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Phone: 281-980-6745
VOL 6 No. 39
FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Birds of Fort Bend: Yellow Warbler
The Yellow Warbler is one of 50 species of Warblers in the Americas that are making their journey back to Central and South America. Brilliant yellow with some chestnut markings, these tiny birds are most likely to be seen along creeks and bogs in Fort Bend. Often they perch on top of shrubs and you may even see them briefly hover. Insect gleaners, they don’t come to feeders, but eat caterpillars, wasps, beetles and other insects. As with all warblers they move quickly so glimpse them while you can . . . they are just passing through, but usually do so more leisurely in the fall. Photograph courtesy of international birder and Quail Valley resident Margaret Sloan. You can see more photos of this stunning, full-yellow bird. http://traction.typepad.com/birds
Debate: What price for quality of life? Dear Friend, I am writing you today to ask for your support to help pass the Sugar Land Parks expansion projects developed and prioritized by over 100 Sugar Land residents over the past year. This citizens’ effort resulted in a recommendation to Sugar Land City Council to allow voter consideration of funding three major parks and recreation initiatives: (1) a new highly accessible 65 acre park that provides needed capacity for organized sports and activities for young and old; (2) expansion of the current Brazos River Park system North to US 59 that includes lakes, river access and a festival site; and (3) 10 miles of hike and bike trails that interconnect existing communities with each other and with city parks and allowing for safe travel under US 59 and State Highway 6. The election will be held on November 5, 2013, with early voting starting on October 21, 2013. If all three propositions pass, the City will have the ability to issue $50 million in bonds to pay for park im-
provements over the next 5 to 7 years. Sugar Land is a special place to live and work precisely because we continue to invest and grow our community. These park initiatives will benefit each of us by improving quality of life and bringing positive economic impact to our community. Already, significant commercial and private interests including the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council, Fort Bend Green and The Association of Fort Bend Commercial Brokers have passed resolutions of support. Citizens for Sugar Land
Parks is a specific purpose political action committee created to advocate strongly for the passage of these measures. Our immediate need is to call on supporters for contributions of money and manpower to ensure our success. Attached you will find an endorsement and commitment form. Please note that corporate and personal donations are acceptable. We have also formed a steering committee for direction of advocacy efforts. We welcome your talent and counsel. If you wish to participate in this committee, please contact Perri D’Armond at 281-340-1906 or Kim Icenhower at 713-504-4378. Please help us sustain our growth and quality of life by passing these important measures. Your talent and financial support is vital to our efforts.
County reminds voters about photo ID Fort Bend County Election Administrator John Oldham has announced a campaign to make voters aware of the new photo identification requirements for voting “In Fort Bend County we are working to make sure our voters understand the new ID requirements and have all the information they need to cast their ballots,” said Oldham. Voter information posters and informational brochures are being distributed throughout the county. Beginning with the November 5, 2013 election, voters will now be required to show one of the following forms of photo identification at the polling location before casting a ballot: •Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) •Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS •Texas personal identification The proposed $50 million bond election for Sugar Land has both supporters and detractors. The supporters have formed a committee to get the bond election passed. (See a letter sent to businesses by Betty Baitland, left.) The group campaigning against the bond includes Conservatives and Tea Party activists See their point of view below: Sugar Land has a November 2013 ballot proposal to approve the issue of up to $50 million in bonds for parks. Sugar Land projects a one cent per year for five years increase in the property tax rate to pay for the parks program. This five cents increase in tax rate equates to a 14.4 percent increase in Sugar Land’s property taxes. Over the last 10 years, the average home value in Sugar Land has increased 4.5 percent per year. The pro-
card issued by DPS •Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS •United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph •United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph •United States passport The identification provided for voting must be current, or have expired no more than 60 days before being presented. Several types of acceptable identification have no expiration date. This photo ID requirement is for voters casting a ballot in person, not by mail. Voters age 65 and older as well as those with disabilities may vote by mail. The Election office is encouraging voters to update their voter registrations to reflect the names on their IDs. Voters may use IDs that do not exactly match the name
on their IDs if the names are substantially similar but will have to sign an affidavit stating they are the same person. Voters may look up their registration at votetexas.gov and if their name is not an exact match they can update their voter registration online at votetexas.gov. They may also update the same information at their polling location. “By preparing now, voters can help make sure voting goes smoothly when it comes time for the election,” said Oldham. To check and update their registrations, voters can visit VoteTexas.gov or fortbendcountytx.gov/index. aspx?page=338 or call 281341-8670 for more information. Information on how to obtain a free election identification certificate can be found at www.dps.texas.gov.
