Developers of low-income housing are supposed to win coveted tax credit subsidies based on a competitive scoring system. But over the years, they increasingly found a way around it: By seeking "forward commitments" — projects that can bypass the point system — from the state housing board.
"Forward commitments" were designed to help the board quickly approve the construction of housing after natural disasters, such as hurricanes or wildfires. By the time Gov. Rick Perry ended the practice late last year, they were being used far more often, drawing questions about whether the process was open to influence by politically connected developers.
Here's a look at the portion of tax credit projects approved via "forward commitments" over the last decade, and the percentage of annual subsidies awarded outside the routine scoring process. The tax credits are listed as single-year amounts, but were awarded for 10 years running — meaning a $1 million "forward commitment" tax credit is actually worth $10 million.
We have also mapped the location of the last decade's 71 "forward commitments" - worth a combined $660 million - below. Scroll over the name of a housing project to see where on the map it's located.
| Housing Project | Year | Developer | City | Units | Type | Total Tax Credit Funds |
|---|
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Comments (4)
Lin Team
This resource is, as usual for the TT, excellent. It could only be better if it added links to another kind of map: that of ownership of the corporations listed as beneficiaries of these public funds.
Leon Drozd
Let me add to the comment of Lin Team that such disclosure and "sunshine" on Texas Government and its elected officials and politicians should not be left to the Texas Tribune. Why aren't Texans insisting on accountabililty and integrity? Where are the investigators for whom it is their job to oversee legal compliance? Where are the prosecutors? The lack of public interest and governmental interest in tracking this stuff makes me wonder if there is a fundamental dishonesty in the psyche of Texans.
Someone sent me the list of ALEC's corporate members. I wondered about the many minions behind those companies who are doing the work of elected officials. There's an odor coming from the stables of government at all levels.
http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=8078765
Joe Milkes
Thanks for the insights and information. Keep up the good work. What would be interesting in addition to the comments by Lin Team would be the following. I'd do it, but who has the time: 1) map of state showing where the greatest concentration of complexes is located-- looks like we can only access a county at a time, 2) the individuals who control the ownerships (would have to access sec of state corp records), cross indexing of names with political contributions and amounts (using internet websites) and 3) GIS type demographics and demand for low inc units in the particular locations esp compared to under-served areas (prob agency has this data as well as census data). Now, that would really provide some transparency in the situation as to the possible rationale behind the developments. I recall when Reagan was president, after he left, it came out that federal housing money and/or loans were being used (it was purportedly illegal) to reward political supporters who were in effect slum lords. There was media coverage by DMN to this effect in the Dallas area. Based on my anecdotal experience back then, I recall that simultaneously, money for low income elderly complexes and other facilities had been severely cut. I went thru many of the counties, looks like Dallas area, San Anton, Houston and Hidalgo Co (on the border) got quite a few. Could very well be that they were justified but would be interesting to analyze from the political perspective.
gypsy314 ne
Sad thing is Americans are on the housing list waiting mean while illegal aliens are in a lot of the homes meant for Americans sad sad. Wake the hell Americans insist on only Americans citizens only for the homes and lists.
Anyone but Obama and liar democrats!