Government
BY RACHEL LELAND & JAMES T. NORMAN
Friendswood OKs new ag barn site
Pearland looks at $2.3M for streets, sidewalks Pearland city officials are considering a $500,000 increase from last year for street and sidewalk repairs in its fiscal year 2025-26 budget. Long story short Pearland City Council held a special meeting Aug. 25 to discuss the fiscal year 2025-26 budget,
Pearland City Council split on max tax rate In a split decision Aug. 11, Pearland City Council opted to set its maximum tax rate at $0.635 per $100 valuation of a home for fiscal year 2025-26. The overview Despite this, the city’s proposed budget calls for a tax rate of $0.63 per $100 valua- tion, which is above the no-new-revenue rate of $0.619439 per $100 valuation. As a result, the council needs five votes to approve it in September. Otherwise, the tax rate reverts to the no-new-revenue rate. For the median home valued at $372,103 , a tax rate of $0.635 per $100 valuation of a home would create an annual tax bill of $2,362.85 . This compares to the no-new-rev- enue rate, which would have a tax bill of $2,304.95 , documents show.
Manvel approves 11.2% increase in utility rates Manvel City Council unanimously approved an 11.2% utility rate increase at its Sept. 2 meeting. What you need to know Rate changes Previous rate
which they will vote to approve in September. According to the proposed budget, Pearland would dedicate $2.3 million in total from the general fund to repair and maintain streets. City documents noted the amount could rise to $2.6 million total if the council chooses to allocate additional money from its fund balance. Looking ahead City Council heard the first reading for the budget at its Sept. 8 meeting, which occurred after press time. If approved at the Sept. 8 meeting, officials will consider it for a second time Sept. 22.
Friendswood City Council on Aug. 4 approved an agreement with Friendswood ISD for roughly 25 acres for a future agriculture barn. The gist The agreement permits FISD to construct the facility for educational programs, city documents show. FISD may build and use the site if voters approve its $165 million bond in November.
New rate
Officials said the rate increase was needed to keep up with water and utility system repairs. The rate in recent years has been too low for the city to properly supply its utility fund, City Manager Dan Johnson said. Mayor Dan Davis noted the utility fund for the fiscal year 2024-25 budget is solvent, with nearly $2.8 million in revenue. The increase will go into effect on November bills and would add $1 million to the fund, the bulk of which would go toward repairs and mainte- nance, documents show. What they said Johnson called the increase “sobering,” but said it’s included in the city’s proposed FY 2025-26 budget. Had it not passed, officials would have
Residential water Residential wastewater Commercial water Commercial wastewater Additional volume
$35.58
$32.59
$42.70
$39.11
$42.70
$39.11
Projected changes in general fund from FY 2024-25 to FY 2025-26
$49.82
$45.63
$6M $8M $4M $2M $0 -$2M -$4M -$6M
$3.98
$3.34
$6.63M
$2.3M
SOURCE: CITY OF MANVEL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
$943.35K
SAN JOAQUIN PKWY.
-$737.6K
-$715.15K -$345.37K
needed to reconsider parts of the budget. Davis said a rate approval was necessary for Manvel’s future. “If it were to add a bunch of fluff, I wouldn’t be for it,” Davis said. “But it’s to go to necessities.”
-$4.61M
528
Ag barn site
Salaries and wages
Building and grounds*
Internal services fund transfers
Capital outlay
Repair and maintenance
Transfers
Materials and supplies
N
THIS CHART IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE OF ALL CATEGORIES. *ROAD REPAIR INCREASES CONTAINED IN BUILDING AND GROUNDS INCREASE.
SOURCE: CITY OF PEARLAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SHADOW CREEK 11023 Shadow Creek Pkwy (281) 977-1027
PEARLAND 10555 Pearland Pkwy (713) 987-9205
ALMEDA 11130 Gulf Fwy (713) 910-3941
FRIENDSWOOD 3126 FM 528 (281) 648-5473
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