Friendswood ISD’s board of trustees will consider adopting the district’s budget and tax rate for fiscal year 2025-26 at its Aug. 25 workshop.
What you need to know: As of its Aug. 11 meeting, FISD is projecting about $67.4 million in revenue and $66.7 million in expenses, along with $770,375 in debt service for maintenance tax notes, leaving the district with a balanced budget, according to district documents.
What residents should know: The district is also looking at a projected tax rate of $1.03 per $100 valuation of a home for 2025—a $0.01 decrease from last year’s tax rate, according to district documents.
This tax rate will be nearly $4,340 of taxes due on an average residence—about a $210 decrease compared to last year’s value of nearly $4,550 of taxes due on an average residence, according to district documents.
AcroSports Gymnastics relocates to Friendswood area
Previously located in League City, the gym is known for its competitive gymnastics teams, after-school programs and summer camps. What’s new: The new location is next to CCISD Challenger Stadium and Challenger Park, and it will offer the same classes and programs as before.
What else: Along with gymnastics, the center also offers tumbling, cheer and ninja warrior classes, as well as parents' night out events, according to the gym’s social media.
University of Houston expands behavioral health programs to meet workforce demand
In response to the growing demand for behavioral health professionals across Texas and the nation, the University of Houston is expanding its academic offerings in Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, an evidence-based therapy most commonly used to support individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
“Our goal is to train highly skilled individuals so they come out of our programs and can provide really effective treatment for our diverse community and our learners with autism and developmental disabilities,” Charlotte Carp, program director and a board-certified behavior analyst, said in an Aug. 14 news release.
Programs are available online and in person at the UH Katy campus.
Zooming out: The timing of this expansion aligns with a significant surge in demand for certified behavior analysts, per the release. In April, Community Impact reported on the rise of ABA centers in Katy, Sugar Land, Missouri City,Cypress, Tomball and Magnolia, where many clinical providers cited staffing demands as many public school districts see a rise in autism diagnoses.
Houston available rentals up more than a third from last July
The number of leased listings for single-family homes and rentals available in the Greater Houston area both increased compared to last year in July, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ July 2025 Market Update released Aug. 20.
The details: Leased listings rose 6.5% compared to July 2024, with a total of 4,645 single-family rentals leased in July this year, according to the report.
