What this is
Learn how TIRZ board meetings work and how you can speak up about neighborhood improvements funded by your tax dollars.
What is a TIRZ?
A Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone captures the growth in property tax revenue within a geographic area and reinvests it into infrastructure improvements in that same area. Houston has 26 active TIRZs. If your property is inside one, a portion of your property taxes goes to a local board that decides how to spend it on roads, drainage, streetscaping, parks, and sometimes affordable housing.
Find out if you are in a TIRZ: Visit houstontx.gov/ecodev/tirz.html for a map.
The basics
When: Most TIRZ boards meet monthly. Schedules vary by zone — check your TIRZ website or the Granicus portal at houston.granicus.com.
Where: Meeting locations vary. Some meet at City Hall, others at community centers or offices within the zone.
How long: Usually 1-2 hours.
Cost: Free. Open to the public.
What happens at the meeting
TIRZ boards are appointed (not elected) and have authority over significant budgets. They decide:
Capital projects — which roads get rebuilt, where drainage is improved, what streetscaping happens
Development incentives — tax abatements and infrastructure support for developers
Affordable housing — some TIRZs fund housing programs (required by state law for certain zones)
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Budgets — annual spending plans, sometimes tens of millions of dollars
Contracts — construction, engineering, and professional service contracts
How to give public comment
Check the meeting agenda — most are posted on the TIRZ website or Houston Granicus portal.
Attend in person. Most TIRZ boards allow public comment at the meeting.
State your name and address. Mentioning that you live within the zone carries weight.
Be specific about the project or issue: "The drainage on [your street] has not been addressed and I am asking the board to prioritize it."
Tips for first-timers
TIRZ meetings are small. Your presence and voice are proportionally more powerful than at City Council.
Board members are appointed by City Council and often include local business owners and community leaders.
Ask about the project list. Every TIRZ has a capital improvement plan — knowing what is already planned helps you advocate for changes or additions.
If your street or neighborhood has an infrastructure problem, a TIRZ meeting may be more effective than calling 311.
Bring neighbors. Three residents showing up to a TIRZ meeting about a specific street is hard to ignore.
TIRZ dollars are YOUR tax dollars working locally. You have standing to ask how they are spent.
After the meeting
Meeting notices and agendas at houston.granicus.com
TIRZ project information at houstontx.gov/ecodev/tirz_info.html
Contact your City Council Member if you have concerns about TIRZ board appointments or spending priorities
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