The issue comes as HCC reports record enrollment and academic achievements. The college recently surpassed 100,000 students across 19 campuses in the Houston area.
HCC says its facilities are currently in good condition, but the system's audit committee is examining how to keep up with repairs to elevators, roofs and other infrastructure.
"Many of those campuses have been there for a while," Sean Cheben, vice chairman of the HCC Board of Trustees, said.
The college's facilities report warns that if HCC falls behind on deferred maintenance, the overall condition of its facilities could decline from "good" to "average" by 2030.
Cheben said HCC typically puts about $15 million a year toward deferred maintenance as part of its annual budget. He said the college also tries to put surplus revenue back into maintaining its buildings.
Students say they generally are satisfied with HCC's facilities, though some improvements are still needed.
Melvis Maduagwu, an HCC student, said he uses the fitness center but believes the college could improve its Wi-Fi network.
HCC has also received additional state funding through House Bill 8, a 2023 law that allocated $684 million to Texas' 50 public community colleges based on performance and student outcomes.
Cheben said community colleges across the state have exceeded expectations tied to that funding.
"The good news is that community colleges really responded well to that incentive," Cheben said, adding that performance has outpaced projections from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Cheben said state funding makes up about 15% of HCC's roughly $500 million annual budget.
He said lawmakers could have an opportunity during the next legislative session, which begins in January, to adjust funding as HCC anticipates a $5 million to $8 million revenue loss in the next academic year.
HCC reported 23 facility interruptions over the past year, two of which were considered major.
Cheben said the college's efforts to address deferred maintenance will not affect taxpayers.