Government
SHAWN ARRAJJ, MELISSA ENAJE & CASSANDRA JENKINS
First phase of west side drainage project advances West University Place City Council approved a design contract Sept. 9 for a project to install a stormwater pipeline on the city’s west side. The cost 59 West University Place city limits Project area Proposed new trunk sewer line 69
Property tax rate increase approved Harris County commissioners approved an increase in the county’s property tax rate at a Sept. 19 meeting alongside the fiscal year 2024-25 budget. The takeaway Commissioners approved property tax rates for the county, its hospital district and the Port of Houston. Commissioners also approved a property tax rate for the Harris County Flood Control District in August, which will need voter approval on Nov. 5 to be official. Harris County tax rates per $100 valuation *NOTE: SUBJECT TO VOTER APPROVAL OF HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TAX RATE ON NOV. 5 SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT 2024-25 2023-24 $0.53029 +13.9% $0.60389*
The $3.6 million contract was awarded to HDR Engineering, Inc. The project will be an eight-year, multiphase undertaking with an estimated cost of $203 million-$258 million. A project timeline from the city’s engineer estimated the project could see completion in the third quarter of 2030. Design phases will last more than 12 months each and involve coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the cities of Houston and Bellaire, Harris County Flood Control District and other permitting authorities, officials said. The timeline The project involves work on drainage infra- structure on the city’s west side as well as building a new trunkline from Bissonnet Street to Brays
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Bayou. In late August, city officials announced the purchase of $4.5 million in property needed for the trunkline construction. Once completed, the trunkline will move water from the city limits to Brays Bayou.
Bellaire establishes new residential, commercial fees for stormwater system
increase yearly until it reaches a peak in five years, according to the agenda item. Residential owners will start with a fee of $6 in fiscal year 2024-25 and will see a steady $0.50 increase until it caps out at $8.25 in FY 2029-30. Also of note The fee for nonresidential property owners will be based on a seven-tier system that factors in the
Bellaire homeowners started seeing a $6 storm- water drainage utility fee on their bills Oct. 1. What you need to know Bellaire City Council members voted unani- mously Sept. 16 to establish a new utility charge that will help generate revenue for drainage and infrastructure projects. The fee structure will follow a phase-in approach where charges gradually
amount of square footage of impervious surface area at each property, according to the agenda item. For example, a property between 5,001- 10,000 square feet of impervious surface area will start out with a $12 fee in FY 2024-25. The city is set to gain about $500,000 from the fee in its first year. Officials said they will use the money to add, maintain and rehabilitate drainage infrastructure and improve stormwater quality.
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