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KATY EDITION
VOLUME 11, ISSUE 2 OCT. 19 NOV. 15, 2022
VOTER GUIDE 2022
Harris County voters to decide $1.2B bond
Bond on the ballot Harris County’s $1.2 billion bond is split into three propositions for public safety facilities, roads and parks. Commissioners Court voted 3-2 to adopt an allocation plan by precinct for the road and park bond funding.
The Woodlands-based steakhouse heads to Katy
BY RACHEL CARLTON
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OVERALL
$100M: Public safety facilities $200M: Parks and trails $900M: Roads, drainage and transportation
Harris County residents will vote on a $1.2 billion bond to fund public safety facilities, road mainte- nance and parks during the midterm elections Nov. 8. Voters can approve or reject three separate prop- ositions: $100 million for public safety; $900 million for roads, drainage and multimodal transportation; and $200 million for parks. Historically, the county has proposed road and park bonds every six to eight years, most recently an $848 million bond in 2015. Commissioners were divided on whether to hold a bond election this year, voting 3-2 to place it on the ballot Aug. 19 with Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle opposed. But Daniel Ramos, executive director of the Harris County O ce of Management and Budget, told Community Impact he believes the county needs to issue a bond because the 2015 bond will be almost fully expended by the end of 2023. “Folks are driving on unsafe … [and] poor-qual- ity roads today. Our public safety personnel are in substandard facilities today. We have folks that we can take out of the ood plain today. And all of that requires funding,” Ramos said. “At the end of next year, we’re not going to have another funding source to continue to do projects.” The county has not published a list of projects that would use bond funding—something Ramsey has CONTINUED ON 28
FALL TO DO LIST 2022
$1.2B Total bond amount
$900M total
ROAD FUNDING
A
B
C
D E F
$50M Vision Zero program— re-engineering F
$300M general
$100M road
A
D
road bonds
rehabilitation $50M multimodal transit E
$200M drainage $200M partnership funding B C
Upcoming events
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layouts for high-injury corridors
VOTER GUIDE 2022
Precinct 3
BY PRECINCT
Total* $1.1B
Precinct 4
Precinct 2
Precinct 1
*$100 MILLION GOES TO PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES REGARDLESS OF LOCATION. to each precinct $220M
to be allocated at a later date** $220M
Sample ballot
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**UNASSIGNED FUNDS WILL BE DIVIDED AMONG PRECINCTS OR MANAGED CENTRALLY BY THE COUNTY ENGINEER’S OFFICE.
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
Katy child care, early education centers tackle costs, sta issues
KATY AVERAGES Child care costs in Texas and the Houston area are beyond a ordable, based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services standards.
Japanese restaurant blends culinary in uences
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BY ASIA ARMOUR, MIKAH BOYD & EMILY LINCKE
Katy’s continued development and in ation have cre- ated increases in costs of child care, while early education centers balance sta ng shortages and retention e orts that arose from the coronavirus pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, child care is considered una ordable if it requires over 7% of a family’s income. As of October 2020, the typical Texas family was paying 15.7% of its income for infant care for one child, according to the Economic CONTINUED ON 34
day care centers are in Katy, including 111 home-based programs and 148 centers. 259 Monthly average cost of full-time day care in Katy $680
SOURCES: CARELULU, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES COMMUNITY IMPACT Child care is considered una ordable if it is over this percentage of a family’s income. 7%
Come home to great savings.
18-hole golf course
Outdoor stage & biergarten
2-story fitness center
Onsite lifestyle director
Resort-style outdoor pool
100s of monthly activities
Junior-Olympic indoor lap pool
Golf clubhouse – coming soon!
Pickleball & bocce ball courts
Additional restaurant – coming soon!
save up to $20K on select homes & homesites through November 15. * When you live at Kissing Tree, every day is like a vacation. Play 18 holes. Meet up with friends in the Biergarten. Swim in the resort-style pool or the indoor lap pool. You can become part of the community as soon as you sign your contract. Our newest Texas-sized amenities are underway, with a new golf clubhouse, restaurant, and more pickleball courts coming soon! Choose your floor plan and homesite, or browse our wide selection of quick move-in homes with features and interiors planned by our design experts. Scan the QR code or visit KissingTree.com to see available homes, or call 512-842-4902 to find out how you can save thousands.
*Minimum $40,000 spend in Design Center for Traditional Homes and $20,000 spend for Cottage Homes. Villa Homes $10,000 credit would be applied towards pre-selected options. Offer good for homes sold between September 15 and November 15, 2022. Brookfield Residential reserves the right to make modifications in materials and specifications at any time without prior notice. © 2022 Brookfield Residential Properties Inc. All rights reserved.
