A $20 million surplus is projected for Klein ISD’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget, Chief Financial Officer Daniel Schaefer said at the April 20 budget workshop.

The overview: Once the FY 2025-26 budget is brought to the board of trustees at the end of the district's fiscal year in June, the $20 million surplus should bring the fund balance total to $255.9 million.

Schaefer said the FY 2025-26 surplus will be put toward next fiscal year’s expected expenses of $20 million to balance out the two year cycle. This would put the district's fund balance at $235.6 million for the next legislative session.

In their words: Having a balanced budget has allowed for stability within the district, Schaefer said, allowing time to look into new ways of generating revenue and reducing expenses within the district’s control.

“Having the fund balance available has been pretty helpful to help ride out some of the ups and downs that we’ve seen,” Schaefer said.

Muddy’s Buddies Daycare & Boarding is now open, owner Maribel Paree confirmed. The business offers dog daycare and boarding services for small-breed dogs under 50 pounds.

Quote of note: “We wanted to create a clean, indoor space where small dogs can play, socialize and stay comfortably in an environment better suited to their size and needs,” Paree said.

• 22525 Hufsmith-Kohrville Road, Tomball

TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is now available at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, or IAH, and William P. Hobby Airport, giving eligible travelers another way to move through security, according to an April 23 news release from Houston Airports.

What you need to know: The system "enhances security screening by using facial comparison technology to verify identity faster and more efficiently," the news release notes.

Enrolled travelers with participating airlines can move through dedicated lanes at Hobby Airport and at IAH TSA Checkpoints Terminal A-North, Terminal C-North and Terminal E.

More details: Passengers must meet the following requirements to be eligible for TSA Precheck Touchless ID:

• Have TSA PreCheck
• Have an active airline profile with a participating airline
• Upload valid passport information to their airline profile

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from April 20-24.

•New DPS building coming soon to League City
•Lake Conroe Dam celebrates new state historical marker
•Neighborhood Fishin' program bringing catfish, rainbow trout to local lakes
•Picos sets official closing date as owner Arnaldo Richards continues to search for new location
•Registration opens for West U summer classes

Some Texas families began learning April 22 if they were accepted to the state’s education savings account program for the 2026-27 school year, officials said.

The big picture: Over 42,600 students will receive funding notices through April 24, the state comptroller’s office announced April 22. The first awardees include low- and middle-income students with disabilities and their eligible siblings.

Families accepted to the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program will receive state funds to send their children to private school or homeschool them.

The details: The first round of awardees is set to receive about $400 million of the $1 billion allocated for the program. Up to 100,000 students are expected to qualify for the program's first year.

The comptroller's office will run a lottery the week of April 27 to determine which low-income students will be accepted based on a prioritization system.

Stay tuned: Families that do not qualify for funding will also be notified through April 24. Additional students will receive funding awards in the coming weeks, a program spokesperson said.

Community Impact is reporting on flood insurance rates and is looking to hear from homeowners in the Spring and Klein communities who have experienced flood damage and/or have flood insurance. Please contact Reporter Sarah Brager at [email protected] if you're willing to share your story in an interview.