VOL 7 No. 51
email: editor@ĩindependent.com
www.fbindependent.com ww .fbindependent.com
Phone: 281-980-6745
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Property tax rate cap elicits opposition from county, cities By SESHADRI KUMAR Property tax will be a hot topic at the 84th session of the Texas Legislature which will meet in January. While the state will not increase any tax because of the comfortable financial situation, some lawmakers are keen on a stringent cap on the property tax appraisal and the increase in tax rate. Local elected officials from Fort Bend County are raising a red flag over the proposal and are preparing to fight any such move as evidenced by the Fort Bend County Legislative Conference at Barton Creek in Austin last week. The conference, facilitated by the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council and initiated by County Judge Bob Hebert, enabled state elected officials and local officials from cities, the county, school districts and business representatives networking together and discuss issues that affected different segments of the community. This approach is unique to Fort Bend County and has
helped in resolving conflicting interests to the best satisfaction of all, by briefing the legislators ahead of the legislative session. The conference took note of bills filed in the legislature to reduce the property tax cap at 4 percent from the present 8 percent, triggering an automatic rollback tax rate election. The consensus was that the present 8 percent cap is working well and the 4 percent cap will harm the interests of cities and counties who will struggle to provide services with a loss in revenue. Local officials believe that the newly elected legislators who had taken up the property tax reform as a campaign issue should not press the issue as it will be impractical to govern. Newly-elected District 18 senator, Lois Kolkhurst (R) in her remarks said tax cuts and debt will be among the major issues tackled by the legislature, along with transportation and public education. School funding will not be addressed in this session, pending the outcome of the lawsuit
Mrs. & Mr. Santa Claus...Joe Romano’s Christmas stories. See Page 4.
filed by school districts against the state, Kolkhurst said. Kolkhurst said the roll back rate at 4 percent in property tax will be debated in the legislature. The legislature will also bring municipal utility districts under greater scrutiny and rein in the Strategic Partnership Agreements, especially by the city of Houston, she said. County Judge Bob Hebert highlighted the negative effects of the 4 percent cap on roll back rate for property taxes. There will be many unintended consequences and if the state cannot stop the property tax rate cap, then the state should find alternative sources of revenue for the county, which has to provide several constitutionallymandated services, Hebert said. Kolkhurst said healthcare costs are likely to overtake education funding in the next biennium. The legislature would keep the budget under the spending limit and the budget would have comfortable surplus, she said. Though the oil and gas prices will impact the state revenue, “even when the oil price hits $60 barrel, we will have a surplus,” Kolkhurst said. State Rep. Rick Miller (R) said his office was putting together legislative issues, based on the input from various district advisory committees he had previously established. Texas has 15 military installations, but the federal government is decreasing funding for these institutions. The military establishments have $150 million impact on Texas. “We will have to work to strengthen it,” Miller said. Miller had extensive discussions with local school superintendents to have a better understanding of the issues concerning education. State Rep. Phil Stephenson (R) said the state should think out of the box and find new ways of enhancing investment income, by investing in equity market, Stephenson said. Stephenson also called for more transparency in water boards. He recommended conservation and desalination as two major steps to tackle water shortage. He emphasized funding for border security, not so much to keep out illegal immiSee TAX, Page 5
Sugar Land breaks Birds ofground Fort Bendon live entertainment venue
Pictured (L-R)at the groundbreaking event are Tommy Cole and Michael Johnson, both of Linbeck Group, LLC; Mike Goodrum and Jim Callaway, both of the City of Sugar Land; David Stueckler and Craig Fredrickson, both of Linbeck Group, LLC; Jennifer May and Christopher Steubing, both of the City of Sugar Land; Joe Zimmerman, Steve Porter, Himesh Gandhi, Bridget Yeung, Harish Jajoo, Amy Mitchell and James Thompson, members of Sugar Land City Council; Allen Becker, David Anderson and Gary Becker, all of ACE Theatrical Group; Allen Bogard, of the City of Sugar Land; Sunni Markowitz, Gary Markowitz and Kirk Feldmann, all of ACE Theatrical Group; Gary Martinez, of Martinez+Johnson Architecture; and Adam Ball and Louis Gurwitch, both of ACE Theatrical Group. Construction of Sugar Land’s live entertainment venue began today with a formal groundbreaking southeast of U.S. Highway 59 and University Boulevard. Completion is expected in the fall of 2016. Joining Sugar Land City Council at the event were ACE Theatrical Group, the City’s partner in the development; Martinez+Johnson Architecture; Linbeck Group, LLC, the construction manager; and many other project partners. The live entertainment venue is located on a portion of 38.5 acres of City property that will provide unique destination activities and anchor a mixedused development envisioned
to include retail, office, residential, commercial and entertainment surrounding a vibrant public plaza - an environment that will be attractive to major corporations, residents and visitors. “This project will not only change the landscape of Sugar Land, but the entire metropolitan region,” said Mayor James Thompson. “We are building a facility unlike any other - one that will bring jobs, entertainment and, most importantly, tourism dollars that will support the economic strength of our region, making Sugar Land a destination for culture and entertainment in accordance with a long-held vision of our citi-
zens and City Council.” As one of the most flexible and advanced indoor performance venues in the nation, it’s expected to set a new standard in the touring industry and change the entertainment landscape in the “Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land” metro region. Through the use of innovative moveable walls, Sugar Land’s facility will literally expand and contract to create intimate settings of approximately 3,300 to larger shows of over 6,400 - capable of hosting a wide range of performances, including national music and comedy artists, children’s and family entertainment, theatriSee VENUE, Page 3
U.S. Chamber awards 5-star accreditation to Fort Bend Chamber The United States Chamber of Commerce has awarded the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce with 5-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community. With 7,077 chambers in the United States, 207 of these are accredited with only 82 receiving a 5-Star designation. Accreditation terms are valid for five years. By earning Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a chamber shows its dedication to: •Reviewing, improving, and promoting strong business practices •Recognizing leadership and outstanding contributions to the community •Supporting the principles of free enterprise and promoting pro-growth policies at federal, state, and local levels •Establishing best practices and staying in-step with industry changes “Accreditation validates a chamber as having programs that benefit their local economy and for positively influencing action in their community,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, U.S. Chamber Executive Director of Political Affairs and Federation Relations. “We applaud these organizations for advancing the principles of free enterprise.” Accreditation is the only national program that recognizes
Past Chairman, Stewart Jacobson, left, incoming chairman, Brian Machart, President & CEO, Keri Schmidt and Chairman, Glenn Smith. chambers for their effective Houston region. Meeting the organizational procedures and highest standards in the industry shows that we have estabcommunity involvement. In order to receive Accredi- lished the necessary processes tation, a chamber must meet and measures to bring value minimum standards in their to our membership,” said Keri operations and programs, in- Schmidt, President and CEO cluding areas of governance, of the Fort Bend Chamber of government affairs, and tech- Commerce. nology. “This achievement would This extensive review and not be possible without the audit can take 6-9 months to support of our members and complete. 5-Star Accreditation the leaders in our community, is awarded to those chambers as well as the fantastic culture that have gone above and be- and team we have established yond the minimum standards. within the Chamber office. The “Being recognized as one of 5-Star designation illuminates the top chambers in the nation Fort Bend is a significant honor. We are County as a place with a extremely proud to be the only thriving economy and commu5-Star chamber in the Greater nity, a place that the Fort Bend See STAR, Page 3