We’re excited to announce the grand opening of our newest pediatric location in the Cross Creek Ranch community and hope you come and join our family! At Texas Children’s Pediatrics Fulshear, we offer convenient access to high-quality pediatric care for all children – from newborn to 18 years old. We’ll help you develop a trusted, long-term relationship with expert pediatricians backed by the #1 hospital in Texas. Because everything we do is to ensure your family’s tomorrow is a healthier one. Our family just got bigger!
Make an appointment by calling 281-885-6000, or learn more at texaschildrenspediatrics.org/fulshear.
Texas Children’s Fulshear | 6623 West Cross Creek Bend Lane | Fulshear, Texas 77441
4
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact Newspaper in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 30 localized editions across Texas to more than 2.4 million residential mailboxes. MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Amy Martinez GRAPHIC DESIGNER La’Toya Smith ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Tracy Drewa METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Schafler COPY EDITOR Kasey Salisbury SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CONTACT US 16300 Northwest Freeway Jersey Village, TX 77040 • 281-469-6181 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES ktynews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING ktyads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter PODCAST communityimpact.com/podcast SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron EDITOR Hunter Marrow REPORTER Asia Armour
ANNOUNCEMENT: COMMUNITY IMPACT REBRANDING & NEWSROOM COMMITMENT
2005 Total mailboxes 60,000 1 Journalist
2015 Total mailboxes 1,495,000 40 Journalists
2022 Total mailboxes 2,450,000 75 Journalists
The CI Local Pin Incorporated into our main logo, the CI Local Pin symbolizes our focus on local and making an Impact in every community we serve.
The new mission statement is: “Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets,” which speaks to both the editorial content and business ads that our communities love and use. The vision statement was created by all Impacters and speaks to what we hope to accomplish with each day of our work: ”Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team.” There are no changes to the company’s purpose and values, and Community Impact is committed to living those out every day. CI’s purpose is: “To be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.” The company’s values , or stones that are physically awarded internally for a job well done each month are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. The company’s updated logo features the signature CI red and gray, but lighter, brighter and bolder. CI also incorporated a new design element—the CI Local Pin , a simple recognizable icon—into the new logo to further solidify its focus on local news and making an impact in every community it serves. The design of the new logo more accurately reflects CI’s design philosophy, Creative Director Derek Sullivan said. “Less is more—we always aim to keep it clear, clean and concise,” he said. “In addition, the new CI Local Pin helps us visually connect the main brand with our other internal and external initiatives. For example, the pin is part of our IRG logos (Impacter Resource Groups promoting equity, diversity and inclusion), and the pin is shifted upside down to become an ink drop in our new CI Printing logo." Vice President of Sales and Marketing Tess Coverman said CI’s updated name speaks to the company’s robust product line and allows for continued innovation in the future. “As new ideas come up, as long as they filter through our updated mission statement and core values, we can more easily introduce them to the Community Impact audience,” she said. “For example, hosting events is a recent request by some CI Patrons as a benefit to the community and a new revenue stream, which we might consider in 2023.” With this brand update and newsroom expansion, CI prides itself on being the largest community journalism newsroom in the state, covering local businesses, transportation and road projects, development, health care and government.
No longer just a newspaper company, Community Impact is rebranding to better align with one of its core values: innovation.
Although many readers may know CI for its monthly, full-color print newspapers, the company is much more than just a printed newspaper. Since its inception in 2005 in the gameroom of John and Jennifer Garrett’s home in Pflugerville, Texas, the company lived up to its entrepreneurial roots, creating its own in-house customer relationship management software, building a printing plant, launching email newsletters and podcasts, and expanding its reach to four Texas metros and more than 2.4 million homes. To reflect its entire product line and continue to allow for future growth, the media company has changed its name from Community Impact Newspaper to Community Impact. This process began in early 2022 when leadership at CI completed a workshop with Jeff Hahn of Hahn Public to strategize their next innovative move. Following the workshop, CI made the decision to update its entire brand schematic, including the logo, colors, tagline, mission statement and vision statement. "Since 2005, Community Impact has been a trusted source for local news as we have built the largest community journalism news organization in Texas,” CEO and founder John Garrett said. “Our award-winning monthly newspaper and our innovative daily digital products will be the focus of the investment Jennifer and I are making in local news for—God willing—years to come. Our team is committed to helping all Texans we serve, regardless of your socioeconomic status or political affiliation, to get news you can trust to help you connect to your community." In an effort to produce even more local journalism, CI has already promoted 10 editorial team members since January and will add more newsroom positions in the coming months to maintain its status as the leading newsroom in the state. A portion of this growth is attributed to local CI advertisers along with CI’s reader-funded Patron program that launched in 2020. The company plans to expand with a corporate Patron program in 2023 based on similar demand. As part of the rebrand, the company’s new tagline , News Everyone Gets, was shortened from Local. Useful. Everyone Gets It. to mirror what CI does best—simplify complex information into various news formats in a delivery method and tone accessible to anyone. Plus, CI created a new mission statement and updated its vision statement to reflect both present-day and future goals.
