VOL 7 No. 19
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Reagan Scott is Sugar Land’s Junior Superstar
Garden of the Month is a real labor of love between Winners Don and Janet Roberts of 2915 Skyline Court. An example of a trend toward more color from foliage and texture, the beautiful burgundy-colored leaves of the Forest Pansy Redbud Trees contrast with many textures and shades of green that welcome to the front entry but take advantage of the cul-de-sac and view of the El Dorado Golf Course. Wanting easy-to-maintain, the Robert’s garden is an example of how great design and plant selection enhance your garden. Provided a Certificate of Appreciation by the Quail Valley Garden Club and a plant from Flowers by Adela, don’t miss this garden! The Quail Valley Garden Club is open to anyone interested in gardening. We thank the public support for our recent successful Backyard Tour. Visit http://traction.typepad.com/QVGC
Sugar Land Garden Club hosts 15th Annual Spring Garden Tour
Scott has been, and Reagan Scott has continues to be, one been named the 2014 of the most talented, Sugar Land Junior Suenergetic, and disciperstar. plined students in my A sixth grade stustudios. dent, Reagan competed “She has grown against the best singers vocally in her range in Fort Bend County; and power, as well as over 45 kids auditioned in her artistic musical and 15 were selected interpretation. to compete in the April “She is a poised 19 finale at Sugar Land and confident enterTown Square. tainer who knows Reagan has been perhow to relate to her forming in front of large audience and capture audiences since third their attention. She grade, and is a veteran definitely is ‘a talent of Houston area proto watch!’” ductions. In addition to This spring she singing and theater, starred as Annie in Fort Reagan plays guiBend Christian Acadtar and writes songs, emy’s middle school enjoys creative writproduction of Annie, Jr., ing, swim team and and last year she perspending time with formed in Godspell, Jr. her family. with Inspiration Stage. Reagan said, "I In the fall of 2013, want to thank my parshe won the Fort Bend ents, family, friends County Fair Youth Taland Mr. and Mrs. ent Competition. McKinney [vocal Later this month, Reagan Scott coaches], Mr. Chris Reagan will be singing the National Anthem at the City of Sugar Land's [Chris Chimene, Amp Music Academy, guitar Memorial Day Ceremony in Sugar Land Memo- teacher] and Ms. Melanie [Melanie Smith, perrial Park. Though she gets the normal ‘butterflies’ formance coach and musical theater teacher, in her stomach right before she performs, once Dance du Coeur] for helping and supporting me. I've had a lot of fun this year and am so excited she is on stage, she feels completely at home! Tom McKinney of Tom McKinney Vocal and honored to be representing Sugar Land as the Studios is certainly proud of his pupil, “Reagan 2014 Junior Superstar!"
Property values in Fort Bend jump an average of 10 percent
“The Inspiring Yards of East New Territory” is the theme for this year’s Sugar Land Garden Club 15th Annual Spring Garden Tour. On Saturday, May 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,(rain date May 17, 9-3), the public is invited to tour seven amazing gardens in the New Territory subdivision. This is a perfect Mother’s Day gift! You will be inspired when you see the yard that Suma Mudan has designed. Suma and her eighty-four year old mother, Lalita, have a passion for gardening and work in the yard everyday. On the day of the tour, purchase tickets at any of the seven gardens for $15. Take 90A west and left at Ellis Creek and follow the signs. The gardens on the tour are 1106 Braelinn Ln., 1723 Solana Springs Dr., 1934 Hollys Way, 2 Stone Terrace, 6315 Goodlowe Park, 6139 Edenbrook Dr. and 5603 Cottonmist Court.
Early voting ends, Poll day Saturday Early voting in the May 10 local city and school board elections ended on Tuesday, May 6. At the end of closing on Monday, a little less than 7,000 people had voted early. While 5,403 people had voted early until Saturday, 1,576 people voted on Monday. Major elections are in Fort Bend ISD, City of Missouri City, City of Rosenberg, City of Stafford and Stafford MSD. In FBISD elections, as of
Monday, 5,591 people have voted early in person. In last year’s school board election, only about 5,000 people voted, of which 2,800 voted early. The turnout was 3.72 percent. In Missouri City City elections, which includes a bond election, 1,399 people had voted early in the first week of early voting, until Saturday last. Totals by early voting site showed, 1,014 people voted
early at the Missouri City City Hall, in the first six days of early voting, followed by 679 people in First Colony. At the Randall’s in New Territory, 616 people had voted early until Saturday. In Stafford MSD and Stafford city elections, 244 people had voted early until Saturday. In addition, throughout the county 2,312 people have mailed in their ballots. A total of 4,439 had requested mail-in ballots.
By BARBARA FULENWIDER The 2014 taxable property valuations for Fort Bend County show on average a 10 percent increase over last year’s valuation.. Missouri City’s, the only numbers available prior to deadline, came in at 12 percent more than last year’s valuations. Missouri City tax values for 2014 came in at $5.036 billion. That total includes $4.838 billion for Fort Bend County plus Harris County values of $198 million, which adds up to $5.036 billion total, according to Wes Vela, Missouri City finance director. The 2013 tax year valuation totaled $4.203 billion and included Harris County valuations. What higher property values mean is homeowners and businesses will pay more taxes. In turn, it also means cities and the county will have more money available to provide more services, projects, amenities, etc., for citizens and residents and businesses can ask more, if they decide to sell. Glen Whitehead, Central Appraisal District chief appraiser, said that the growth in Fort Bend County has produced a healthier real estate market that has sold more deeds and seen a decrease in foreclosures from 2009 through 2013. Statistics from the county clerk’s office show that 28,166
pieces of property changed hands in the county in 2007. The number fell to 23,077 in 2008, to 21,250 in 2009 and 20,762 in 2010. A little light at the end of the tunnel began to show in 2011 when sold properties increased to 21,148 and on to 24,851 in 2012 and 27,703 in 2013. Whitehead said, “There’s been an overall change in market values including new properties with an increase of approximately 10 percent from 2013.” Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen said that the next time citizens hear naysayers criticizing the city leaders for bringing Quail Valley back by buying and upgrading the golf course and amenities there, “remember that a pair of pants has more than one pocket. “In one pocket we may not be making money at the City Centre yet, but property values continue to rise, which means more property tax revenue in the other pocket and at a greater pace than what we are losing right now. “Had we not done what we did on the QV golf course property, this turnaround would not be happening. Instead, it has performed exactly as we on city council hoped it would,” Owen said. He also said that he’s not going to protest the 21 percent increase in taxes on his home.
“I am absolutely delighted that it is back where it should be, and I do not mind paying the taxes on that value. The value means I have that much more equity in my home again. “It means that many people who are looking to sell will get the true value for their home. It also means if you are looking for a home, you should not wait. It also means that people who are looking to do home improvements and need an equity loan, will have that equity to borrow. It means that homes are not under water on valuation for many as well,” Owen said. The mayor went on to say that “it took one year for valuations to plummet with the downturn in the economy. It has taken years to build that back up. This is a true indicator that Missouri City is on the rebound and is all over the city. Very few subdivisions continue to show a negative number. And, citizens, guess who else also benefits from this increase in value: our school district and county,” the mayor said. Not all homeowners will gladly pay their increased tax bill so those who want to protest it have 60 days to file with the Fort Bend County Central Appraisal District (CAD). “They can meet with staff to review their appraisal, go before our appraisal review board See VALUES, Page 5