Churches in Texas Town Crowding Out Businesses

An influx of churches in a small Texas town has left it scrambling for ways to curtail further construction, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The town of Stafford, population 19,227, has 51 churches in its seven square miles. It has no property tax and relies on sales taxes and business fees for revenue.

Local officials say the churches leave few opportunities for commercial development. “It’s thrown everything out of balance, plus providing zero revenue,” said Councilman Cecil Willis. “Somebody’s got to pay for police, fire, and schools.”

Efforts to find legal methods of keeping more churches from building in the town are under way.

One church official defended the presence of the many houses of worship. Said Lola Onita, assistant pastor at Jesus House Texas: “People need a place to worship and hear the word of God.”