Fort Bend ISD’s 2026-27 budget is now expected to see a $35.9 million shortfall as the board of trustees prepares to vote in June, district officials said at a May 4 agenda review meeting.

The overview: Since the previous budget presentation April 13, Chief Financial Officer Bryan Guinn said FBISD has accumulated $8.8 million in additional savings from moving faculty into previously vacant positions after deciding on new boundary changes and closing seven primary schools in March. 

Also of note: During the agenda review meeting, Deputy Superintendent of Operations Kathleen Brown said the district has not given any salary increases in three years, and no equity adjustments have been made in the past seven years.

Brown said one way the district can incrementally assist with employee pay for next year is to enact $6.1 million in targeted compensation adjustments to multiple positions where the district has faltered to other districts.

Next steps: The board will host a budget workshop May 11 at 5 p.m. before its regularly scheduled meeting. 

The city of Sugar Land has launched free ticket reservations for its 2026 FIFA World Cup viewing parties at Sugar Land Town Square.

What you need to know: The eight parties are a part of the city's role as an official Host City Supporter as the city of Houston hosts seven 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in June and July.

The events will take place at 2711 Plaza Drive and will feature an outdoor viewing screen, international food vendors and family-friendly activities.

Watch parties dates include:

• June 11, 2 p.m. featuring Mexico vs. South Africa
• June 12, 8 p.m. featuring USA vs. Paraguay
• June 13, 5 p.m. featuring Brazil vs. Morocco
• June 17, 6 p.m. featuring Ghana vs. Panama
• June 19, 2 p.m. featuring USA vs. Australia
• June 19, 8 p.m. featuring Brazil vs. Haiti
• June 27, 6 p.m. featuring Columbia vs. Portugal
• July 19, 2 p.m. featuring the final match

Democratic voters will choose their nominee for the Fort Bend County clerk in a May 26 runoff election between Sonya Jones and Maria T. Jackson.

The big picture: The Democratic race for Fort Bend County clerk is one of several county contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

Jones and Jackson were the two highest-performing candidates in the four-way primary race, with Jones securing 37.47% of the vote to Jackson's 22.92%.

Stay tuned: The winner of the May 26 runoff will face the Republican nominee for Fort Bend County clerk, Tamara McFarlane, in the November midterm election.

The Houston-Pasadena region rose one spot, and is now ranked No. 6 out of 226 metropolitan areas for its number of high ozone days, according to the 2026 State of the Air report released by the American Lung Association on April 21.

Looking back: The region was ranked No. 7 in 2025, Community Impact previously reported. Between 2022-24, the Houston region’s annual weighted average of high ozone days was 43.3, according to the report.

Some context: Ozone air pollution, aka smog, is a lung irritant and can cause health problems, such as chest tightness, coughing and shortness of breath, according to the ALA.

What else: With regard to annual particle pollution, the Houston-Pasadena area ranked No. 8 out of 211 metropolitan areas. The region also ranked No. 89 out of 224 metropolitan areas for 24-hour particle pollution, according to the report.