January 23, 2026
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Vol.30, Issue 53
AframNews.com
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African-American News&Issues
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
CITY CONTRIBUTION TO TIRZS TOPS $200 MILLION By: Bill King
WHY THOUSANDS ARE QUIETLY LEAVING HARRIS COUNTY
By: Roy Douglas Malonson
Harris County is at a turning point. For the first time in several years, more people are moving out of the county than moving in, according to a new study that highlights a growing sense of uncertainty about long-term stability in the region. While Houston continues to attract newcomers overall, the data reveals a rising trend of domestic out-migration from both the city and the county, signaling deeper concerns about cost, safety, infrastructure, and quality of life that are influencing residents across income levels and backgrounds.
One of the most significant factors driving this shift is flooding risk. The study shows that more than 31 percent of homes in Harris County are now classified as high flood risk, a figure that has become impossible to ignore after years of severe weather events. Recent storms have left many homeowners facing repeated repairs, higher flood insurance premiums, and lingering anxiety about the next major rainfall. For families who have experienced flooding more than Harris County on pg. 3 once, the question is no
Per the recently released City of Houston audit, the City’s contribution of property tax revenue to the TIRZs exceeded $200 million. That is the bad news. The good news is that the contribution was slightly lower than last year ($203MM → $201MM). The City has increased its contributions to the TIRZs by nearly 50% since 2018. However, the other taxing entities participating in the TIRZs have steadily reduced their contributions. I think there are two takeaways from these trends. First, the theory that the TIRZs are generating property tax values faster than the rest of the City, thus justifying their receiving preferential revenue, is breaking down. If the value of properties in the TIRZs were perpetually increasing faster than the City generally, then their increment should be steadily increasing. Many of the properties in the TIRZs are office buildings, whose value is under severe stress, and I suspect they will likely continue to drive TIRZ revenues down. Second, it is interesting that taxing entities other than the City have been steadily reducing their participation. There are likely two reasons for that. First, they see no benefit from their participation. Second, and probably more importantly, their taxpayers have not imposed a property tax revenue limitation, so they have no motivation to create a subterfuge to duck the taxpayers’ wishes. Ironically, if the values in the TIRZs begin growing more slowly than the rest of the City, it will actually make the restrictions of the property tax cap more severe. Won’t that be poetic justice! AA