Texas
Build, baby, build: Texas needs houses.

Texas continues to experience significant population growth as Americans flee other states for new opportunities and, historically, a lower cost of living. According to the Texas Comptroller’s office, approximately 225,000 people moved to Texas between 2021 and 2022, but homebuilding has not kept pace with the influx of new residents. The increased demand for housing — combined with factors such as high interest rates, high property taxes, inflation and rising insurance costs — have left Texas with a housing deficit of 306,000 units, second only to California. Texas lawmakers are likely to tackle housing affordability during the 2025 legislative session.
Just because a family cannot afford or qualify for a mortgage does not mean they should not be able to live in a home they are proud of in a community where they can afford to rent.
To improve Texans’ living situations, it’s just as important to increase the supply of single-family rental homes as it is to increase the supply of homes for purchase. We need options for everyone.
Many who have testified before Texas Senate and House committees during the interim have emphasized the importance of increasing the housing supply for both buyers and renters. Some have zeroed in on several potential solutions: easing zoning regulations and minimum lot size requirements, streamlining local permitting processes and allowing for easier conversion of commercial property into residential. (The comptroller’s report also outlined some of these options.)
Meanwhile, calls to limit corporate purchases of single-family homes to rent miss the mark. According to a 2021 report by the National Association of Realtors, corporate investors bought 28% of homes sold that year in Texas — more than twice the national average. But corporate investors in single-family homes range from large companies to small mom-and-pops. And according to legislative testimony, home purchases by corporate investors of every size have not exceeded 20% of the total.
In reality, to generate much-needed housing at scale,Texas needs corporate investment. It’s up to our elected leaders to clear the way by eliminating barriers to supply and creating greater housing options and accessibility for all Texans.
Charles Blain, a frequent contributor to the Houston Chronicle, researches and writes about policies that promote opportunity and social mobility.

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Texas school districts all struggling with lack of state funding

Looking at statewide school funding
It’s not just Central Texas schools struggling with budget deficits. Districts all across the state are dealing with different versions of the same problem: a lack of funding from the state. 7 On Your Side reporter John Krinjak has a look at the impact.
AUSTIN, Texas – Over the past month, 7 On Your Side has been spotlighting local districts that have been grappling with budget deficits. But it’s not just Central Texas schools that are struggling.
Districts all across the state say they are dealing with different versions of the same problem: a lack of funding from the state.
MORE STORIES:
Austin ISD operates in budget deficit
What they’re saying:
District leaders across Texas are anxiously awaiting action from the state legislature when it comes to public school funding.
“A lot of districts have cut through a lot of the fat, and they’re getting to the bone,” said Dax Gonzalez of the Texas Association of School Boards.
Austin ISD is currently operating with a $92 million deficit. The school board is finalizing plans to make that much in cuts over three years.
“There are likely going to be cuts to things that we love. And that’s part of the hard decision-making that we have to make because the state is choosing not to fully fund public education,” said Austin ISD Board President Arati Singh.
School districts talk about legislature funding
A lot of school districts are hoping to see lawmakers take action to increase school funding. Last week, 7 On Your Side looked at the impact of that situation at Austin ISD. Now, John Krinjak takes a look at two more districts dealing with the lack of state funding
Other Texas school districts are struggling
What they’re saying:
But Austin ISD is far from alone, with district after district across Texas passing deficit budgets and making major cuts.
“We’re talking about things like closing campuses, reducing staff. That’s instructional staff as well, things like cutting bus routes, the things that families have really come to rely on. One year they’re going to start the school year and those services may not be there,” said Dax Gonzales of the Texas Association of School Boards.
Dallas ISD is currently dealing with a $152 million deficit. That’s about $35 million less than the original $186 million shortfall for this year. But painful cuts were made. Among them, the elimination of hundreds of positions—including cutting 55 assistant principal jobs.
Nearby, in Coppell ISD, the board of trustees recently voted to close Pinkerton Elementary.
“Why are we in this financial dire situation for education? Shouldn’t we be prioritizing education?” said Coppell ISD parent Josh McCrary.
Gonzalez says the answer to that question largely has to do with the legislature failing to raise the basic allotment, the per-student amount each district receives from the state, in six years.
“They’re trying to figure out how to provide the same services with the same funding basically that they’ve received since 2019. And inflation, just like with everyone else, has taken a large cut out of what those districts can provide,” said Gonzalez.
Del Valle Superintendent on budget deficit, state funding
Local school districts are dealing with mounting budget deficits. District leaders are largely laying the blame at the feet of state legislators who have not raised the so-called basic allotment in six years. That’s the per-student amount each district gets in state funding.
Houston ISD is facing the largest deficit of all this year, about $250 million. That’s double the original projected shortfall, after Superintendent Mike Miles said the district would dip into savings to cover things like building maintenance and classroom instruction.
All this comes after Houston ISD made major cuts last year.
“And because we did so many cuts last year, we won’t have to repeat that. We might have to cut a little bit,” said Miles at a December 10 school board meeting.
School board leaders, though, expressed concern at that meeting.
“I want to make sure that what we’re doing right now is not putting us in a bad position for next year,” said Houston ISD Board President Audrey Momanee.
Miles predicts a smaller deficit for next year, but the exact size of the shortfall could have a lot to do with whether lawmakers raise the basic allotment.
“I’m not promising anything until we see the real numbers from the state.”
The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s John Krinjak
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