Pearland considers largest-ever general fund commitment to street and sidewalk rehabilitation
Pearland city officials have long stressed the need to update and expand the city’s street infrastructure network—and now they are considering making a large financial commitment to repair and rehabilitation in the fiscal year 2025-26 budget.
What you need to know: Pearland City Council held a special meeting Aug. 25 to discuss the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, which they will vote to approve in September.
The backstory: In a split decision Aug. 11, the council opted to set its maximum tax rate at $0.635 per $100 valuation of a home for fiscal year 2025-26. The rate divided City Council between those who supported setting the maximum rate at $0.63 per $100 valuation, which is closer to the no-new-revenue rate, and those who prioritized service needs, Community Impact previously reported.
Friendswood ISD’s board of trustees approved a balanced budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year at its Aug. 25 workshop.
Budget explained: FISD will have about $67.5 million each in expenses and revenues, according to a budget presentation by the district. Compared to FY 2024-25—in which the district also adopted a balanced budget with $62.5 million in expenses and revenues each—this is about a $5 million increase, the presentation shows.
Also of note: Along with that, trustees also approved a tax rate of $1.03 per $100 valuation of a home for FY 2025-26. This tax rate is $0.01, or nearly 1%, lower, than last year’s rate of $1.04 per $100 valuation of a home.
The details: This tax rate will be nearly $4,340 of taxes due on an average residence—about a $210 decrease compared to last year’s value of nearly $4,550 of taxes due on an average residence, according to district documents.
Frontier Airlines announces 8 new routes from IAH airport
Starting in late November, Houston travelers flying on Frontier Airlines will have new routes from George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
The framework: Josh Flyr, vice president of network and operations design, said in an Aug. 26 news release that the company is thrilled to add new routes from Houston as part of its aim to expand low-fare carrier options in the top 20 metros in the country.
“With new nonstop routes to exciting domestic and international destinations, now is a better time than ever for Houston-area travelers to fly with Frontier and enjoy the convenience, comfort and signature affordability we offer,” Flyr said.
What you need to know: The Denver-based airline company announced the following new IAH domestic and international routes launching in late 2025 through early 2026:
Texas House moves to require cities, counties to seek voter approval for tax hikes exceeding 1%
Texas House lawmakers voted Aug. 25 to tighten limits on local property tax growth, advancing a bill that would require cities and counties to seek voter approval before raising tax rates by more than 1%. Cities and counties can currently increase taxes by up to 3.5% annually before going to local voters.
What happened: House lawmakers substantially amended Senate Bill 10 before returning it to the Senate. State senators sought to tighten the voter approval rate to 2.5% and impose the changes only on cities and counties with more than 75,000 residents. House lawmakers voted to apply a 1% threshold to all cities and counties, regardless of size.
Cities and counties' public safety expenditures, such as salaries and equipment for police, firefighters and paramedics, would not be subject to the 1% limit.
