HTX-KTY: Impact 8/28/2025

At an Aug. 26 meeting, Lamar CISD trustees unanimously adopted a revised $534.1 million budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, reflecting increases in state funding for public schools and potential losses in property tax revenue due to higher homestead exemptions. Trustees also approved the same tax rate for the third consecutive year.

Now, Chief Financial Officer Jill Ludwig said the district is reviving previously-cut projects—including facility improvement projects, transportation-related expenses, classroom materials and campus security upgrades—with an anticipated $875,000 in excess revenue, up from the initial projection of $545,000.

What’s changing: The district’s revised general fund revenue is now projected at $535.8 million, with expenditures totaling $535 million, Ludwig said.

The financials: The board approved a $1.1469 per $100 of valuation tax rate that includes:

• $0.6669 for maintenance and operations, or M&O
• $0.48 for interest and sinking, or I&S

Following the June passage of Senate Bill 12 by the 89th Texas Legislature, Katy ISD trustees approved a resolution Aug. 25 affirming new legal requirements that aim to expand parental authority on student’s moral, religious, educational and medical decisions.

What’s in a bill: Superintendent Ken Gregorki said at the Aug. 19 board meeting that while SB 12 introduces some new procedures, many of the expectations outlined in the resolution are practices already “embedded in [KISD’s] culture.”

The bill requires that districts comply with several policies including:

• Banning school staff involvement and programs focused solely on diversity, equity and inclusion
• Prohibiting school-sponsored clubs based on sexual orientation or gender identity
• Limiting student health care to be handled by legally authorized providers
• Switching sexual education to opt-in instruction
• Requiring school boards to meet outside work hours and post resolutions within seven days

Fort Bend County residents can expect to see the same tax rate as county officials receive raises.

Zooming in: At an Aug. 26 meeting, Fort Bend County commissioners unanimously proposed maintaining the county’s $0.412 per $100 property valuation tax rate for fiscal year 2025-26.

However, it will still result in an average increase of $29 for a $423,000 home due to increased property valuations, Director of Finance and Investments Pamela Gubbels said at an Aug. 4 budget workshop.

What else: Officials also approved a proposal to raise the salaries of most of the county’s elected officials, including their positions.

The proposed salary changes range from about 3%-36.84% with the highest raises going to county court and district court judges, according to agenda documents.

What’s next: The county will hold budget hearings at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 22 and at 1 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Fort Bend County Courthouse, located at 401 Jackson St., Richmond.

Some communities in Flash Flood Alley, which stretches through Central Texas and includes the Colorado and Guadalupe River basins, would be required to install flood warning sirens under a bill advanced by state House lawmakers Aug. 26.

The details: Under Senate Bill 3:

• The Texas Water Development Board would identify areas impacted by the deadly July 4-5 floods that have “a history of consistent or severe flooding.”
• Local governments in the identified areas would be required to install flood warning sirens if they are not already present.
• The state would distribute up to $50,000 in grants to help cities and counties install warning systems.