Owners and founders John and Jennifer Garrett
communityimpact.com
@impactnewshtxmetro
Publisher, Jason Culpepper
@impactnews_kty
linkedin.com/company/communityimpact
@communityimpacthouston
We've teamed up to bring you more of the stories you care about.
Proudly printed by
© 2022 Community Impact Co. All rights reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without written permission from the publisher.
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I-10 and exit Cane Island Pkwy North
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KATY EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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Dekker’s—on the corner of FM 1093. The restaurant is known for its certified Angus beef steak brand and also offers chicken, seafood and various side dishes. 346-547-8641. www.saltgrass.com 5 Burns Original BBQ opened a bistro inside the Kroger at 2700 W. Grand Parkway N., Katy. The restaurant, which received accolades from famed chef and documentarian Anthony Bourdain, celebrated a grand opening at the Katy-area Kroger on Sept. 3. Its tagline, “Great BBQ lives on,” speaks to the legacy that founder Roy Burns Sr.’s children and grandchildren carry at both the original store and others through- out the Houston area. 346-307-3084. www.burnsoriginalbbq.com 6 Lucky Brand opened a storefront at Katy Mills mall on Sept. 30. Katy Mills, 5000 Katy Mills Circle, Katy, has seen a slew of new businesses throughout the year. The brand prides itself on deliv- ering self-expression and personality through its pieces. 281-644-5000. www.luckybrand.com 7 Miniso opened another store in the Houston area at Katy Mills on Sept. 10. The business announced a Sept. 10 grand opening for its new store at 5000 Katy Mills Circle, Katy, on Facebook. Miniso sells a collection of toys, home decor, stationery, beauty items, electronics and accessories with products marketed toward young consumers. 281-644-5000. www.minisousaonline.com 8 The Cheesecake Factory opened a new location in Katy Mills on Sept. 20 across from Rainforest Cafe at 5000 Katy Mills Circle, Ste. 325, Katy. The Cheesecake Factory’s over 200 menu
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NOW OPEN 1 Anodyne Pain and Wellness Solu- tions opened during the last week of September at 23519 Katy Freeway, Katy. The health care clinic provides medi- cine and rehabilitation; treatment for various medical, mental and behavioral conditions; and wellness care, includ- ing IV infusion therapy, medical weight loss and sexual health. 832-856-0676. www.anodynepain.com
2 Texas Children’s Pediatrics opened a new Fulshear location Sept. 13. The clinic, located at 6623 W. Cross Creek Bend Lane, held a grand opening for the community Sept. 30. The Texas Chil- dren’s Pediatrics Fulshear location’s care team is led by Alexander Gonzalez, who is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and has a special interest in acne, allergies, asthma, behavior and breastfeeding. 281-885-6000. www.texaschildrenspediatrics.org
3 Living Spaces opened Sept. 29 at 444 Katy Village Parkway, Katy, offer- ing selections for dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms and home offices. The furniture store held a VIP preview event, which included food and drinks from Capital Grille, complimentary beer and wine, and exclusive deals. 877-266-7300. www.livingspaces.com/stores/katy 4 Saltgrass Steak House opened a new location Sept. 20 at 8506 Syms St., Fulshear—the space that was previously
Find one in your neighborhood.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY ASIA ARMOUR, RENEE FARMER & HUNTER MARROW
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Ollie’s
Red Flame Steak & Grill
COURESY OLLIE’S
COURTESY RED FLAME STEAK & GRILL
items are made from scratch daily with options for lunch, dinner, late-night dining, Saturday and Sunday brunch, and dessert. The restaurant also offers food to go and a full bar. 281-644-5000. www.thecheesecakefactory.com 9 Victoria’s Fine Jewelry & Estate opened at 557 S. Mason Road, Ste. B, Katy, on Aug. 23. Services rendered by the busi- ness include custom jewelry design and repair, interior design, insurance appraisals, antique furniture care and maintenance, precious metals for investment and Gemological Institute of America-certified diamonds. Victoria’s also carries historical antiques and furnishings. 281-717-8944. www.victoriasfinejewelers.com COMING SOON 10 Bargain retailer Ollie’s will open a new store in Katy at 1705 Fry Road in November. The retailer will open at the Crossing at Fry Road shopping center, selling items from brand-name compa- nies at a lower-than-typical price point. Some items include food goods, deco- rative items, clothing, toys and cleaning products. www.ollies.us 11 A new full-service soul food restau- rant, The Middle Chamber , will open in Katy this November at 25551 Kingsland Blvd., Ste. B105. Owner R.C. Simmons plans to open The Middle Chamber with a menu featuring appetizers and entrees that include vegan options. Some of TMC’s menu items are creative twists on classic soul food dishes—such as the Soul Roll, an egg roll filled with macaroni and cheese, collard greens and fried chicken. www.facebook.com/tmckaty
