About the Author
Elizabeth Pagano is the editor of the Austin Monitor.
Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Most Popular Stories
- HUD cuts could endanger portion of more than $15M in federal housing funds
- Watson warns of Austin’s ‘budget asteroids’ in speech to real estate council
- Austin Transit Partnership presents pedestrian features, changes to stops in revised Project Connect plan
- Prompted by convention center controversy, Council seeks changes to public art program
- Amid ongoing measles concerns, Austin ISD’s vaccination rate is below target for its youngest students
-
Discover News By District
Zimmerman’s TDHCA Bill filed
Tuesday, March 17, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
On Monday, Council Member Don Zimmerman announced the introduction of Senate Bill 1719 by State Senator Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels). If enacted, the bill would allow more local input into the scoring of tax credits in the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs process. Zimmerman’s proposition (which the Monitor addressed at length here) would allow individual City Council members, County Commissioners and members of the Boards of Directors of Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) to affect the scoring process, rather than only allowing them to endorse (or not endorse) affordable housing projects as a group. In a statement, Zimmerman said, “I investigated the TDHCA’s scoring process, I personally met with TDHCA staff, and arrived at the conclusion that the scoring process is rigged in favor of approving these tax credits.” The legislation can be read in its entirety here. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has not yet referred it to committee.
Join Your Friends and Neighbors
We're a nonprofit news organization, and we put our service to you above all else. That will never change. But public-service journalism requires community support from readers like you. Will you join your friends and neighbors to support our work and mission?