Pearland City Council unanimously approved the first reading to adopt a $137.8 million budget and a $0.627892 tax rate per $100 valuation of a home for fiscal year 2026-27 at its Sept. 14 meeting. 

Compared with FY 2025-26, the proposed budget represents a nearly 4% increase in both revenues and expenses, city documents show.

What residents need to know: The city approved a property tax rate of $0.627892 per $100 valuation of a home, which is nearly 0.3% lower than last year’s rate of $0.63 per $100 valuation of a home.

For a property with a taxable value of $379,925, the annual property tax bill is around $2,385, city documents show.

Also of note: City Council also approved a 9.9% utility rate increase, which brings the average monthly bill up by about $11.31, city documents show.

Republican State Rep. Jeff Barry will face Democratic challenger Karen Reeder to represent District 29 in the Texas House of Representatives in the Nov. 3 election.

District 29 covers the northern and eastern portions of Brazoria County, including Alvin, Pearland and parts of Manvel.

What you need to know: Early voting for the Nov. 3 election runs from Oct. 19-30. Election Day is Nov. 3. The final day to register to vote is Oct. 5.

House of Pies is opening a new location in Webster, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration.

An official opening date has not yet been announced.

What you need to know: The eatery specializes in pies and cakes, but also serves breakfast all day, sandwiches, soups, salads, burgers, chicken fried chicken, steak and spaghetti, among other dishes, according to its website.

📍160 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster

The Harris County Commissioners Court is moving forward with a 7.6% property tax rate increase compared with last year, marking one of the largest tax hikes in the county’s recent history.

The overview: The court approved a tax rate of about $0.67 per $100 in taxable property value in a 3-2 vote during its Sept. 8 meeting. County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey opposed the rate recommended by the county’s Office of Management and Budget.

The increase will add about $193 to the average homeowner’s property tax bill, OMB Director Daniel Ramos said.

Looking ahead: With a projected shortfall of about $180 million, the court is expected to adopt its 2026-27 fiscal year $3.09 billion budget during the Sept. 17 meeting. The court is expected to also take a final vote on the proposed tax rate, adopting it before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

This November, four candidates are running to lead the Texas Comptroller's Office and serve as the state's chief financial officer.

The overview: Libertarian V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza, Democrat Sarah Eckhardt, Green Party candidate Shehla Faizi and Republican Don Huffines are running for comptroller. Huffines, whom Gov. Greg Abbott appointed to the office in July, is considered the incumbent in this race.

How it works: The comptroller oversees government spending and administers the state's $1 billion education savings account program, which launched ahead of the 2026-27 school year.

Looking ahead: Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30 in the midterm election, and Election Day is Nov. 3.