{"id":197,"date":"2026-02-13T00:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T00:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voteshanemckinney.com\/?p=197"},"modified":"2026-02-14T03:58:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T03:58:39","slug":"a-city-isnt-thriving-if-its-residents-cant-afford-to-stay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voteshanemckinney.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/13\/a-city-isnt-thriving-if-its-residents-cant-afford-to-stay\/","title":{"rendered":"A City\u00a0Isn\u2019t\u00a0Thriving If Its Residents\u00a0Can\u2019t\u00a0Afford to Stay\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some of my favorite memories growing up are small, ordinary moments that stuck with me for life.\u00a0Also, my mother\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0let me forget them.\u00a0One of them came from watching\u00a0The Incredible Hulk<\/em>\u00a0on television when I was about three years old. I loved the show,\u00a0but when Dr. Banner started to transform,\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0run out of the living room, heart racing, and watch from around the corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even then, I was brave enough to be curious, but cautious too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s how a lot of issues feel today, especially housing and property taxes. They\u2019re big, complex, and sometimes intimidating to talk about. But if we stay curious, if we lean in with empathy and proceed with caution and care, we can move forward. We can solve hard problems together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, housing affordability and rising property taxes are kitchen-table issues in Galveston. They affect retirees on fixed incomes, young families just getting started, teachers, hospitality workers, first responders, and people who keep this city running every day. A city isn\u2019t thriving if the people who love it can\u2019t afford to live there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Property values across the island have risen sharply, driven in part by tourism demand, short-term rentals, and outside investment. While that growth can be positive for the economy, it also puts pressure on residents. When appraised values rise, tax bills often follow, and for many households, that increase is frightening and unsustainable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can\u2019t ignore that reality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Galveston already has some tools that help, like homestead exemptions, over-65 and disabled exemptions, and tax rate decisions made by the City Council and other taxing entities. These measures provide relief, but for many residents, they don\u2019t fully offset the pace of rising costs. We need to keep looking for ways to protect longtime residents and ensure new families can put down roots here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affordable housing is a critical part of that solution. When I say \u201caffordable,\u201d I\u2019m not talking about low-quality or isolated developments. I\u2019m talking about thoughtful, well-designed housing options for the people who serve our community every day, our teachers, healthcare workers, hospitality staff, city employees, first responders, and young professionals who want to build a life here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are real, practical steps Galveston can potentially take: <\/p>\n\n\n\n