Fort Bend County sets budget hearing, accepts veterans mental health grant and shifts meeting schedule

Fort Bend County Chair KP Georgi on Aug. 26 summarized several administrative actions taken by the Commissioner's Court, including acceptance of a $150,000 Texas Veterans Commission grant for veterans mental health counseling, setting a public hearing on the fiscal year 2026 county budget with a proposed 2025 tax rate of 41.2¢, and a schedule change for regular meetings beginning Oct. 9.

Georgi, who delivered the recap, said the $150,000 grant “comes at no cost to the county” and is intended to continue mental health clinical counseling for veterans. She said the county accepted the award during the meeting.

Why it matters: the items affect county services, election access and public notice rules. The meeting-schedule change is reported to implement a state law requirement to post agendas three business days in advance; the budget hearing and tax-rate proposal set the timetable for public review ahead of the fall fiscal process.

Among the administrative items Georgi highlighted, the Commissioner's Court:

- Accepted a $150,000 grant from the Texas Veterans Commission to continue clinical mental health counseling for veterans.

- Set a public hearing on the fiscal year 2026 county budget and announced a proposed 2025 tax rate of 41.2¢ (as stated by Georgi; she also referenced “12,000 of assessed value” without specifying the base for that figure).

- Announced that, starting Oct. 9, regular Commissioner's Court meetings will move from Tuesdays to Thursdays at 1 p.m., citing a new state law, identified in the meeting as House Bill 1522, that requires agendas be posted three business days in advance.

- Appointed new members to the county’s citizens’ redistricting advisory committee to assist with representation planning.

- Updated the early voting plan for the Nov. 4, 2025 election and added two early-voting locations: Tompkins High School and Beasley City Hall.

- Approved an affiliation agreement with Brazosport College to provide paramedic students opportunities to train with the county’s EMS professionals.

- Set a public hearing on proposed changes to food-establishment fees, noting the change aligns with Senate Bill 1008 as referenced in the meeting.

- Announced a partnership with the Houston-Galveston Area Council to offer free-fare Fridays on public transportation in Fort Bend County throughout September in observance of Ozone Action Month.

Several of the items Georgi summarized are procedural steps (setting hearings, appointments, and agreements) rather than final policy adoptions. Georgi identified the items during a recorded recap of the court’s Aug. 26 meeting; the transcript did not include vote tallies, mover/second details, or additional discussion for most items. Where the meeting did state a legal reference, Georgi named House Bill 1522 (meeting schedule/agenda posting) and Senate Bill 1008 (food-establishment fees).

The court also noted two ceremonial proclamations — one recognizing the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF) and another honoring individuals — which Georgi mentioned as recognitions rather than policy actions.

The county said offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 1, for Labor Day. Georgi closed the recap by encouraging residents to stay engaged.