The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) board members unanimously approved the fiscal year 2026-27 budget of $1.7 billion during a Sept. 30 meeting.

What’s different?: METRO now expects to collect $29.2 million more in sales-tax revenue than it originally projected, a 2.6% increase. The additional revenue allowed the agency to avoid service reductions that had previously been considered, according to a news release.

The adopted budget includes $1.015 billion for operating expenses, a 2.4% decrease from the current budget, and $371.5 million for capital projects, nearly 40% less than the FY2025-26 budget.

METRO said the budget also avoids restructuring its debt or using reserve funds during the 2027 fiscal year.

Also of note: METRO officials expect total ridership to grow 2.8% in FY 2026-27, according to budget documents.

The fiscal year began Oct. 1.

Officials with Buchanan’s Native Plants will celebrate the shop's 40th anniversary Oct. 3 at its annual Fall Fest.

The family-friendly event is free and features a live band, food trucks, kids’ crafts, drinks and local vendors.

Some background: Buchanan’s Native Plants opened in 1986 after owner Donna Buchanan researched perennial plants.

“She started thinking, ‘If I am searching for perennials and native plants, I’ll bet there are others that want them, too,’” the website’s history states. “So the idea for a nursery selling native plants was born.”

The plant shop first opened along Heights Boulevard and eventually moved to its current location at East 11th Street. It is now being run by Donna’s son, Zach, and his wife Heather.

One more thing: The nursery is known for its Texas native plants and organic gardening. It also offers citrus fruits, berries and figs. Other plants include trees and shrubs, tropical plants and year-round seasonal selections.

• 611 E. 11th St., Houston

Several fall festival events are scheduled this month, though events are subject to change. The upcoming activities include:

• St. Angela Merici Fall Festival on Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Missouri City
• Montgomery Fall Festival on Oct. 3 from 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Montgomery
• Pumpkin House & Pumpkin Palooza on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Richmond
• Katy Rice Harvest Festival on Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Oct. 11 from noon to 6 p.m. in Katy
• Pumpkin Float on Oct. 10 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in The Woodlands
• Halloween Bash on Oct. 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in The Woodlands
• Tricks & Treats on Oct. 17 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Missouri City
• ArBOOretum on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Houston

Harris County leaders broke ground Sept. 30 on the first of seven community solar program sites at the Reliant Center. The initiative, called the Affordable Community Energy Program (ACE), is the region's first county-led community solar program.

The details: The program is designed to expand clean energy access and affordability for low-income residents while enhancing grid resilience during extreme weather and power outages.

The program details include:

• An $88.3 million investment the Harris County Commissioners Court approved in March

• Generation of up to 45 megawatts of solar energy and 20 megawatt-hours of battery storage on publicly-owned land

• Expected energy bill cuts of about 20% for 9,500 to 10,000 income-qualifying households at or below 80% of the area median income

One more thing: The Reliant Center site is expected for completion in 2027, with the remaining six sites continuing construction through 2029. Resident enrollment will also start in 2027 for both renters and homeowners

The Texas Education Agency is asking state lawmakers to spend $97.3 billion on K-12 education initiatives and staffing in the next two years, up from about $91 billion in the current state budget.

The details: During a Sept. 29 hearing on the agency's legislative appropriations request, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath noted that the TEA is "largely a pass-through vehicle to fund schools around the state of Texas." This means that while funding would be allocated to the agency under Article III of the state budget, the majority of that money would be sent to school districts, outside of funds used to pay TEA staff and cover operations for associated entities, such as the State Board of Education.

More information: The TEA is asking for about $49.6 billion for fiscal year 2027-28 and $47.7 billion for fiscal year 2028-29, totaling $97.3 billion for the 2028-29 biennium. Morath said those amounts would "preserve 100% of all funding for public schools" through the Foundation School Program, which is the state's main funding source for K-12 schools, and other initiatives.