CITY & COUNTY
News from Katy, Harris County & Fort Bend County
NUMBER TO KNOW individuals booked at the Richmond detention center had minor children—44% of all those incarcerated in 2019. 5,341 HIGHLIGHTS HARRIS COUNTY On Nov. 8, voters approved three Harris County bond referendums, based on Harris County Office of the Elections Administrator unofficial results. Proposition A funding for $100 million for public safety facilities received 55.2% voter approval; Proposition B for $900 million for road, drainage and transportation received 69.05% voter approval; and Proposition C for $200 million for parks projects received 63.3%. FORT BEND COUNTY On Oct. 11, Fort Bend County Commissioners Court was granted $208,392 from the Texas Department of State Health Services to address monkeypox outbreaks in susceptible populations. The increase will go to the county’s Health and Human Services Department’s sexually transmitted infection and HIV intervention specialists. The county reported 37 cases of monkeypox between July 14-Nov. 7. Katy City Council meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting is Nov. 28 at 910 Ave. C, Katy. 281-391-4800. www.cityofkaty.com Harris County Commissioners Court usually meets Tuesday mornings twice a month. The next meeting is Nov. 29 at 1001 Preston Ave., Ste. 934, Houston. 713-755-5000. www.harriscountytx.gov Fort Bend County Commissioners Court meets at 1 p.m. the first, second and fourth Tuesdays each month. The next meeting is Nov. 22 at 401 Jackson St., Richmond. 281-342-3411. www.fortbendcountytx.gov MEETINGS WE COVER
Harris County misses out on millions after tax vote
BY RACHEL CARLTON
PROPOSED VS. ADOPTED BUDGET Harris County Commissioners Court approved a tax rate of $0.34373 per $100 valuation Nov. 2 due to the absence of commissioners Tom Ramsey and Jack Cagle.
HARRIS COUNTY In their final opportunity to do so, Harris County commissioners were unable to vote to adopt a tax rate for the county’s general fund during the first Oct. 25 meeting of Commissioners Court due to the absence of Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle. As a result, the county was forced to adopt the no-new-revenue rate—which caps the county’s property tax-generated revenue to the same amount as the previous year plus revenue from new construction and minus any increases in debt—of $0.34373 per $100 valuation for the county’s general fund and ratified the rates Nov. 2. This leaves law enforcement budgets smaller than they would have been with a budget based on the proposed tax rates: the district attorney, the eight constable precincts and the Sheriff’s Office patrol missed out on a combined $30.15 million. “The Cagle and Ramsey law enforcement cuts are now in effect,” County Judge Lina Hidalgo said at the end of the meeting. “That means cuts to patrol officers and fewer salary increases and fewer front-line police officers. An owner of a $300,000-appraised home eligible for the 20% homestead exemption would pay $1,273 per year.
Sheriff’s Office patrol
$16.68M
Constable precincts total
$8.08M
District attorney
$5.39M
Constable Precinct 7 Constable Precinct 2 Constable Precinct 6 Constable Precinct 8 Constable Precinct 3 $1.01M Constable Precinct 1 $855,111 Constable Precinct 4 $2.88M Constable Precinct 5 $1.8M
In total, the approved tax rate cut $30.15 million in additional funding for several county departments.
$418,616 $386,379 $309,175 $416,259
0
$5M
$10M
$15M
$20M
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
Fort Bend County inks parent program
Katy approves $1.25M water storage rehabilitation
REFRESHED FACILITIES The city of Katy will dedicate $1.25 million to restore Water Plant No. 6 in Waller County. General repairs on the facility’s grounds include recoating two well headers and one fire hydrant and power washing the control building.
BY ASIA ARMOUR
FORT BEND COUNTY A $741,460 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice will fund Fort Bend County’s Always Parenting program—an initiative designed to give incarcerated parents an opportunity to maintain relationships with their children, County Judge KP George said. In 2019, county data showed 5,341 individuals booked at the Richmond detention center had minor children— or 44% of all those incarcerated.
BY ASIA ARMOUR
KATY The city of Katy approved a $1.25 million project to restore one of seven water storage facilities, which provide up to 1.5 million gallons of drinking water. The project will replace the floor of the facility’s ground storage tank, execute mechanical repairs, and recoat the exterior and interior of the storage tanks.
GROUND STORAGE TANK Work includes:
ELEVATED STORAGE TANK Work includes:
• Replacing flooring • Mechanical repairs • Recoating interior and exterior
• Mechanical repairs • Recoating interior and exterior
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