Government
BY MELISSA ENAJE
County expands child care center tax exemption With a unanimous vote on Dec. 11, Harris County commissioners reauthorized 100% prop- erty tax exemptions for qualified child care provid- ers in 2026 and onward in a move that is expected to save thousands of dollars for providers, county
IAH, Hobby roll out ‘eGates’ technology Airport passengers in the Greater Houston area who are also CLEAR members can uti- lize new biometric eGates aimed at expedit- ing identity verification at both George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports. Zooming out While the security identity company CLEAR first announced the national airport partnership program rollout with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration on Aug. 19, Houston Airport officials announced the biometric security gates are in use as of mid-December. “The eGates are designed to give CLEAR+ members a more seamless and predictable travel experience,” officials said in a news release. “Travelers can verify their identity in under five seconds.”
In order to qualify for the full exemption, a child care center must:
Participate in the TWC’s Texas Rising Star Program
Maintain a minimum of 20% enrollment of children who receive subsidized services through the TWC
Harris County’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget included more than $125 million for early childhood initiatives, including: • $57.5 million for the Early REACH program • $17.7 million for SHINE Childhood Facilities funds • $16.5 million for Early Learning Quality Networks • $14.9 million for the Early Childhood Impact fund • $8.4 million for the County Connections Summer Enrichment program • $7.3 million for the Accessible Child Care Training Support program • $4.3 million for the Responsive Intervention Services & Engagement program, or RISE
officials said. The full story
Commissioners first approved the 100% prop- erty tax exemption for qualified child care centers in March 2024, with the stipulation that the exemption would expire every two years unless commissioners voted for an extension. With the December vote, commissioners also approved removing the expiration clause, which allows the exemption to continue without requiring the two year reapproval from Commissioners Court. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a news release the reauthorization helps providers pay
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
and retain staff, and keep tuition rates affordable. “Today’s unanimous vote shows that every single one of us ... understands the importance of protecting access to high-quality, early childhood education,” Hidalgo said.
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