Q&A: Magnolia ISD transportation director discusses staffing, safety, start time changes
With the new school year underway, Community Impact interviewed Julie Hrebicek, the transportation director for Magnolia ISD, about what the state of transportation looks like at the district this year.
Diving in deeper: Hrebicek, who stepped into the role in 2022, spoke about the district’s new start times, the number of open positions for the transportation department and why she loves the job so much.
Renaissance at the Park, Fall Fest at Paradigm Brewing: 15 events to attend in Tomball, Magnolia this fall
There are several events going on in Tomball and Magnolia this fall, including festivals and live music events. This list is not comprehensive. Events are subject to change.
Taste of Tomball Sample from Tomball’s best local eats and drinks. One ticket gets attendees plates to sample each restaurant at the event or one to-go container.
Sept. 16, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
$20 (admission)
Tomball VFW, 14408 Alice Road, Tomball
SWMCC Fall Fest Celebrate the season at the Southwest Montgomery Chamber of Commerce’s festival featuring 90 vendors, photo opportunities, a pumpkin patch, face painting and crafts.
Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free
Magnolia Event Center, 11659 FM 1488, Magnolia
Tomball's GroovFest The celebration will feature music, entertainment, vintage vehicles, local vendors and family-friendly activities, including face painting, a bubble station and a dedicated play zone.
Montgomery County approves budget, lowers property tax rate to $0.3770
The Montgomery County Commissioners Court adopted a balanced fiscal year 2025-26 budget and set a property tax rate of $0.3770 per $100 valuation during a special meeting Sept. 5. As previously reported, the FY 2024-25 approved tax rate was $0.3790 per $100 of home valuation, making the FY 2025-26 tax rate a 0.53% decrease.
The details: The adopted balanced budget totals $508.1 million with allocations including law enforcement pay parity with the city of Houston and Harris County, additional staffing across departments, expanded IT and cybersecurity funding, jail inmate medical and food services and a contribution of nearly $5.4 million to the county’s capital improvement plan, Budget Officer Amanda Carter said.
A last-minute adjustment added $850,000 in expected revenue that had been excluded in earlier drafts. Commissioners debated whether to use the funds to further reduce the tax rate or bolster contingency reserves. Ultimately, the court opted for a compromise: most of the money was applied to lower the rate, with about $74,757 added to contingency, bringing that line item to $150,376, Carter said.
Lina Hidalgo talks childhood education, reelection announcement in State of the County address
In her 2025 State of the County keynote address, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo emphasized the importance of funding early childhood education initiatives in the county, just shy of one month after her proposal to let voters decide on a 1-cent property tax increase failed to pass at an August commissioners court meeting.
Quote of note: “We have to be fearless in building what the community deserves,” Hidalgo said at the Sept. 5 event at the Marriott Marquis in Downtown Houston. “And I beg you that if we fight for early childhood education, I think the community would like that.”
The overview: The State of the County address is an annual event hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership. Keynote speakers discuss economic initiatives and opportunities for constituents and business leaders in the Greater Houston area.
GHP President Steve Kean asked Hidalgo directly about her reelection status. Hidalgo said that while she was not going to break news about her reelection at the event, she will be making an announcement “very, very soon.”
‘This will save lives’: New Texas laws require summer camps to remove cabins from floodplains
Two months after 25 campers and two counselors died in the historic July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic, Gov. Greg Abbott signed three new laws Sept. 5 that he said will “make youth camps safer” and ensure Texas communities are better prepared for future disasters. The flood victims' families attended the Sept. 5 bill signing ceremony in Austin.
The details: Under the two-pronged camp safety package, summer camps are required to remove existing cabins from floodplains by Jan. 1.
Camps must also develop and annually update comprehensive emergency plans, set up warning systems to notify campers if something is wrong and install ladders so campers can climb on cabin roofs during floods.
Looking ahead: Two other disaster preparedness bills, as well as legislation designed to regulate Texas’ multibillion-dollar THC industry, did not pass during the recent special legislative session, which ended around 1 a.m. Sept. 4.
When asked Sept. 5 if he planned to call a third legislative overtime to continue work on those policies, Abbott told reporters to "stay tuned."
