Summary
Trinity University professor Christine Drennon says San Antonio should allow the Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to expire rather than extend it to help fund a proposed San Antonio Spurs arena. The urban geography and community development expert argues that TIRZ districts can concentrate tax revenue in prosperous areas instead of benefiting the broader city.
In a San Antonio Express-News article, Trinity University sociology and anthropology professor Christine Drennon, Ph.D., argues San Antonio should let the Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone expire, saying such districts create “islands of prosperity” that keep tax revenue from benefiting the broader city. The city instead proposes extending the TIRZ to 2060, using its growing revenues to help buy the former Institute of Texan Cultures site for a new Spurs arena. Officials project the extension could generate nearly $600 million while also supporting parks, cultural institutions, and other development. Read the full story here.