Government
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ, MELISSA ENAJE & CASSANDRA JENKINS
Bellaire council reviews tax rates, city needs As city o cials in Bellaire consider priorities ahead of the adoption of the scal year 2024-25 budget, members of the Bellaire City Council will have to decide whether to seek voter approval for a higher property tax rate. The big picture A draft budget proposal to the Council July 15 included $28 million in expenditures and a 3% step pay increase for city employees. The city’s property tax rate is $0.437 per $100 valuation. The draft budget using the voter-ap- proval rate—the highest rate the city can adopt without having to go to voters for approval—would be structurally balanced, City Manager Sharon Citino said. However, the city would have to dip into its $2.9 million contingency fund to cover some capital improvement costs, she said. Sta recommended several supplemental
Bellaire considering drainage utility fee Bellaire city o cials are considering a stormwater utility system that would provide a method of generating revenue through user fees to fund stormwater proj- ects. A public hearing will take place Sept. 9. The fee could go into e ect Oct. 1.
$1.27M approved in public safety projects Harris County commissioners approved allocating $1.27 million in public safety bond funding June 25 for seven projects within the county sheri and re marshal o ces. Tommy Diaz, law enforcement command assistant chief, said further planning meet- ings with county engineering o cials will take place by June 2025 for these “long-term investments.” The details Projects being funded include: • Active shooter training facility: $110,000 • Swift-water rescue operations training facility: $100,000 • Academy rearms complex: $30,000 • Training academy expansion project: $280,000
Texas Supreme Court halts income program Harris County o cials were ordered by the Supreme Court of Texas on June 14 to prohibit payments for Uplift Harris, the county’s rst guaranteed income program. Breaking it down Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led the original lawsuit against Uplift Harris on April 9, seeking a temporary injunction. A state district judge ruled against Paxton April 18, prompting him to le an emergency order with the Supreme Court of Texas. The state’s appeal of the denial of a temporary injunction remains pending in the court of appeals. More than 1,900 quali ed families living below 200% of the poverty line will not be given $500 per month for 18 consecutive months as part of the program, pending the outcome of the appeals court lawsuit.
Tax rate options
“Local governments exist in part to help the less fortunate among us, and the Supreme Court’s ruling e ectively ends
City uses reserves to fund some expenses related to capital improvements, vehicles Reduces fund balance by around $608,000 City can completely balance budget without using reserves City can fund budget and all supplemental items without using reserves City can fund all supplementals while also adding around $1 million to reserves
$0.4355 per $100 valuation
a program that has proven to be highly successful at allowing lower-income folks to lift themselves out of poverty.” CHRISTIAN MENEFEE, HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY
$0.4474 per $100 valuation
$0.4591 per $100 valuation
Proposed monthly fees
$0.4766 per $100 valuation
Residential owners : $6
“[Texas Supreme Court] has stepped in and put a stop to this abuse of power and unlawful use of taxpayer money while the case continues.”
SOURCE: CITY OF BELLAIRE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Nonresidential owners: based on square footage of impervious surface area Up to 10,000 sf $6 10,001-50,000 sf $7.20 50,001-100,000 sf $18 100,001-250,000 sf $42 250,001-500,000 sf: $84 500,001+ sf: $180
items that would require a higher tax rate to fund, including $318,000 to add three police o cers. What’s next As of press time July 29, a public hearing on the budget was set to take place Aug. 5, and a tentative workshop is set for Aug. 12. Council is slated to adopt the budget on Aug. 19.
KEN PAXTON, TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL
SOURCE: CITY OF BELLAIRE COMMUNITY IMPACT
BUFFALO SPEEDWAY 9733 Buffalo Speedway (713) 838-7486
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WESLAYAN 3902 Bissonnet (713) 218-8144
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