Just a Few Tweaks: How Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones Could Encourage Affordable Housing in Texas
Date
2020-12
Authors
Tucker, William Riley
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Abstract
Inserting a few tweaks into Texas’ Tax Increment Financing laws to force Tax Income Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs) to build affordable housing within their boundaries would increase affordable housing in more high-opportunity areas. This work also evaluates the efficacy of Tax Increment Financing as a development tool. Although affordable housing has been a longstanding concern of lawmakers, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem. In traditionally conservative states like Texas it has been difficult to make any meaningful progress at the state level through legislation. In the absence of a favorable political climate where a comprehensive affordable housing bill could be passed, modifying the legislation governing Texas’ TIRZs according to the suggestions found herein may be a much easier way to make some progress on providing more affordable housing. This work draws upon peer-reviewed research papers and scholarly books, as well as studies and official evaluations of current TIRZs. The results of this work suggest that such a revision of the laws regarding TIRZs would go a good way toward increasing the availability of affordable housing in Texas.
Description
Keywords
tax increment financing, TIF, tax Increment reinvestment zone, TIRZ, affordable housing, Texas, Honors College
Citation
Tucker, W. R. (2020). Just a few tweaks: How tax increment reinvestment zones could encourage affordable housing in Texas (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.