CITY & COUNTY
News from Fort Bend County & Harris County
Harris County Commissioners Court will meet next on June 6 at 1001 Preston Ave., Ste. 934, Houston. 713-755-5000. www.harriscountytx.gov Fort Bend County Commissioners Court meets next on June 13 at 1 p.m. at 401 Jackson St., Richmond. 281-342-3411. www.fortbendcountytx.gov MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS FORT BEND COUNTY Judge KP George announced April 17 the appointment of Greg Babst to the role of Homeland Security and Emergency Management manager. George said Babst is the leadership the Oce of Homeland Security and Emergency Management needs as hurricane season approaches. Babst was serving in the role as interim since January, when former Manager Mark Flathouse announced his retirement. Babst previously worked in various federal emergency management positions and has worked with the county since 2021. The department exists to help prevent, protect and recover from natural disasters and other crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fort Bend County elections team requests funds, sta BY DANIEL WEEKS
Harris County approves guidelines for tax incentives HARRIS COUNTY Commissioners voted unanimously 4-0 to approve updated guidelines that must be met for projects to qualify for tax abatement in Harris County’s reinvestment zones. BY MELISSA ENAJE
Fort Bend County accepts $2.87M grant for future health emergencies, infrastructure
QUOTE OF NOTE “We have a responsibility to promote equitable economic growth and shared prosperity. When companies get a break, our communities should benet, too.” RODNEY ELLIS, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 1 COMMISSIONER
GRANT BREAKDOWN A $3.95 billion federal grant was distributed among state and local governments to help prepare for public health emergencies such as COVID-19. Funds provided will need to be used for specic stated purposes.
BY ASIA ARMOUR
REGISTERED VOTERS RISING Fort Bend County’s elections administrator said an increase in the county’s voting population calls for increased funding and stang for the elections department.
FORT BEND COUNTY The county accepted a $2.87 million grant to be used through November 2027 for its public health infrastruc- ture and workforce development. At an April 11 meeting, commis- sioners accepted the grant from the Texas Department of State Health Services. The funds were made available through a $3.95 billion multicomponent grant provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC grant program will pro- vide funding for workforce devel- opment, foundational capabilities, data modernization, and technical assistance and training over the next ve years. The investment is to better prepare the nation’s public health systems for emergencies and to meet the evolving and complex needs of the communities and
FORT BEND COUNTY Elections Administrator John Oldham made a case for additional support for the elections sta ahead of the November election at a May 5 Fort Bend County Commissioners Court budget meeting. Oldham requested additional fund- ing and personnel for the elections department as part of the request portion of the county’s budget cycle. He said the county’s election team is understa ed compared to other sim- ilar sized counties. He said the team consists of 12 people, while indicating Hidalgo County in south Texas has 22. Oldham specically highlighted the need for a full-time trainer role, saying consistent changes to election procedures leads to as many as 150 hours of training sessions before a general election. “The training position to us is the most important thing maybe I’ve ever
What happened: Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said Harris County’s updated guidelines aim to increase and strengthen existing community benets and worker protections. City of Houston ocials said 28 sites are designated as tax increment reinvestment zones. According to Texas Tax Code, a county or municipality may designate a geographic area as a TIRZ to promote development or redevelopment, and attract new invest- ment in an area. Cities around Texas try to boost devel- opment in underperforming areas by creating TIRZs. Tax abatements, also known as a reduction or exemption, can be e ective for a maximum of 10 years. The details: The policy builds on changes for competi- tive wages, access to a ordable health care and safety training, and encourages minority- and women-owned businesses to participate in developing projects in TIRZ areas. According to documents, the policy updates will: • Incentivize businesses to reduce carbon emissions • Create job opportunities that require at least 50% of new hires at a project location to be Harris County residents
Public health workforce support $3 billion Strengthen systems and processes $700 million Tech modernization $200 million Training $45 million
January registered voters in Fort Bend County
0 150K 300K 450K 600K
• Require a minimum of 25 new full-time permanent positions to be created per project site • Require that full-time employees be paid a fair wage and o ered a ordable health care plans • Mandate a Fair Chance Hiring plan, meaning residents would not have to disclose state criminal histories on their job application • Prevent contractors with Occupational Safety and Health Administration violations from working on projects • Prohibit contractors with outstanding wage theft claims or a recent history of wage thefts
SOURCE: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION COMMUNITY IMPACT
2019 2020
2021 2022 2023
populations they serve, according to grant documents. Per a contract between the county and the state, Fort Bend County must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, health disparities and accessibility in its workforce recruit- ment and selection process.
SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE COMMUNITY IMPACT
asked for in 15 years. It’s vital,” he said. The county’s scal year 2023-24 calendar states the budget oce will begin analyzing requests in June to prepare for a formal recommendation.
FRY ROAD 1743 Fry Rd (281) 579-7004 KATY MILLS 24417 Katy Fwy (281) 394-5780
FRY ROAD NORTH 3811 N Fry Rd (281) 578-0916 MASON ROAD 1640 S Mason Rd (281) 395-6262
Powered by FlippingBook