AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Taylor is considering implementing an employee homebuyer incentive program to encourage its staff to live within city.
The Taylor City Council discussed the structure of the proposed employee homebuyer incentive program during its Sept. 25 meeting. In her presentation, LaShon Gros, managing director of administrative services for the City of Taylor, said the program would aim to:
- Strengthen the city’s workforce
- Improve employee retention
- Promote neighborhood stability
- Stimulate local economic growth
“It encourages employees to live in the community serve, fostering personal investment in that community,” said Gros in the Sept. 25 city council meeting. “[This] competitive advantage positions the city as an employer of choice.”
Gros said they are considering directing the incentive toward helping employees cover closing costs when purchasing a home. Although she didn’t specify how much money Taylor might offer, she noted that her team is drawing inspiration from San Marcos’ program, which provides a forgivable loan.
“We provide that $5,000 and the employee signs an agreement that they will work for the city for five years,” said Rita Campos, the Benefits Manager with the City of San Marcos. “Every year that they work for the city, 20% or $1,000 of that $5,000 is removed and that’s forgiven.”
Campos said the program began on Oct. 1, 2024, and the city allocated $50,000 for the 2024–2025 fiscal year—enough to support 10 employees.
“It’s really bringing employees to live in the community—to be part of the community in which they work,” Campos said. “We’ve had employees from all different departments who have benefited from it—the library, utilities, finance—just all over.”
Taylor City Council voted unanimously in the Sept. 25 meeting to continue investigating if crafting an employee homebuyer incentive program makes sense for their city.
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