Pearland City Council adopted a $137 million budget and a property tax rate of $0.627892 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2026-27 at its Sept. 28 meeting.

What you need to know: The tax rate is nearly 0.3% lower than the previous year's rate. For a home with a taxable value of $379,925, the annual property tax bill is around $2,385. Additionally, the city approved a 9.9% utility rate increase, raising the average monthly bill by about $11.31.

Budget explained: The fiscal year 2026-27 budget is balanced, featuring approximately $137.8 million each in revenues and expenses. This represents a nearly 4% increase in both areas compared to fiscal year 2025-26.

Two candidates are running for Brazoria County clerk in the general election on Nov. 3.

The overview: The Republican candidate, Joyce Hudman, will face Democratic candidate Adrienne Bell. Hudman currently holds the seat. The Brazoria County clerk serves communities across Brazoria County, including parts of Pearland, as well as Manvel, Iowa Colony and Angleton.

Real estate brokerage HomeSmart is hosting a free community event at its Pearland office on Oct. 6 from 6-8 p.m.

What residents need to know: The free event will feature local businesses and vendors, along with activities such as face painting and cornhole. Attendees can also enjoy popcorn and snow cones from AJ’s Snowcones, as well as Chick-fil-A meal vouchers.

📍1506 E. Broadway St., Pearland

The Harris County Commissioners Court approved several funding measures and resolutions during its Sept. 22 meeting. Key decisions from the meeting include:

• Approval of eight escrow agreements for the Harris County Flood Control District to fund flood mitigation projects in multiple watersheds

• Allocation of $181,105 from the general fund to six community organizations to provide meals to homebound senior and disabled residents

• Authorization to apply for a grant to refurbish Tom Bass Park, which could receive $30 million in total funding

• Allocation of $2 million from a state grant to improve trails and amenities at Doss Park

• Approval of 15 resolutions, including recognition for Hispanic Heritage Month and Pet Wellness Month

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must stop issuing new permits for data centers, Gov. Greg Abbott said Sept. 21.

The overview: His order expands an existing pause on data center development in the state amid consistent public criticism of the booming industry. Abbott, who is running for a fourth term as governor, has recently moved to slow the growth of data centers after calling Texas “the epicenter of AI development" last year.

The context: Hundreds of proposed data centers are currently being audited by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state power grid.

Some developers may be able to get around the ERCOT pause by building in-house power infrastructure that is not connected to the grid, experts have said.

However, any construction project impacting at least 1 acre of land requires permits from TCEQ.

What they're saying: "As Texas faces increasing pressure on our water supplies and electric grid, we need to ensure that data centers operate efficiently and sustainably," said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas.