Fort Bend ISD’s yearly tax bill is projected to decrease by $84 for the 2026-27 school year, district officials confirmed.

The details: Chief Financial Officer Bryan Guinn told the board May 11 that the combined tax rate for the 2026-27 school year is predicted to go down $0.06 to almost $1 per $100 valuation.

By factoring in the tax rate decrease and the average Fort Bend ISD home value, expected to increase by $8,739, the yearly tax bill is expected to be $84 less than that in 2025-26.

Additionally, the tax rate is estimated to be lower than neighboring school districts, including Cy-Fair, Lamar Consolidated and Katy ISDs.

Next steps: The board is preparing to vote on the budget in June and the tax rate in September, officials said.

Tooth Buds Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics is planning to open this spring, according to the practice’s social media.

What we know: The dental clinic will offer services including preventative and restorative care, emergency dentistry and laser frenectomies, a minimally invasive procedure used to correct tongue-tie or lip-tie conditions, according to its website. As for orthodontic care, Tooth Buds offers braces and Invisalign.

One more thing: Additionally, the practice will offer sedation dentistry for children who are anxious or need extensive treatment, per its website. 

• 9010 Sienna Crossing Drive, Ste. 350, Missouri City

Harris County officials are gearing up for another summer of tough budget decisions as the projected shortfall for fiscal year 2026-27 could reach up to $257 million, according to a May 14 presentation to Commissioners Court.

The overview: Based on current spending forecasts, Harris County’s general fund shortfall for FY 2026-27 is projected to range from $129 million to $257 million pending the adopted property tax rate, OMB Director Daniel Ramos told Commissioners Court.

More details: While Harris County’s spending has increased year over year—jumping 12% in FY 2025-26 compared to the prior year—revenue sources aren’t keeping pace, the presentation shows. The county is on track to conclude the current fiscal year Sept. 30 with a $27 million shortfall, Ramos said. 

Quote of note: “You’re going to be hearing about Harris County fees, cuts [and] others soon enough if we don’t figure out a way to be more efficient,” County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. “We put the county and the people of Harris County at a $200 million hole irresponsibly last year.”

The Texas Supreme Court on May 15 denied Gov. Greg Abbott’s request to remove state Rep. Gene Wu from office after the Houston Democrat led his colleagues in a walkout to protest congressional redistricting last summer.

The details: In the court’s majority opinion, Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock ruled that because Wu and other House Democrats “voluntarily returned” to the Capitol two weeks after their August departure, it was not necessary for the court to get involved.

The court also rejected a petition by Attorney General Ken Paxton to expel Wu and 12 other Democrats over the walkout, consolidating the two requests in one ruling.

What they're saying: Wu celebrated the ruling in a May 15 statement, saying that "the Constitution does not let a governor erase voters’ choices when their choices are inconvenient to him."

Abbott's office argued the governor's August lawsuit helped end the walkout and said the state was prepared to fight future quorum breaks: "If Democrats abandon their offices again, the governor will bring them right back to the Texas Supreme Court."