HTX-SLM: Impact 8/21/2025

Sugar Land residents could see a 1-cent tax rate increase for fiscal year 2025-26. at an Aug. 19 meeting.

Zooming in: The tax rate proposal, which was approved by City Council at an Aug. 19 meeting, increases the total tax rate by $0.01 to $0.36321 per $100 valuation, up from last year’s $0.35321.

At the proposed tax rate, the average home in Sugar Land—valued at $522,316—would see a $95 annual tax increase, a 6.2% increase from last year, according to agenda documents.

What they’re saying: Several residents opposed the tax rate increase, citing the amount of money allotted to the city manager’s office and calling the tax increase an “undue tax burden on residents, especially ... older residents.”

What’s next: City Council will host a tax rate public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9, followed by the tax rate adoption at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 16, Director of Budget ShaLae Steadman said.

FBISD officials are celebrating the district’s boost from a C to a B for the 2024-25 school year, which officials say is due to intentional planning, strategic intervention and a focus on student achievement across all campuses.

Jaretha Jordan, deputy superintendent of teaching and learning, highlighted the district's progress, but also revealed widening gaps for students in special populations categories—especially at the middle school level.

"We are making progress, but we’re not perfect yet,” Jordan said. "It’s great to celebrate, but we must dig deeper. It’s every student, every day—and some of our groups are getting left behind." 

Breaking it down: In the last three years, Jordan said school progress—or performance against peer campuses— has been the “bread and butter,” accounting for the growth in overall score. Now, district officials are moving forward with a focus on improving student achievement to ensure there is growth for “all students” on standardized testing and college and career readiness. 

Sprouts Farmers Market has opened a new location in Richmond, offering residents a new place to find groceries.

The 23,256 square feet store is located at Richmond’s Waterview Town Center next to Academy Sports + Outdoors, according to site maps.

The gist: Fashioned after a farmers market, Sprouts provides specialty, seasonal groceries through its partnerships with local Texas farms, including Dixondale Farms, J&B Farms and TrueHarvest Farms, per an Aug. 2 news release.

Additionally, the company donates edible but unsellable groceries from this location to the Houston Food Bank through its Food Rescue program, according to the release.

What else?: Sprouts is also set to open stores in Kingwood and The Woodlands in 2026 and 2027, respectively, Community Impact reported.