Montgomery County commissioners did not approve the Montgomery Central Appraisal District’s proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget July 9 after a motion to support the spending plan failed to receive a second.

Commissioners asked MCAD officials to revisit their budget and present an amended version to court at a later date for approval. 

Montgomery County would contribute an estimated $3.72 million toward MCAD’s proposed FY 2026-27 budget, an increase of roughly $194,000 from the county’s $3.52 million contribution in FY 2025-26.

The details: The proposed $20 million budget represents a 5.51% increase from FY 2025-26 and would add 18 employees, including 14 appraisal positions. It also includes a 3.5% merit increase for existing employees.

Chief Appraiser Sherry Hunter said the additional positions are intended to help MCAD keep pace with Montgomery County’s continued growth and maintain a more accurate record of properties across the county. 

The NAES Corporation has leased more than 28,000 square feet at Hughes Landing for its new central region hub, relocated and expanding from its current location on Hughes Landing Boulevard, according to a July 9 news release from Howard Hughes Communities.

The independent services company focuses on optimizing the performance, reliability and efficiency of power generation facilities, according to the release. The company’s Performance Center will be at the new location, supporting remote operations, performance monitoring and other functions.

Diamond Impact Training Center is an indoor softball and baseball training center that specializes in athlete training and development and officially opened on June 1, officials confirmed. 

Two-minute impact: Diamond Impact Training Center has been designed to be a modern, climate-controlled training facility that can provide a comfortable environment for athletes to develop their skills, officials said. The facility offers a wide variety of services to support its athletes in their training, including, but not limited to:

• Batting cage rentals 

• Private lessons

• Player development programs

• Specialty clinics

• Summer camps

The training facility implements HitTrax technology, which provides real-time swing analysis, performance metrics, and interactive game experiences, officials said. 

Quote of note: “We are committed to providing a premier training experience for baseball and softball athletes of all ages and skill levels. Our goal is to help players improve their skills in a fun, positive, and professional environment,” officials said in an email. 

• Opened June 1

• 23629 Gosling Road, Spring 

Officials with the YMCA of Greater Houston are launching the 22nd year of Operation Backpack, an initiative aimed at providing school-aged children with necessary school supplies.

The big picture: Serving roughly 30,000 community members across the Houston area, the annual backpack collecting and distribution event is kicking off ahead of the 2026-27 school year, YMCA officials announced in a July 10 news release. In order to participate, individuals can drop off new, unused backpacks at any of the 14 locations in the Greater Houston area through August 1.

In their words: "Every child deserves to walk into the classroom feeling prepared and excited to learn," Stephen Ives, president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Houston, said. "With YMCA Operation Backpack, our goal is to remove barriers that stand in the way of a child's success, so every student has the opportunity to connect and thrive. We’re grateful for the volunteers, donors and community partners whose generosity makes this effort possible.”