Politics
West Housing Supply Acceleration Act Directs Credits to Three Cities, Outlying Counties Receive No Allocations
West residents inside the metro zones gain access to new rental construction funded through tax credits while households in the remaining counties see no direct change to local supply or costs.
How we reported this
The West State Legislature passed the Housing Supply Acceleration Act on July 7. The measure creates $120 million in state tax credits available only for multifamily projects inside the city limits of West City, Riverton and Northport.
Why the timing matters now
State budget documents released in May projected a 14 percent rise in average rents across West over the next two years. Lawmakers tied the bill to that forecast and limited eligibility to the three cities that account for 68 percent of the state's rental households.
Developers already holding sites in those cities can apply for the credits starting August 1. Projects must reserve at least 20 percent of units for households earning under 60 percent of area median income. The credits run for ten years and cannot be transferred outside the designated zones.
Daily effects for West households
A family renting in West City could see new buildings appear on former surface lots within two years if applications move quickly. A similar household in the county seat of Easton, 45 miles away, will continue to compete for the existing stock with no new units expected from this program.
Local property-tax records show Easton County added 180 rental units last year, all market-rate. The new legislation contains no matching allocation for counties that fall outside the three-city map.
Policy analysts note that construction crews and suppliers located inside the credit zones stand to receive the first contracts. Firms based elsewhere will compete only if they secure a subcontract from an approved city project.
The Department of Housing and Community Development will publish the first list of approved applications on October 15. Groundbreaking on the earliest projects is projected for the first quarter of 2027.