Houston is on track to exceed its budgeted overtime spending by more than $54 million by the end of the fiscal year, a Feb. 3 presentation from the city controller’s office shows.

What's happening: City departments are spending more on overtime pay each month than allocated for in the FY 2025-26 budget, adding to Houston’s growing shortfall for the fiscal year, according to a presentation to the Budget and Fiscal Affairs and Government Operations committees in a joint Feb. 3 meeting.

Deputy Controller Will Jones said the spending is expected based on historical overtime trends, suggesting continued underbudgeting that does not align with department needs.

More details: According to general fund projections from the controller’s office, 

• The fire department is expected to exceed budgeted overtime spending by $38 million
• The police department is expected to exceed budgeted overtime spending by $13.2 million
• The solid waste management department expected to exceed budgeted overtime spending by $2.1 million

The highly anticipated opening of Mia's Table's newest location at Bellaire Boulevard occurred on Feb. 2, a restaurant employee confirmed.

What's on the menu: The menu showcases traditional Southern comfort food such as fried pickles, burgers, street tacos and country platters with chicken-fried chicken, meatloaf, baby back ribs and fried catfish.

Soups, salads and sandwiches are also on the menu, including a pulled pork sandwich, chicken tortilla soup and chopped salad. The restaurant also sells a variety of handspun milkshakes.

Latest update: Restaurant officials said that the new location will operate on limited hours as the "team settles in and details are fine-tuned. As of Feb. 2, hours include 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed from 2-5 p.m. and then reopen from 5-8 p.m.

Mia's Table is located in the Bellaire Triangle Shopping Center and replaces the former CounterCommon brewery.

• 5413 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire

The Houston Association of Realtors has named René Galvan as its new president and CEO, the first leadership change in more than three decades after longtime executive Bob Hale retired Jan. 31, according to a Feb. 2 news release.

What we know: Galvan has been part of HAR’s leadership team since 1996 and served as executive vice president since 1998, per the release. HAR officials said he worked alongside Hale early in his career to help shape the original concept for HAR.com, which launched in 1997 and has since expanded statewide.

In the release, Galvan said his focus will be strengthening the services and tools the association’s roughly 50,000 members use “in this rapidly changing real estate environment.”

HAR said Hale—who served as president and CEO for 37 years—retired after 53 years with the association. The board honored him with the title of CEO emeritus, and Hale said he was confident the organization is “in excellent hands” with Galvan leading it.

The Coastal Texas Project, also known as the Ike Dike, received $5 million in federal funding, the largest single federal investment in the project since Congress authorized the project in 2022. 

The overview: The $34 billion project aims to protect Houston’s critical energy and shipping corridors from storm damage by building a system of gates and dune systems designed to mitigate storm surge, according to previous reporting by Community Impact. 

The background: The 87th Texas Legislature established the GCPD in 2021, and it serves as the state sponsor for the project, according to the release.

Although the project was authorized in 2022, funding has been slow to come in, and the $5 million marks the largest single federal investment to date, according to the release.

Quote of note: “Texas is home to the largest concentration of oil and gas infrastructure in the United States, and safeguarding our coast from catastrophic storms protects every American,” Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said in the news release.

Community Impact is now covering BCS, from growth and schools to business and city happenings. 

Live, work, or hang out in Bryan or College Station, or know someone who does? Stay connected or share with your neighbors.