Lamar Consolidated ISD held a pinning ceremony Aug. 31 for Matthew Rodrigue as its new chief of police, replacing former chief Henry Garcia, officials announced in a Facebook post.

Career history: Rodrigue has over 27 years of law enforcement, public service, nonprofit and community leadership experience, district officials said.

He previously served as chief deputy of the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office and as chief of police and director of emergency management and school safety for Spring ISD before coming to Lamar CISD.

What they’re saying: Lamar CISD officials said Rodrigue is prepared to take on a multitude of responsibilities while the district sets out to accomplish its long-term goals. 

“Chief Rodrigue is committed to fostering a safe and secure learning environment, strengthening relationships among law enforcement, students, staff, families and the community, and ensuring the Lamar CISD Police Department is prepared to meet the needs of a growing school district,” district officials said in an email. 

Vendor marketplace The Collective Boutiques held a soft opening for its second Greater Houston location in Cinco Ranch, business representatives confirmed.

How it works: The marketplace offers space for independent shop owners to sell their goods at a brick-and-mortar location in exchange for a 10% commission and monthly rent payment, according to the company’s website.

Some of the items customers can buy include home décor, clothing, furniture, handmade art, candles, pet products and even food.

In case you missed it: The Collective Boutiques held a soft opening Aug. 29 for its Kingwood store, Community Impact previously reported . 

• 6729 S. Fry Road, Katy

The Harris County Commissioners Court denied a recommendation for County Treasurer Carla Wyatt to receive a 30% raise. As a result, Wyatt will not join the slate of other county elected officials who received pay raises this year.

What happened: The county’s eight elected constables, the district attorney, county attorney, district clerk and tax assessor-collector will earn $305,000 annually.

The court approved those raises in August. Per an Aug. 24 press release, Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth denied the raise.

Zooming in: The recommendation came as the county seeks to shutter the treasurer’s office. As part of its legislative priorities, Harris County officials will ask the state House and Senate to approve cutting the office. Other large counties in Texas, such as Galveston and Tarrant, have eliminated their treasurer’s offices.

Across Texas, the taxes that homeowners pay to their local school districts went down by about 13.6% in 2025, one state senator found.

The overview: Across the board, many Texas counties mailed out reduced property tax bills for the 2025 tax year, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, reported. During a Sept. 1 hearing of the Senate Local Government Committee, he said the average homeowner's property tax bill went down by about $140 last year, falling from $1,037 per year in 2024 to $896 per year in 2025.

Texas' 2026-27 budget includes $51 billion in property tax relief, previous Community Impact reporting shows. Unless the legislature rolls back existing tax exemptions, the state will be required to spend that much or more on tax relief in future bienniums.

How it works: The state does not charge property taxes, meaning homeowners are taxed by local entities such as school districts, cities, counties and municipal utility districts. The Texas Legislature, however, can place limits on how much local governments raise taxes annually and require tax exemptions for certain groups.