as a pfd document if you'd like to review it.

This commissioning group included:
  • Grady Barr
  • Tucker Bridwell
  • Ken Burgess
  • Joe Canon
  • Ray Ferguson
  • Bill Senter
and, as members of the business community and community volunteers, they recognized the merits of the AYSA, but were curious about how the Development Corporation of Abilene(DCOA) performed in contrast to this proposed youth sports venue.

The methodology employed makes comparable the returns of the proposed AYSC to DCOA returns from job creation.  In my investigation, I discovered that:
  • The track record of the DCOA outperforms the proposed AYSC $6 to $1.
  • Based on their success over the past 17 years, the DCOA has the potential to create over $1 billion in incomes and tax revenues over the next 30 years with the same $15 million under consideration on the May referendum.
  • Based on our demographics and AYSC fees, this venue appeals to a select population, not the community as a whole.
  • The AYSC has an planned annual shortfall of $429,600 which could cost us with additional taxes or reduced city programming if this venue's deficit become the responsibility of the City of Abilene.
  • Tourist venues are easy to replicate; successful and diverse economics are not.