At its Sept. 15 regular meeting, the Tomball ISD board approved a lower property tax rate and contracts for two bond projects.

Cost to the district: The board approved a total property tax rate of $1.0558 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2026-27, representing a $0.0071 reduction from the prior year. This total rate consists of:

• A maintenance and operations tax rate of $0.6598 per $100 valuation.
• An interest and sinking tax rate of $0.3960 per $100 valuation.

Additionally, the board approved two construction contracts:

• A contract for ICI Construction to build the new Tomball Intermediate School facility using Bond 2025 funds, with a construction cost of $49.27 million and a project budget of $59 million.
• A contract increase for Millennium Project Solutions Inc. for the Tomball High School Career and Technology facility, raising the total contract from $8.63 million to $8.73 million using Bond 2021 funds.

Chipotle Mexican Grill officials have announced the grand opening date for the fast-casual chain's newest location in Tomball. The new restaurant is scheduled to open on Sept. 22.

The details: The new Chipotle is located along the intersection of Hwy. 249 and the Grand Parkway. The location will feature the brand's full menu, which offers a variety of customizable bowls, burritos, and quesadillas with proteins, vegetables, and salsas.

What else?: The new location will also feature a "Chipotlane," which is a drive-through designed for mobile and pick-up orders so customers do not have to exit their vehicles.

Lone Star College System leaders are aiming to pay off $404 million in bond debt by approximately 2030 or 2031. To help achieve this, Kristy Vienne, the vice chancellor of administration and finance, proposed an interest and sinking tax rate of $0.0219 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2026-27. This proposed rate would bring the outstanding bond debt balance to about $311 million.

Explained: The college system's proposed total tax rate for fiscal year 2026-27 is $0.1058 per $100 valuation, which is lower than the current rate of $0.106. While some taxpayers in the Harris Central Appraisal District are expected to see a drop in their annual property tax bill, others in the Montgomery Central Appraisal District and the San Jacinto County Appraisal District are expected to see higher bills due to increased median property values. Taxpayers could also see higher bills if:

• Their home or land value increases

• They lose a property tax exemption

• Their property value exceeds the 10% appraisal cap

Going forward: A public hearing on the proposed tax rate is scheduled for Oct. 1.

To strengthen consumer protections, the Texas Department of Insurance is asking state lawmakers to consider adjusting when new home and auto insurance rates are implemented.

What's happening: Texas currently operates under a "file-and-use" system, allowing insurance companies to begin using new rates immediately after they are filed, regardless of whether the TDI has reviewed them.

In a Sept. 14 letter detailing actions the department is taking to address Texas' high home insurance costs, Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford suggested that the legislature look into "adding a delay between a rate filing and its use in the market." Under the current system, if the TDI finds an issue with a new insurance rate, there is "limited" redress for affected policyholders if that rate is already in effect.

The background: Crawford's letter comes after Gov. Greg Abbott directed the TDI to take affordability-focused actions in an Aug. 24 letter.

Texans paid the nation's fourth-highest home insurance premiums at the end of 2025, according to previous Community Impact reporting.