HTX-BMW: Impact 10/8/2025

Bellaire Chief Financial Officer Terrence Beaman proposed a property tax rate and voter-approval tax rate of $0.4174 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2026 during budget discussions in September. Bellaire City Council officially approved the proposed rate Oct. 6 after a public hearing.

The tax rate is a 3.67% decrease from the prior year's rate of $0.4333 per $100 valuation.

What residents need to know: Under the new rate, Beaman said the average Bellaire homeowner will pay approximately $3,487 in taxes, a 2.15% increase from last year's dollar amount of $3,414.

The average homestead taxable value in FY 2025 was $787,805, according to Beaman's presentation. In FY 2026, that number will increase to $835,403, resulting in a slightly higher cost despite the lowered tax rate.

The modern fabric and quilt shop opened in September and plans to host classes, workshops and events.

What they offer: Woven sells a range of craft supplies, including high-quality fabric available either precut or by the yard, tools to create bags, quilt patterns, sewing notions, needlework and gift items.

The shop will also have a workshop space to host sewing classes and birthday parties, along with other events. 

A closer look: Wanting to shift from corporate to pursue her passion, founder and Bellaire resident Savreet Singh opened Woven to help others creatively, whether they are beginners or experienced sewers.

• 5410 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. D, Bellaire

The University of Houston is launching UH Next, a new transfer program designed to help community college students more easily and affordably complete their bachelor’s degrees, starting in spring 2026.

The details: Housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the pilot will streamline transfers after students complete associate degrees at one of five Houston-area community colleges, reducing the cost of a four-year degree.

UH Next is part of UH’s broader effort to improve affordability, alongside programs like Cougar Promise and various scholarships and financial aid options.

How it works: Enrolled students will follow four-year degree maps, co-created by advisors at both UH and the partner college to ensure they take the right courses in the right order, minimizing credit loss and keeping them on track for graduation, although the program is only available for select majors within each partner community college. 

Next steps: While there is no timeline for expansion to other colleges, officials said several are assessing opportunities to create a UH Next pathway.

Odyssey, a New York-based tech company, has been selected to manage Texas’ $1 billion education savings account program, the state comptroller’s office announced Oct. 6.

The overview: Odyssey will work with the comptroller to launch the program, deemed “Texas Education Freedom Accounts,” ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Families can begin applying for the program early next year, and those accepted will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to private school or homeschool them.

Zooming in: Odyssey will develop and manage an online platform to administer Texas’ education savings account program. State law also tasks the company with:

• Collecting applications and determining which families are accepted to the program
• Approving vendors for education-related materials and services, such as textbooks, transportation and tutoring
• Reviewing inquiries and complaints about the program
• Advertising the program and communicating with interested families