Bellaire city officials have proposed a property tax rate and voter-approval tax rate of $0.4268 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2026-27 following a unanimous record vote at a Sept. 21 council meeting.

The proposed rate is a 2.3% increase from the previous year’s rate of $0.4174 per $100 valuation.

The big picture: Bellaire Chief Financial Officer Terrence Beaman presented the calculations to council members through a presentation at the meeting.

This presentation granted city officials the opportunity to discuss the current and proposed tax rates before taking the initial steps in the adoption process outlined by state law.

Under the proposed rate, the average residential homestead in Bellaire would see approximately $3,874 in imposed taxes, which is $259 more than last year.

More details: A public hearing will be held for residents at Bellaire City Hall on Oct. 5. On the same day, Bellaire officials will gather to approve and adopt the city’s proposed tax rate for FY 2026-27.

Plaza Wellness officially began serving the Greater Houston area Sept. 14 from its new med spa location.

The setup: The wellness practice operates within the Plaza OB/GYN center, a physician-owned practice that has served women in Houston for the past 50 years. The office is led by Dr. Isam Balat.

What to expect: Plaza Wellness offers a range of personalized medical aesthetic and wellness treatments, including cosmetic injectables, facials and microneedling, body contouring, laser hair removal, hormone therapy and weight loss management.

Notable quote: In a statement via email to Community Impact, Balat said that “good” patient care begins with professionals listening to the unique experiences and needs of every client.

“Every patient is different, and what works for one person may not be right for another,” Balat said. "Our goal is not to change who you are, but to help you feel like the best version of yourself.”

• 1801 Binz St., Ste. 500, Houston

Houston City College students can soon participate in virtual, employer-sponsored programs to advance career goals, officials announced in a Sept. 1 news release.

In a nutshell: HCC was one of 15 community colleges selected to participate in the Workforce Futures Accelerator Project, a three-year initiative led by the Association of Community College Trustees with support from Google, per the news release.

The initiative will focus on high-demand workforce fields such as technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and business operations, per the association’s news release.

Notable quote: “Participation by HCC will strengthen how we provide students with career-connected learning experiences that complement their classroom education and align with the needs of employers,” Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher said in the news release.

Two candidates are running for Harris County Clerk in the upcoming election. The candidates are Mike Wolfe and incumbent Teneshia Hudspeth.

Key details for voters include:

• Early voting begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30.
• Election day is Nov. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Registered voters are permitted to cast their ballot at any polling location during both early voting and on election day.

The Coastal Water Authority, which provides untreated water to municipalities in Harris, Chambers and Liberty Counties, has selected Jonathan Mathers as its new government relations manager. According to an Aug. 21 news release, Mathers will focus on engaging policymakers and stakeholders in his new role.

Career history: Mathers has a background in Texas water and legislative affairs, which includes:

• Most recently working for the Texas Water Development Board

• Serving as chief of staff for former Texas Rep. Bill Callegari

• Serving as a staff member for Texas Sen. Drew Springer

Some context: The Coastal Water Authority is a conservation and reclamation district that provides raw surface water to municipalities, including Houston, Baytown and Deer Park.