Harris County commissioners approve $2.7B FY 2025-26 budget prioritizing pay parity, public safety
By a 3-2 vote, Harris County commissioners adopted the $2.76 billion fiscal year 2025-26 general fund budget Sept. 24 that prioritizes pay parity and public safety initiatives. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo cast the dissenting votes.
In their words: “Today’s approval is a result of deep coordination and unwavering dedication from every corner of Harris County government,” Daniel Ramos, executive director of the Harris County Office of Management and Budget, said in a statement.
The details: From the $2.76 billion general fund budget, $2.57 billion will be allocated to the 70 Harris County departments with components that include:
Growing the Harris County Flood Control District maintenance program
Preserving the county’s credit rating and financial stability
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the county’s investment with the budget adoption will better equip law enforcement to combat public safety threats.
New 40-story-high-rise apartment complex opens at Autry Park
A new 40-story-high-rise by the Hanover Company has officially opened in Autry Park, according to a Sept. 22 news release.
The specifics: Hanover Buffalo Bayou is a 40-story-high-rise apartment complex consisting of 317 luxury units, with most of the units being an average of 1,276 square feet.
Amenities at Hanover Buffalo Bayou include a professionally landscaped courtyard with a resort-style pool, a fire pit area, barbecue stations for outdoor grilling and cabana seating, as well as a clubhouse with a demonstration kitchen, a fitness center, a cinema with stadium seating, gaming activities and televisions, a lobby lounge area and a business center.
Something to note: The new apartment complex will be Hanover Company's third property in Autry Park, the 24-story Hanover Autry Park and the eight-story Hanover Parkview.
Autry Park is a new mixed-use real estate project developed by Hanover Company, located along Buffalo Bayou. Autry Park is home to restaurants such as Annabelle Brasserie, Turner’s Cut, Doko and Mayahuel.
Harris County Flood Control District seeks public input on flood resilience plan
Harris County Flood Control District officials are holding public meetings in early October seeking community feedback to assist with the county’s first comprehensive flood resilience plan.
The big picture: Building upon the work completed by the Harris County Community Flood Resilience Task Force that originated after the 2018 $2.5 billion flood bond, the flood resilience plan is being developed by multiple county departments that aim to implement actionable initiatives that consider the well-being of communities facing the physical, social and economic hardships of flooding, according to the HCFCD.
What it means: The county’s first flood resilience plan is expected to be completed in February 2027 and have actions categorized by short, medium and long-term actions designed to strengthen infrastructure systems, natural and ecological resources and community networks.
Thousands of Texas businesses barred from selling THC to customers under 21
Many Texas retailers can no longer sell consumable THC products to customers under 21 years old after the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission approved two emergency rules Sept. 23.
The overview: The new rules, which were drafted after Gov. Greg Abbott issued a Sept. 10 executive order requesting tighter THC regulations, apply only to retailers that sell alcohol. The rules state that businesses may not sell, serve or deliver consumable hemp products to minors and must check all customers' IDs before selling them THC products.
Zooming in: About 60,000 Texas businesses hold TABC licenses and will be prohibited from selling THC products to minors. Those businesses include bars, restaurants, liquor stores, grocery stores and some convenience stores.
However, the rule does not apply to THC retailers that do not sell alcohol or have a TABC license, such as smoke shops, gas stations or online sellers. The TABC and the Texas Department of State Health Services are working to determine how to best enforce age restrictions for THC retailers that do not sell alcohol, agency spokespeople said.
Texans have through Oct. 6 to register to vote in the Nov. 4 election
The Nov. 4 election is coming up, and so is the deadline to register to vote. Eligible Texans must register by Oct. 6 to cast votes in various local races and weigh in on 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.
What to know: Texans who need to register to vote must submit a paper application. The application is available here and must be printed, signed and mailed to the election office in the voter’s county of residence.
Texas does not allow online voter registration, unless residents are updating, renewing or replacing a Texas driver’s license or ID card.
Zooming in: To be eligible to register to vote, an individual must:
Be a U.S. citizen
Reside in the county they apply to vote in
Be at least 18 years old by Election Day
Not have been declared mentally incapacitated without the right to vote by a court
Registered voters can check their voter registration status online at any time and update identifying information, such as their name and address, online through Oct. 6.
