Transparent Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone
Transparent Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone and Local Government Corporation Meetings
January 2021
Overview
What is a Local Government Corporation (LGC)?
A public, non-profit corporation created to aid and act on behalf of one or more local governments to accomplish any governmental purpose of those local governments. Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 431.101(a). Used for funding transportation, water and sewer infrastructure, economic development ventures, and other projects that will benefit the public. [1]
What is a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ)?
Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs) are special zones created by City Council to attract new investment in an area. These zones help finance costs of redevelopment and promote growth in areas that would otherwise not attract sufficient market development in a timely manner. Taxes attributable to new improvements (tax increments) are set-aside in a fund to finance public improvements within the boundaries of the zone. [2]
City of Houston Local Government Corporations (LGCs):
The City of Houston has created 33 LGCs that include 27 Redevelopment and 6 Specific Purpose LGCs:
Current City of Houston Redevelopment Authorities: [2]
1. Saint George Place Redevelopment Authority
2. Midtown Redevelopment Authority
3. Market Square Redevelopment Authority
5. Memorial-Heights Redevelopment Authority
6. Eastside Redevelopment Authority
7. OST/Almeda Corridors Redevelopment Authority
8. Gulfgate Redevelopment Authority
9. South Post Oak Redevelopment Authority
10. Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority
11. Greater Greenspoint Redevelopment Authority
12. City Park Redevelopment Authority
13. Old Sixth Ward Redevelopment Authority
14. Fourth Ward Redevelopment Authority
15. East Downtown Redevelopment Authority
16. Uptown Redevelopment Authority
17. Memorial City Redevelopment Authority
18. Fifth Ward Redevelopment Authority
19. Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority
20. Southwest Houston Redevelopment Authority
21. Hardy/Near Northside Redevelopment Authority
22. Leland Woods Redevelopment Authority
23. Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority
24. Greater Houston Redevelopment Authority
25. Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend County Redevelopment Authority
26. Sunnyside Redevelopment Authority
27. Montrose Redevelopment Authority
Current City of Houston LGCs:
Houston Zoo Development Corp
Houston Recovery Center
Houston First Corporation (f/k/a Convention Center Hotel Corp. 2/18/00-7/1/11)
Houston Amateur Sports Park
Houston Parks Board LGC, Inc.
Houston Forensic Science
Policy Proposal
Your Houston calls on the city of Houston to make Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) and Local Government Cooperation (LGC) Meetings more transparent by doing the following:
Record and livestream every TIRZ and LGC meeting
Post meeting agenda, minuets, and video recording on dedicated websites that are updated monthly
Mandate TIRZ and LGC meetings are held at locations accessible to the community.
Mandate meetings should be held after 5PM on the weekdays or on the weekend.
We believe a transparent government is a more accessible and accountable government. At the end of the day, this is taxpayer money.