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Latest Education News
Conroe ISD projecting $770M balanced budget for FY 2026-27

Conroe ISD is projecting a balanced budget of $770.42 million for fiscal year 2026-27, according to a presentation by CISD Chief Financial Officer Karen Garza at the April 21 regular board meeting

The framework: Garza presented the proposed $770.42 million budget, which projects a $8.36 million increase in both revenues and expenses compared to the beginning revenue and expense figure of $762.06 million. The increased revenue stems from increases to local property taxes and state funding, as well as special education intensity formula changes due to House Bill 2, Garza said. HB 2, according to previous reporting, gave an $8.4 billion boost to public educational funding.

More details: CISD also projects a tax rate of $0.9348 per $100 valuation, according to Garza’s presentation. The projected tax rate is $0.0148 less than the approved FY 2025-26 tax rate of $0.9496 per $100 valuation.

Some context: According to previous reporting, the district’s approved budget for FY 2025-26 was $761.05 million.

 
Local Eats
Local Table celebrates 10th anniversary

Local Table, a Houston area family-owned concept, celebrated 10 years of business April 18, according to an April 13 social media post.

The context: Established in 2016, Local Table was created by the family behind Hungry’s Café and Bistro and was built with young families in suburban areas in mind, according to its website.

In the last ten years, Local Table has expanded to six locations, with the newest addition opening in Missouri City in March. The brand can also be found in Cinco Ranch, Cypress, Fulshear, Houston and The Woodlands.

On the menu: Offering brunch, lunch, dinner and happy hour, Local Table serves hand-crafted recipes made with fresh ingredients with menu options including plant-based offerings, burgers, wraps, tacos and staple brunch dishes, per its website.

  • Locations vary
 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Earth Day Family Day Market

Woodlands Symphony Orchestra

April 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Spring

April 25, 11 a.m.
The Woodlands

Learn more.

Learn more.

 

6th Annual Texas Mini Golf Championship

The Market at River Oaks District

April 26, 9 a.m.
Montgomery

April 26, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Houston

Learn more.

Learn more.

 
To submit your own event, click here.

Statewide News
ERCOT forecasts quadruple growth in electric demand, warns estimate is likely overinflated

Demand on the Texas power grid could more than quadruple in the next six years, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced April 15.

The details: The state grid operator projected that peak electric demand could hit 367,790 megawatts by 2032—more than four times the current demand record of 85,508 megawatts, which was set during an August 2023 heat wave. Much of this forecasted growth is due to data centers, according to ERCOT documents.

However, ERCOT leaders warned that the growth forecast is “preliminary” and needs adjustments.

What's happening: During an April 17 meeting, ERCOT officials told the Public Utility Commission of Texas that they plan to work with utility providers to issue a revised forecast in the coming weeks.

“I think it's clear we need to engage in the process and look at ways to refine this number to something that's more usable,” PUC Chair Thomas Gleeson said.

Stay tuned: ERCOT said it expects peak electric demand on the grid this summer will hit between 90,500-98,000 megawatts, which would shatter the current demand record.

 

Your local team

Vanessa Holt
Senior Editor

Nicole Preston
General Manager

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