12 A network of semitrailer parking and storage, Riggy’s West , will open in the Katy and Brookshire areas at 30229 Hwy. 90, Brookshire, in spring 2023. The 19.14-acre property near the Amazon Distribution Center will begin construction in December. The station will feature 326 parking spaces, private gate access with security monitoring, LED lighting, and a 3,000-square-foot living area with showers and laundry facilities. www.riggys.com 13 A steakhouse native to northwest The Woodlands, Red Flame Steak & Grill , will open a new location at 3211 W. Grand Parkway N., Ste. 400, Katy, this fall. The restaurant utilizes prime cuts of beef and culinary techniques such as sous vide, open-flame grilling and hardwood smoking to prepare a variety of steaks, seafood dishes and appetizers. 832-521-5066. www.redflametx.com 14 Victor’s Mexican Restaurant will open in Katy by the end of October. The restaurant’s newest location will open at 2918 Grand Parkway N., Katy. Other locations are in Fulshear and Richmond. Menu items include tacos, fajitas, enchiladas and other Mexican cuisine. www.victorsmexicanrestaurant.com 15 Ivy Kids Early Learning Center will open a new franchise in Katy at 23101 Beckendorf Road in August 2023. Ivy Kids will hold a groundbreak- ing ceremony Oct. 21. The child care center has programs for infants up to prekindergartners, inspired by psychol- ogist Dr. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. 713-360-1325. www.ivykids.com Quench It Soda , a beverage and snack
Porter Lake Crossing, a new retail center, will open in early December.
RENDERING COURTESY WEITZMAN MANAGEMENT CO.
FEATURED IMPACT COMING SOON A new retail center is coming to northwest Katy near the Elyson and Morton Creek Ranch housing developments. Porter Lake Crossing is set to open in early December, leasing o cials said. The space is at 24004 Porter Road, Katy, near the intersection of Porter Lake Road and Stockdick School Road. Once completed, the 40,130-square- foot retail center will have three multitenant buildings and 6,000 square feet of lot space. The Learning Experience , a child care and education center, leased Building B of the center and will feature a 5,245-square-foot playground. In a July news release, Sarah Thobae, a leasing representative for the center, shack native to Utah, will open at six Houston-area locations, including one in Katy, slated for fall or winter 2023. An address for Quench It Soda in Katy has not yet been identified, local franchisee Michael Leinweber said. Quench It Soda’s menu features a variety of beverages, snacks and desserts, such as ice cream, popcorn, cookies, smoothies and carbonated drinks with many flavor combinations and mix-ins. www.quenchitsoda.com
said Porter Lake Crossing is looking to lease the remaining spaces to service-oriented tenants, such as salons, pet care and dry cleaning as well as medical, educational and tness businesses. Thobae also plans for quick-service dining, co ee and frozen treat tenants at the end cap spaces of the center. www.cornerstonedevgrp.com
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ANNIVERSARIES 16 The Frito Lay Houston warehouse at 3310 Hwy. 36, Rosenberg, celebrated its 40th year of operation Sept. 20. Fort Bend County Judge KP George and Pre- cinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales at- tended the celebration. In June 2021, the county and Frito Lay invested $220 million to expand the warehouse—expected to add 160 full-time jobs and open in 2023. 281-232-2363. www.fritolay.com
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As your neighbors, who better to tell the story of our community and your home. Put our energy, enthusiasm and market expertise to work for you, getting you the results you deserve!
Mary Kiesewetter 713.725.0108
Linda Wade Team 281.492.5951
Bob Miles 281.797.1600
©2017 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Better Homes and Gardens ® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Franchise is Independently Owned and Operated. If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers.
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KATY EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
NOT ALL MAMMOGRAMS ARE THE SAME
One in eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. That’s why where you go for your annual breast screening is so important.
Choose MD Anderson Cancer Center for your next mammogram, and you’ll receive a 3 D mammogram interpreted by dedicated experts providing results you can trust — from the start. Our team is exclusively focused on breast imaging and includes fellowship-trained breast radiologists and compassionate nurse navigators committed to providing the highest level of expertise and care. In most cases, patients will receive their imaging results the same day.
Schedule your mammogram today for the peace of mind you’ll only get from MD Anderson.
CHOOSE MD ANDERSON FOR YOUR NEXT MAMMOGRAM.
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LEAGUE CITY | TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER | THE WOODLANDS | WEST HOUSTON
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
FALL TO DO LIST
October & November events
2022 FALL GUIDE
NOVEMBER 11 HONOR VETERANS The Veterans Day Celebration will include live music, speeches from veterans and a Historic War Bird yover. noon-5 p.m. Free. Central Green Park, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy. 832-265-0506. www.centralgreenpark.com FREE KID FOOD & DRINK 11 THROUGH 12 CAMP OUT IN THE PARK Bring tents and sleeping bags for the Katy Parks & Recreation Department’s Fall Community Campout, featuring a movie, activities, s’mores and meals. Registration is required. 4 p.m.-9 a.m. Free. VFW Park, 6202 George Bush Drive, Katy. 281-391-4840. www.cityo aty.com FREE KID FOOD & DRINK 18 THROUGH 20 START HOLIDAY SHOPPING Home for the Holidays Gift Market will have over 150 vendors on site selling their items, photos with Santa, food and drinks. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Nov. 18-19), 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (Nov. 20). Free (age 12 and under), $6 (over age 12). Katy Merrell Center, 6301 S. Stadium Lane, Katy. 281-788-4297. www.homefortheholidaysgiftmarket.com FREE KID FOOD & DRINK
COMPILED BY RENEE FARMER
There are a number of ways to enjoy fall in the Katy area, whether checking out a family-friendly festival, facing fears at a spooky haunted house or getting out into nature to enjoy the weather. The information for each event is accurate as of press time and is subject to change.
FREE Free KID Kid friendly FOOD & DRINK Food and drink are for sale
OCTOBER 29 CELEBRATE HOWL O WEEN Join the Katy Parks & Recreation Department at the Katy Dog Park for Howl-O-Ween, with a costume contest, a ra e and vendors. Donation of pet food or cash for local shelters is required for ra e and contest entry. 9-11 a.m. Free. Katy Dog Park, 5414 Franz Road, Katy. 281-391-4840. www.cityo aty.com FREE KID FOOD & DRINK 29 ENJOY FAMILY FUN Join Houston Family Magazine, a parenting magazine, for its Houston Family Fun Fest at LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch. The event features face painting, a rock wall, food vendors, crafts and live music. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Heritage Square, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy. 281-395-5533. www.lacenterra.com FREE KID FOOD & DRINK
Attend a Christmas tree lighting in Katy.
FEATURED EVENT LIGHT THE SEASON LaCenterra’s Nov. 18 tree lighting ceremony will include food, a photo experience with live reindeer and Santa’s sleigh, in atable snow globes and holiday characters. 6-9 p.m. Free LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy 281-395-5533 www.lacenterra.com
SHOP FOR THE HOLIDAYS KATY ISD AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES CENTER
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Shop the Big Top Christmas Gift Market for boutique clothing, accessories, home decor, furniture, food, art and holiday items sold by small businesses. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Katy ISD Agricultural Sciences Center, 5801 Katy Hockley Cut O Road, Katy. 936-900-1900. www.bigtop.show
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Find more or submit Katy-area events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.
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Luxury Service. Exceptional Knowledge. Superior Results.
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KATY EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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TRANSPORTATION UPDATES TxDOT to dedicate $12B to Houston projects over 10 years
COMPILED BY ASIA ARMOUR
UPCOMING PROJECTS
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The Texas Department of Trans- portation approved on Aug. 30 the 2023 Unified Transportation Program with an $85 billion, 10-year invest- ment to enhance Texas’ roadways. Of that, $12 billion was allotted to the Houston district, where conges- tion relief is a major focus. In the Katy area, there are four projects totaling $510.7 million. All are planned to begin in fiscal year 2023 and end in 2026. Gov. Greg Abbott commented on the unprecedented amount of funding dedicated to transportation safety, addressing congestion and rural connectivity and preserving roadways for Texas drivers in a news release. He said the 2023 UTP is a crucial step toward addressing rural, urban and metropolitan communities across Texas and a “huge boon to our state’s infrastructure and booming economy.” “As more people move to Texas
and businesses grow across the state, we are working together to make sure Texans’ transportation safety and mobility are secured and businesses can flourish for genera- tions to come,” Abbott said. The most expensive local project is a $292.72 million widening of I-10 in Brookshire, starting at FM 359 and ending at the Waller County-Fort Bend County line. This project received a funding adjustment for an additional $44.75 million, according to UTP documents. The other three area projects have experienced no funding change this year, per 2023 UTP documents. These include a two-part widening of I-10. One portion runs from west of Snake Creek to the Fort Bend County-Harris County line and will cost $128.23 million. The other portion is between the Fort Bend County line and Mason Road and will cost $11.75 million. The funding categories for both
portions of the I-10 widening proj- ects are also, in part, from statewide connectivity corridor projects and strategic priorities. Finally, the 2023 UTP will provide $78 million for another project widening I-10 but with this project starting from the Waller County-Fort Bend County line and ending west of Snake Creek. J. Bruce Bugg, Jr., chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, which is the governing board for TxDOT, said in 2023 UTP documents that this year’s new record in funding is due to Texas’ vital role as a transportation chain for global trade. However, since funding levels do change, it does not ensure that all proposed projects will be built, he wrote. “This forward-looking program ensures that TxDOT is ready to meet future demand and optimize the hard-earned taxpayer dollars dedi- cated to transportation,” Bugg said.
