Fort Bend County’s FY 2025-26 budget funds new courts, public safety
Fort Bend County’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget brings a focus on public safety and new district courts approved by the 89th Texas Legislature.
What residents need to know: The nearly $760.31 million budget, marks a 3.92% increase from FY 2024-25.
Zooming in: The budget includes a 6.2% increase in public safety funding including $123.97 million for the sheriff’s office and $7.35 million for the fire marshal.
Another detail: The budget also lays out a nearly $63.72 million in capital improvement projects over five years, including $38.4 million for FY 2025-26.
What else: Additionally, commissioners approved a pay hike between 3% to 36.84% for Fort Bend County elected officials, with the highest raises going to county court and district court judges, according to agenda documents.
What they’re saying: Both County Judge KP George and Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers raised concerns with the size of the budget, saying it nearly doubled from $362.8 million in 2019.
What’s next: The FY 2025-26 budget will begin on Oct. 1, according to budget documents.
Fulshear-area high school students will have the opportunity to engage in civic processes, volunteer and advise on youth-related issues through the inaugural Youth Advisory Commission.
Zooming in: At a Sept. 16 meeting, Fulshear City Council selected 10 students to serve on their inaugural commission, all of whom attend Jordan High School in Katy ISD, said Fulshear Communications Coordinator Mariah Liendro, who will serve as the commission's staff liaison.
Appointees include:
Afreen Jahingir
Saakshi Kumar
Saira Narang
Tejh Shetty
Vallimathi Somasundaram
Lily Steinfurth
Nidhi Vuppala
Charlotte Williams
Emilie Navarro, alternate
Arjun Yerreddu, alternate
“We’ve got a lot of smart kids in the Fulshear area, we really do, and I’m excited to see the enthusiasm to get involved, and this is our future, I think it’s fantastic,” Mayor Don McCoy said.
What’s next: The YAC will meet on the third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. throughout the school year, with an introductory meeting Sept. 25, Liendro said.
Newly opened boba cafe serves authentic Japanese food, fresh boba
Penguin 64 Boba Cafe soft opened in the Katy area in September, bringing authentic Japanese food and boba.
What they offer: Inspired by Asian bubble tea, the cafe serves craft drinks made with premium loose-leaf teas, fresh milk, real cheese and chewy tapioca pearls, according to its website. The cafe’s drink menu also includes different flavors of matcha, lemonades and smoothies.
Along with craft drinks, Penguin 64 offers traditional Japanese cuisine, such as classic noodle dishes and sushi rolls, per its website. The restaurant also serves bento boxes, offering items like shrimp tempura and orange chicken boxes.
American Cancer Society, Occidental partner to expand access to cancer care in Texas
Per a Sept. 12 press release, the American Cancer Society and Occidental have partnered to expand access to life-saving cancer treatment to patients across Texas. Occidental’s half-million-dollar donation will help the American Cancer Society continue to deliver the resources patients need to access cancer care that could save their lives.
The details: With the new contribution, Occidental is helping fund essential access to care programs that remove barriers often standing between diagnosis and survival for cancer patients, according to the release.
Programs the partnership is helping with include free lodging, rides to treatment and 24/7 support for cancer patients and caregivers.
Quote of note: “We are honored to contribute to the American Cancer Society and help remove barriers to accessing vital care so people can focus on their healing journey,” said Rob Stevens, vice president of supply chain with Occidental.
Texas to overhaul STAAR, launch 3 new exams in 2027
The Texas Education Agency will begin transitioning to a new standardized testing system after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law Sept. 17 to replace the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness with three shorter exams.
The overview: Through the 2026-27 school year, Texas public school students in third through 12th grade will continue taking the STAAR each spring. Beginning in fall 2027, students will take three tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year under House Bill 8, the new law.
Students’ results will be released within 48 hours after each new test is administered. STAAR scores are currently released about six weeks after a test ends, according to the TEA.
The debate: Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said the new system will reduce test-related anxiety; give students and teachers feedback throughout the school year; and increase legislative oversight of Texas’ assessment and accountability systems. Critics of the plan said it would increase the amount of time students spend taking exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the TEA.
