Katy City Council approved its fiscal year 2026-27 budget along with lowering the city’s tax rate.

The overview: At a Sept. 28 meeting, Katy City Council unanimously approved $90.5 million in expenditures and $90.4 million in revenues for the city's FY 2026-27 budget with a focus on public safety, infrastructure, quality-of-life capital projects, managing growth and staffing, according to agenda documents. 

Additionally, the council lowered the city’s property tax rate to $0.42 per $100 valuation with maintenance and operation expenditures valued at $0.369939 per $100 valuation and the interest and sinking fund at $0.050061 per $100 valuation. 

A closer look: The budget includes $68.7 million for the city’s general fund with $16.4 million of the general fund for the operating and personnel expenses for the police department and $11.7 million for the operating and personnel expenses for the fire department.

There is also $14.6 million in capital improvement projects allocated from the general fund to the capital reserve fund. 

Several businesses, restaurants and facilities are coming soon or undergoing renovations in Fulshear.

These area projects were registered in the last several months with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. All information, including costs and timelines, is subject to change.

C'est La Vie French Bakery

• Location: 29807 Jordan Crossing Blvd., Ste. 200, Fulshear

• Type of work: renovation/alteration

• Timeline: Aug. 25, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027

• Estimated cost: $400,000

Oasis Veterinary Clinic

• Location: 30802 Tamarron Parkway, Ste. 900, Fulshear

• Type of work: renovation/alteration

• Timeline: Aug. 15-Dec. 1

• Estimated cost: $500,000

JetSet Pilates

• Location: 29911 Jordan Crossing Blvd., Ste. 100, Fulshear

• Type of work: renovation/alteration

• Timeline: Sept. 1-Dec. 15

• Estimated cost: $285,000

The Harris County Clerk’s Office is rolling out a new app, Harris Votes, to help voters access election information and track results. Although the app is already available for iPhone and Android users to download, it will officially launch Oct. 1 ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

The app is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. Using the app, voters will be able to:

• Find voting centers

• View a personalized sample ballot

• See election dates and receive reminders

• Check their voter registration status

• Follow live election results

• View frequently asked questions

Voters can also find the same information on the Harris Votes website.

Greater Houston is hosting several events this October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

These events, which are subject to change, include:

• Light it up Pink on Oct. 1 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Market Street in The Woodlands, featuring a photo opportunity, a pink tote bag and a light-up baton.

• Pour for Pink on Oct. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Sonoma Wine & Cheese in Katy, featuring a wine and cheese tasting and a mini market.

• In the Pink of Health Luncheon on Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott to raise money for cancer prevention, education and outreach.

• Annual Breast Cancer Walkathon on Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. at Elizabeth Kaiser Meyer Park in Spring.

Heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding will threaten large parts of Texas this week, Gov. Greg Abbott told reporters Sept. 28.

The overview: The governor pointed to severe flooding that occurred in South-Central Texas in mid-July, damaging property, sweeping cars off roadways and killing two people. This week's storms will impact "a far more vast portion of the state" than the July flooding, he warned.

The details: Abbott said heavy rains will "really dramatically affect" the majority of the state on Sept. 30, and the National Weather Service noted that "North-Central Texas is a particular concern."

"We don't have the information needed right now to advise Texans on exactly what's going to happen in our rivers," Abbott told reporters. "I can tell you this, however: Everyone should expect the rivers to rise."