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Grand Parkway widening The Texas Department of Transpor- tation will add two more lanes to the Grand Parkway from FM 1093 to I-10. The cost has increased $18 million, and the timeline has been delayed six months since January, TxDOT Public Information Officer Deidrea George said via email. She cited inflation and rede- sign as reasons for the changes. Cost: $103 million Timeline: April 2023-April 2025 Funding sources: state, federal funds
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF OCT. 11. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT KTYNEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. Development Authority will begin at the end of November or mid-Decem- ber, according to ARKK Engineers. It includes widening First Street from Bartlett Road to Avenue D by creating a center turn lane and adding a bridge over Cane Island Creek. Cost: $2.71 million Timeline: winter 2022-August 2023 Funding source: KDA cash funds First Street reconstruction The project funded by the Katy
Four Katy-area projects totaling $510.7 million are included in the $85 billion 2023 Unified Transportation Program package. Each project includes a segment of I-10 across Waller, Fort Bend and Harris counties. I-10 WIDENING Widening from FM 359 to Waller County-Fort Bend County line Cost: $292.72 million* Timeline: 2023-26 1
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2855
KATY FORT BEND RD.
90
10
359
KINGSLAND BLVD.
TEXAS HERITAGE PKWY.
99
1463
N
Widening from Waller County-Fort Bend County line to west of Snake Creek 2
Widening from west of Snake Creek to Fort Bend County-Harris County line Cost: $128.23 million Timeline: 2023-26 3
Widening from Fort Bend
4
County line to Mason Road Cost: $11.75 million Timeline: 2023-26
Cost: $78 million Timeline: 2023-26
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
*FUNDING WAS INCREASED BY $44.75 MILLION.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR PROPERTY IS WORTH TODAY? MEDIAN SALE PRICES IN THE KATY AREA INCREASED OVER $47,000 FROM 2020 TO 2021.* CALL or TEXT 713.851.4871 TO SCHEDULE A FREE IN PERSON EQUITY ANALYSIS. YEAR END APPOINTMENTS ARE FILLING UP FAST. START OFF 2022 BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CURRENT SELLERS MARKET. Charlie Russo Broker Associate, Realtor® 1411 Ave. A, Katy TX 77493 2015 2021 2021 (*2020 VS 2021 PER HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS stats as of 12/10/2021) MEDIAN SALE PRICES IN THE KATY AREA INCREASED OVER $47,000 FROM 2020 TO 2021.* CALL or TEXT 713.851.4871 TO SCHEDULE A FREE IN PERSON EQUITY ANALYSIS. YEAR END APPOINTMENTS ARE FILLING UP FAST. START OFF 2022 BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CURRENT SELLERS MARKET. Charlie Russo Broker Associate, Realtor® FREE Computer Generated Equity Analysis Premium MLS Content 1411 Ave. A, Katy TX 77493 2015 (*2020 VS 2021 PER HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS stats as of 12/10/2021) E KATY AREA INCREASED OVER $47,000 FROM 2020 TO 2021.* .4871 TO SCHEDULE A FREE IN PERSON EQUITY ANALYSIS. UP FAST. START OFF 2022 BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CURRENT SELLERS MARKET. e Russo e, Realtor® 2021 2021 FREE Computer Generated Equity Analysis Premium MLS Content 1411 Ave. A, Katy TX 77493 2015 2021 2021 851.4871 · Charlie@CharlieRussoRealty.com · www.CharlieRussoRealty.com 020 VS 2021 PER HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS stats as of 12/10/2021) Have housing gains ended? Have increases in interest rates cut into affordability enough to decrease sales? Prices generally lag sales, so if sales do suffer, the market could see significant cooling of prices in the months ahead. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to get the most of your home’s equity! If you’re waiting on the sidelines, I’ve got answers to any objections you may have. SCAN FOR HOME VALUE
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KATY EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
GOVERNMENT
Katy City Council approved a scal year 2022-23 budget in September, which includes increased revenues over the last year. Expenditures for the public safety budget also make up 54% of the general fund balance.
