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Friendswood weighs putting $50.9M bond on November ballot

A $50.9 million bond package could be on the ballot in November if Friendswood City Council votes in favor of doing so at a future meeting. 

The bond package proposal was presented by Bond Ad Hoc Committee Chair Robin Hall at City Council's June 1 meeting.

Cost to the taxpayers: If the bond proposal is approved by council as is and eventually passed by voters in November, the maximum estimated tax rate increase would be $0.01 per $100 valuation, according to the presentation. 

What residents should know: The city sent an email survey to residents June 2, asking for input by June 30 on which category is most important to them: city facilities, drainage, parks and open space improvements or streets and transportation.

Next steps: City Council will review survey results and consider which propositions and items to include on the November ballot at its July 6 meeting and whether to call a special election for the bond in August.

 
On The Business Beat
Cop Stop Pearland to relocate in July

First responder supply store Cop Stop is moving to a new location in Pearland after more than two decades at its current site, according to a May 30 social media post from the business.

What you need to know: In July, Cop Stop will relocate from 6831 W. Broadway St., Ste. F in Pearland to a larger space, featuring expanded retail floor area and a bigger parking lot to support a wider product selection and fundraising events, according to the post. 

  • 7311 Fite Road, Pearland
 
Latest Education News
San Jacinto College names Laura Bettencourt as North Campus provost

The San Jacinto College board of trustees approved Laura Bettencourt as provost of the San Jacinto College North Campus. 

Career history: Bettencourt, who will begin her role June 15, brings more than 20 years of executive leadership, most recently as senior associate vice chancellor for academic support at Lone Star College, according to a June 1 news release from the college. 

Quote of note: “Dr. Bettencourt is a student-focused leader who brings a strong commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement. Her extensive experience in higher education, and her passion for supporting students and expanding access and opportunities for them, makes her an outstanding choice to lead our North Campus,” Alexander Okwonna, incoming deputy chancellor and college president, said in the release.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Screen on the Green

Pride Houston Festival and Parade

June 5, 7-9 p.m.
Houston

June 6, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Houston

Learn more.

Learn more.

 

World Ocean Day

KimoKawaii Anime Convention

June 6, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Galveston

June 6-7, times vary
Conroe

Learn more.

Learn more.

 
To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas
$8.4B boost did not shield Texas schools from budget cuts, educators say

Nearly $8.4 billion in new state funding was not enough to save Texas public school districts from budget shortfalls and campus closures, school administrators said June 1.

What happened: During a 10-hour public hearing at the state Capitol, school district leaders spoke of efforts to stretch their budgets amid high inflationary costs as teachers explained their decisions to leave the classroom due to pay cuts and large class sizes.

The big picture: Last year, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 2, a $8.4 billion school finance bill designed to increase educator salaries, create a new pot of money for fixed costs, provide more training for teachers and boost special education resources.

Roughly one year later, districts across Community Impact’s coverage areas are cutting staff and closing campuses, citing enrollment declines and budget shortfalls. 

Quote of note: "This funding deficit is the final straw for me, and it will be for countless other educators across the state who must leave or who lose their jobs," Austin ISD French teacher Rachel Preston told lawmakers June 1.

 

Your local team

Haley Velasco
Editor

Papar Faircloth
General Manager

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