Houston’s Growth Poses Service Challenges

The Houston region continues to grow, and local regional governance is struggling to meet residents’ needs.

2 minute read

November 12, 2018, 6:00 AM PST

By Camille Fink


Houston Sprawl

Paul Sableman / Flickr

new report from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research looks at growth in the Houston region and the struggles cities, counties, municipal utility districts (MUDs), and special districts face in providing municipal services to developing areas. “How do we ensure that all areas of those jurisdictions get the services they need and that those jurisdictions have the revenues and powers they need to adequately serve those areas?” asks Kyle Sheldon, one of the report’s authors, in an interview on Houston Matters.

Shelton says MUDs, prevalent in Harris County, are special districts in the state of Texas with property tax collection and other powers that help them build public infrastructure in areas that a city cannot or does not want to reach. However, the system has become complicated and confusing, says Shelton. “There are a lot of growing populations in those areas, and they have expectations for services and may not always understand the county is not the water provider, [that] the county does not do all the same things that the city does.”

One reform proposal is regional revenue sharing, where all jurisdictions in an area pay into a shared pot that is then redistributed. “That would help address some of the disparities we have in some jurisdictions: not being able to adequately maintain water treatment facilities or adequately maintain streets. It helps all of those jurisdictions without overturning existing systems or asking people to drastically change the government structure,” says Shelton. Other options at the county level include giving fast-growing counties sales tax and limited ordinance-making powers.

Shelton stresses that thinking at the regional scale and about regional vitality is important. He notes that Houston chose to grow and to be responsible for providing services to a massive area. He says that MUDs are providing many of those services effectively, and parts of the system are working well. However, the various entities need to be strengthened to prepare for the long-term regional challenges.

Monday, November 5, 2018 in Houston Public Media

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.