COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS HARRIS COUNTY The Harris County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to increase the property tax exemption of individuals with disabilities or those over age 65 from $229,000 of the appraised property value to $250,000 during the June 14 court meeting. HARRIS COUNTY Members of the Harris County Election Commission voted unanimously to name Clifford Tatum, the former general counsel for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, as the county’s new elections administrator at their July 5 meeting. Tatum will be officially appointed at a later date once he meets eligibility requirements as a resident and registered voter of Texas, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Tatum previously served as the executive director for the District of Columbia Board of Elections and the interim director of the Georgia State Elections Division, according to his biography for the EAC. He replaces former Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria, who resigned after issues with the March 1 primary elections. Tomball City Council will meet 6 p.m. Aug. 1 and 15 at 401 Market St., Tomball. 281-351-5484. www.tomballtx.gov Magnolia City Council will meet 7 p.m. Aug. 9 at 18111 Buddy Riley Blvd., Magnolia. 281-356-2266 www.cityofmagnolia.com Montgomery Commissioners Court will meet 9:30 a.m. Aug. 9 and 23 at 501 N. Thompson St., Ste. 402, Conroe. 936-756-0571 www.mctx.org Harris County Commissioners Court will meet 10 a.m. Aug. 2 and 23 Meetings are held virtually and at 1001 Preston St., Ste. 934, Houston. www.harriscountytx.gov. MEETINGS WE COVER
Harris County discusses possible $1.2B bond package for November
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BY RACHEL CARLTON
HARRIS COUNTY Commission- ers in Harris County voted 3-2 to begin community engagement for a potential $1.2 billion bond issue in November at their July 19 court meet- ing, an increase from the previously discussed $1 billion bond proposal June 28. The bond would fund roads, parks and public safety. County Administrator David Berry said a $1.2 billion bond would raise property taxes by $32 a year for the average homeowner, while a $1 bil- lion bond would raise them by $27. This bond would not include more funding for the Harris County Flood Control District, as around 74% of funds from the $2.5 billion bond approved by voters in 2018 have not yet been spent or encumbered, according to County Engineer Milton Rahman. The county’s last similar bond was in 2015. Commissioners would have to vote on a bond order between Aug. 12-22 for the item to be placed on the Nov. 8 ballot, Berry said.
Members of the Tomball Fire Department and Chief Joe Sykora (far right) break ground on Station No. 4 on June 27. (Anna Lotz/Community Impact Newspaper)
Tomball breaks ground on Station No. 4 TOMBALL The city of Tomball and Harris County Emergency Ser- vices District No. 15 broke ground on Tomball Fire Department said during the groundbreaking event. “We’re excited to build this station.” ESD 15 was formed just over 15 years ago, Sykora said, and opened the first station it funded BY ANNA LOTZ
Station No. 4 during a ceremony June 27. Station No. 4, to be located at 10333 Mahaffey Road, Tomball, and funded by ESD No. 15, will help reduce response times to emergency calls in the eastern part of Tomball’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, Tomball Fire Depart- ment Chief Joe Sykora said during the June 27 event. “We are very thankful for the citizens that support us in this endeavor. We had purchased this piece of property about four years ago, and it’s exciting that we are breaking ground today to provide the service that these residents greatly need and reduce those response times, which is some- thing very important as well with today’s fire development,” ESD 15 Commissioner Jason “Bear” Wilson
on Telge Road about six years ago. Station No. 5 is located at 19900 Telge Road, Tomball. “This will actually complete their territory as of right now, unless it gets more populous, which we are expecting,” Sykora said. “This is a great day ... for the future—the future of Harris County and the future of the city of Tomball. This station will protect approximately 2 square miles of our territory and reduce the response times by over five minutes.” Sykora previously said in February the department projected a 21% increase per 1,000 people in calls from the southeast region, which the new Station No. 4 will help address, Community Impact Newspaper reported.
Bond breakdown
If approved, the $1.2 billion bond would go to voters in November.
$700M: roads and transit $200M: parks $200M: neighborhood drainage $100M: public safety
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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TOMBALL - MAGNOLIA EDITION • JULY 2022
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