BALANCING A BUDGET
FY 2022 23 REVENUE
FY 2022 23 GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES
Public safety* $21.75M
Permits- Inspections Department $1.97M
Hotel occupancy $1.5M
General fund $40.08M
All other departments $9.15M Street department $3.3M
Debt service $3.42M
Enterprise fund (water, sewer and
Total $40.08M
Total $54.88M
Administrative department $1.52M
utilities) $9.88M
Debt service $2.39M
*INCLUDES POLICE, FIRE AND ANIMAL CONTROL
SOURCE: CITY OF KATY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Katy approves $54.88M FY 2022 23 budget Katy City Council approved a $40.08 million general fund budget for scal year 2022-23 in September with 54% of funds dedicated to public safety departments. Still, the city projects a total tax levy on both residential and commercial properties of $18.99 million, an 8.8%, or $1.28 million, increase from last year’s budget. This estimate is based on the larger average taxable value of properties, which grew from BY ASIA ARMOUR
ranges and step structure of eligible city employ- ees, e ective Oct. 10. Public safety—which includes the police, re and animal control departments—claims a com- bined $21.75 million of the $40.08 million general fund expenditures. The police department has the highest share with $11.85 million. In addition, the budget projects increased revenues in its hotel occupancy and general funds from last year. Hotel occupancy
During a Sept. 26 meeting, Katy City Council unanimously approved the FY 2022-23 budget of $54.88 million and a property tax rate of $0.44 per $100 valuation. The tax rate includes $0.077688 for debt service and $0.362312 for maintenance and operation expenditures. This tax rate is lower than last year’s rate of $0.447168 but greater than the no-new-revenue rate of $0.430733, which would have raised roughly the same amount of property tax revenue as it did the previous year. Finance sta ’s goals coming out of the pan- demic were to slowly restore the budget to pre- COVID-19 conditions and present a structurally balanced budget in which expenditures do not exceed revenues, City Administrator Byron Hebert wrote in a memo to City Council, which was included in budget documents. Citing “a looming economic recession and consequences of instabil- ity in Europe due to war,” Hebert said nance sta kept sales tax projections conservative.
$352,650 in FY 2021-22 to $393,773 in FY 2022-23—causing the aver- age tax collected per property to rise from $1,577 to $1,733. O cials plan for increased revenues from this year’s budget to restore levels of service to areas that were deferred during the pandemic. “This budget makes invest- ments in drainage projects and street repairs and public safety
“THIS BUDGET MAKES INVESTMENTS IN DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND STREET REPAIRS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.” CHRIS HARRIS, MAYOR PRO TEM
increased by $71,900, while the general fund increased by $4.56 million. Meanwhile, revenues from the enterprise fund decreased by $1.64 million. The enterprise fund comprises the city’s water, sewer and utility departments. Hebert commended city sta for their dedicated service to the community, which remained
and our parks department, among many other items,” Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris said during the Sept. 26 meeting. “It’s a good budget.” The budget provides for investments in safety, mobility, infrastructure, high-performance man- agement and continuous quality development, Hebert wrote in the memo. With the budget, Katy will invest a 1.5% increase to the salary grades,
steadfast through storms and economic downturns, he wrote in the memo. Ultimately, he said, sta stayed committed to their nancial principles. “Our nancial philosophy has always been ‘revenue is reality,’ which we will keep and hold the property tax to a minimum,” he said. “With that, sta has become more agile, resilient and data driven.”
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KATY EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
EDUCATION
Texas aims to tie community college funding to student outcomes, needs
COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING State lawmakers will consider changing the funding model of community colleges in the 2023 legislative session. State money accounts for less than 25% of funding for Texas community colleges. Current model Schools receive a flat sum of $1.3M Additional funding is based on: • enrollment • growth • operational costs • other factors Proposed model Schools would receive money for credentials of value, which are postsecondary degrees or certificates More funds awarded based on: • more credentials in high-demand fields; and • students who transfer to four-year universities.
BY HANNAH NORTON
designate a specific amount of money to be distributed to individual community colleges. Each school receives a flat sum of approximately $1.3 million, then the state determines additional funding based on enrollment, growth, operational costs and more. According to the commission, state money accounts for less than 25% of funding for community colleges alongside student tuition and local property taxes. Under the proposed finance system, colleges would no longer compete for funding. Instead, schools would receive money for credentials of value, credentials awarded in high-demand fields and students who transfer to four-year universities, according to the draft recommendations. A credential of value is a postsecondary degree or certificate that prepares a student for
TEXAS Big changes may be coming to Texas’ community colleges as a commission established by the Texas Legislature in 2021 is set to recom- mend an overhaul of community college funding. The recommendations, created by the Texas Commission on Community College Finance, center around student outcomes, such as graduation and transfer rates, credentials of value and credentials in high-demand fields. The commission is also expected to propose an increase in need- based financial aid and expanded partnerships between colleges and local companies. Commission members, which include state lawmakers and community college leaders, met Sept. 12. Every two years, Texas lawmakers
Adjustments account for higher costs of educating students who need more support.
