HTX-BMW: Impact 9/24/2025

Bellaire City Council unanimously approved the city’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget during the Sept. 15 City Council meeting.

The breakdown: The budget will have nearly $30 million in the general fund, a 5% increase from the FY 2024-25 budget’s general fund. Public safety departments such as police and fire received the most from the general fund, with a combined 45% for the two departments.

Nearly $84 million is also budgeted for the city’s capital improvement plan, which City Manager Sharon Citino said is a huge jump in project funding that comes from the amount of grants and state support for numerous city projects, as well as transfer funds from general or enterprise funds.

What else: Chief Financial Officer Terrence Beaman said the budget will include a proposed property tax rate and voter-approval tax rate of $0.4174 per $100 of valuation, which is a 3.67% decrease from the current tax rate of $0.4333.

In a Sept. 19 news release, officials with Fertitta Hospitality unveiled the Westin Houston Downtown hotel after it completed an extensive multimillion-dollar renovation that started in 2024.

What's changed: According to the release, key highlights of the renovation include the lobby area, which features the Ballpark Cafe, a lounge area and an entertainment unit. The Ballpark Cafe, which offers craft cocktails alongside game-day-inspired fare, now serves as a gathering spot for locals and visitors heading to Daikin Park.

Additional changes include refreshing all 200 guest rooms, which now feature new flooring and expanded amenities, including mini refrigerators and reading lights built into the headboards, per the release.

One more thing: The hotel is located three blocks away from the George R. Brown Convention Center and other downtown venues like the Toyota Center and Daikin Park.

📍1520 Texas Ave., Houston

Looking to take family photos or celebrate fall to the fullest? Here are eight pumpkin patches to check out in the Greater Houston area.

Pumpkin Patch at Harvest Season Farm: A ticket to the pumpkin patch at Harvest Season Farm includes access to a bouncy house, unlimited hay rides and pumpkin painting. 

• Sept. 20-Nov. 2, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 
• $15 (per ticket)
• 21110 Bauer Hockley Road, Tomball

Pumpkin Patch at P-6 Farms: Families exploring the pumpkin patch at P-6 Farms can also enjoy vintage rides, pig races, giant slides and an animal barn.

• Sept. 27-Nov. 2, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
• $27.42 (per ticket)
• 9963 Pooles Road, Montgomery

Harris County commissioners will meet Sept. 24 to hold public hearings and discussions prior to adopting the $2.7 billion fiscal year 2025-26 budget for the county, as well as the FY 2025-26 budgets for the Harris County Toll Road Authority and Harris Health System. 

The context: For FY 2024-25, Harris County's budget included about $2.9 billion for the county's general fund budget and $274.1 million for the Harris County Flood Control District, as previously reported in Community Impact.

The background: In the months leading up to the September budget adoption, Harris County commissioners and department leaders have implemented a yearlong hiring freeze to save at least $25 million in costs to address a projected $200 million-plus shortfall in FY 2025-26. Other cost-saving decisions commissioners and more than 80 department leaders identified included finding at least 10% in potential cost saving opportunities within their current level of services to address the shortfall in the FY 2025-26 budget, county officials said.

Texas voters will decide on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution during the Nov. 4 election.

The overview: The propositions, which were adopted by state lawmakers earlier this year, include measures aimed at reducing property taxes, funding water supply projects and creating a state dementia research institute.

“This is an opportunity to make your voice heard about the governing document of our state,” Secretary of State Jane Nelson said in a June 25 statement.

More details: Texans have until Oct. 6 to register to vote in the upcoming election. Early in-person voting runs from Oct. 20-31, and Election Day is Nov. 4.

The secretary of state’s office randomly selected the ballot order for the 17 state propositions. Keep reading to learn about the proposed constitutional amendments and how they would change Texas law.