jected increase in the tax rate coupled with the average increase in home values would increase on an average Sugar Land residence by 35.8 percent in 5 years. One of the parks projects is a 10-mile hike and bike trial that will cost $10 million. It means a $ 1 million per mile for what is essentially a 5-foot sidewalk and that appears excessive.
Sugar Land recently approved a tax subsidy to a developer to build 1,700 homes, 350 apartments plus commercial offices and warehouses on the Imperial Sugar tract at U.S. 90A and Highway 6. This tax subsidy amounts to about $40 million over 30 years. Sugar Land is also developing an $80 million arts and entertainment complex near the University of Houston campus at .S. 59 and University Blvd. This project will be funded by Sugar Land’s sales taxes. Sugar Land could reduce the scope of the parks program and arts and entertainment complex, fund both from sales taxes and not increase our property taxes. Instead Sugar Land chooses to increase our taxes nearly 36 percent. The opponents urge a “No” vote on the Sugar Land Parks program on the Nov. 5, 2013 election ballot. The group also provided the table below.
Tax increases relating to Sugar Land’s parks bond issue 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Tax Rate increase at one cent/year $0.308 $0.318 $0.328 $0.338 $0.348 $0.358 Sincerely, Betty Baitland 3.2% 6.3% 9.1% 11.8% 14.4% Citizens for Sugar Land Parks Tim Stubenrouch, campaign Average Home value $200,000 $209,000 $218,405 $228,233 $238,054 $249,236 Treasurer Property Tax Percentage increase in tax Cumulative increase
$616
$665 7.9%
$716 7.8% 16.3%
$771 7.7%
$830 7.6%
23.4%
29.9%
$892 7.5% 35.8%
Missouri City residents speak against tax increase
Exchange Clubs of Sugar Land, Fort Bend and Rosenberg will sponsor GIVE A KID A FLAG TO WAVE at the Fort Bend County Fair Parade. Local Exchange Clubs will give free American Flags to children along the Fort Bend County Fair Parade route on Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. Classic Chevrolet provide vehicles to pull the floats carrying over 15,000 flags. Exchange Clubs across the Nation sponsor activities to promote the Prevention of Child Abuse, Development of Youth, Americanism and Community Service. For more information please visit www.ecsl.org.
By SESHADRI KUMAR About a dozen Missouri City residents attended a public hearing on the proposed property tax rate increase at the City Council meeting on Monday and voiced their opinion against the proposed tax. At least nine people, including the president of Knanaya Homeowners Association Chethalil P. John, urged the city council to consider providing tax exemption to seniors instead of increasing the tax rate. The community comprises retirees who lived on fixed income and they cannot afford to pay the proposed tax increase, John said. Jenny Bailey, a Missouri
City resident, cited Mayor Allen Owen’s reported statement that in 2012 the city attracted businesses worth $565 million, adding to the property tax base. With such an increase in the property tax values of about 2 percent, why should the city raise homeowner’s tax rate by 7.2 per cent, Bailey asked. Kris Allfrey, another resident, began his comment by saying that the city council would not care about what he was going to say about the tax increase. and would increase the tax rate anyway. Allfrey said the council conducted “backroom deals” and cited the approval of apartments in a July meeting. Thou-
sands of dollars donated by the developer helped in that decision, according to Alfrey. Taking a cue from Bailey’s remarks, Allfrey said the benefit from the $565 million investment by businesses disappeared because the city council, again in back room deals, gave away all the money in tax abatements. Why ask homeowners to pay more now, he said. Noel Pinnock questioned the city’s $1 million deficit budget. City council needs to be more transparent with the constituents, Pinnock said. See TAX, page 3