SOURCE: TEXAS COMMISSION ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FINANCE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
economic success. Funding would also be adjusted to account for the higher costs of educating students who need more support, such as low- income students, “academically underprepared students” and adults who return to school. Smaller colleges, which typically face higher operating costs, would also receive additional funding.
These schools would be expected to participate in “shared services” with other institutions, such as shared online courses and joint workforce education programs. Commission members will vote on a final report and submit it to the Texas Legislature by Nov. 1. State lawmakers will review the recommendations during the 2023 legislative session, which begins Jan. 10.
15
KATY EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
NEWS BRIEFS Katy ISD board approves compensation raises, contingent on tax rate election
Fort Bend County officials highlight success of We All Eat food insecurity program
BY HUNTER MARROW
BY ASIA ARMOUR
program were twofold: to provide meals to Fort Bend County residents faced with pandemic-related food insecurity and to sustain local Fort Bend County restaurants by provid- ing resources necessary to maintain patronage, retain employees and keep doors open, Love said. “When you support a restaurant, there is a whole economic ecosys- tem that is sup-
If Katy ISD’s voter-approval tax rate election passes Nov. 8, trustees plan to distribute that $23.6 million to employees. PROPOSING RAISES
During its Sept. 26 meeting, the Katy ISD board of trustees approved pay increases for all district employ- ees, contingent on the approval of an upcoming tax rate election during the Nov. 8 midterm elections. The board voted 6-1 to approve a 4% pay raise at the midpoint for all KISD employees with 3% of the raise distributed across all remaining paychecks for the 2022-23 school year, according to the district’s agenda documents. Trustee Victor Perez voted against the motion. With the approval, KISD would also restructure the compensation plan for classroom teachers, instruc- tional coaches, instructional coordi- nators and classroom tech designers, equalizing it for all employees in that pay grade, KISD Chief Human Resources Officer Brian Schuss said. “Equalizing that would, if the TRE passes, move everyone to the teacher hiring scale,” he said. “Everyone in that pay grade would be paid the same based on years of experience.”
At its conclusion in June, Fort Bend County’s We All Eat food insecurity program provided nearly 714,000 meals to over 7,600 residents and over $11 million in revenue to 28 restaurants throughout the county. Fort Bend County Auditor Ed Stur- divant called the program “highly successful” during a Sept. 13 Com- missioners Court meeting. During the meeting, Jerome
Starting teacher salaries
Current: $60,700
Proposal: $63,560
“WHEN YOU SUPPORT A RESTAURANT, THERE IS A WHOLE ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM THAT IS SUPPORTED AS A RESULT OF THE PROGRAM.” JEROME LOVE, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF TEXAS BLACK EXPO
If passed, the district also proposed adding:
ported as a result of the program,” Love said. Fort Bend County utilized $11 million in
employees 4%
raise for midpoint
Love—founder and president of Texas Black Expo, which administered the program—pre-
officer positions 10
additional police
funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and American Rescue Plan Act, Sturdivant said. “All the wonderful things the program did with Jerome’s team’s management, it would not have been possible without the $11 million this court allocated,” he said.
SOURCE: KATY ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
sented the impacts of We All Eat to the court. Love said 28 restaurants participated in the program, which launched in October 2020. In sum, these restaurants were able to hire nearly 100 staff. The main objectives of the
Should a voter-approval tax rate election pass Nov. 8—which would bring in an additional roughly $23.6 million for KISD—starting teacher salaries would increase from $60,700 to $63,560, district officials said.
METRO adopts FY 2022-23 budget, its largest in agency history
BUDGET BREAKDOWN The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County adopted the largest budget in its history for fiscal year 2022-23, totaling nearly $1.8 billion. Operating budget: $855.2M Capital budget: $570.7M Transfer to the General Mobility Program: $204.3M Debt service budget: $132.7M SOURCE: METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT Total: $1.76B
BY RENEE FARMER
increase to $855.2 million due to fuel inflation, cost of living and materials. Additionally, the agency expects to collect $949 million in sales tax revenue in 2023, up $125 million from last year’s budget. CORRECTION: Volume 11, Issue 1 Page 19 of the September edition incorrectly stated the amount the Houston-Galveston Area Council awarded Waller County. The county was allocated $8.7 million.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County adopted the largest budget in its history for fiscal year 2022-23, totaling nearly $1.8 billion. The budget, approved by METRO during its Sept. 22 board meeting, addresses rising operation costs and includes a slew of capital improvements with a 38% hike from last year’s $1.3 billion budget. The operating budget also saw a nearly 20%
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KATY EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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