Missouri City man sentenced for trafficking - Page 2
The Bush Broncos and Ridge Point Panthers took early control of 20-6A with wins last week. Read about how they did so in our high school recap on Page 10. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
WEDNESDAY • OCTOBER 13, 2021
Another solar project joining local market By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
A new, $140 million solar facility could go online in Fort Bend County starting in the summer of 2022, joining a burgeoning list of solar projects in the region, according to the county. Fort Bend County commissioners recently approved a tax abatement agreement revision on 700 acres of land within Fort Bend County Reinvestment Zone No. 23 that will soon become home for the Cutlass Solar project, according to county documents. The county first signed a tax incentive agreement with the developers behind Cutlass Solar in May 2019, but the newest agreement comes after the developer decided to split the project into two phases, according to county documents. Advanced Power, a global developer of modern power projects, one day hopes to build a 140-megawatt electric-generating facility on an 1,800-acre site in the far southwest part of Fort Bend County, near Fairchilds, that will begin commercial operations in the summer of 2022, according to the company. “Cutlass is one of the largest, non-recourse, merchant solar financings and is the first project of Advanced Power’s +1 GW solar development pipeline to reach financial close and start of construction,” said Jonathan Winslow, Advanced Power’s COO of development, in a news release. The second phase of the project, which was subject to the tax abatement revision, will begin construction in December 2022 and complete in December 2023, according to county documents. The project will include a minimum investment of $140 million. As part of the agreement, the developer will receive a tax abatement that increases from 35 percent in the first year up to 90 percent in the final year, according to county documents. In order to receive the abatement, the owner must provide certified statements showing at least $70 million in project costs, according to county documents. Once complete, the facility will generate enough electricity to power more than 50,000 homes, according to Advanced Power. Cutlass is not the first solar project planned for Fort Bend County. Acciona, a Spanish-based renewable energy company, earlier this year began construction on a $258 million solar farm in Fort Bend County. Acciona officials have said they hope the plant will be operation in 2022, according to a news release.
County's cities eligible for opioid settlement money By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Missouri City could be eligible for up to $209,633 for opioid addiction treatment after joining a settlement agreement involving many communities across Texas, including at least one other in Fort Bend County. The city council last
week decided to opt into a settlement involving the state of Texas and several major producers of opioids, including Johnson & Johnson, Cardinal Health and McKesson, among others. As part of that settlement agreement, local cities give up the ability to sue the companies in the future, and receive a portion of money based on how many cities sign up.
At least one other Fort Bend County city – Rosenberg – has also
opted into the settlement, though several other cities are eligible to do so. But how much of a problem are opioids in the county? For all of the attention the opioid crisis has garnered in some communities across the country, finding solid data and information locally is harder to come across. If opioid addiction is a serious issue in Fort Bend
County, it’s not clear who’s studied the issue in depth. “HHS does not currently have staff versed in that arena,” said Rita Obey, communications manager for Fort Bend County Health & Human Services, which typically oversees the county’s response to major health issues,
SEE OPIOID PAGE 8
Deferred maintenance
Cutline (Photo by Matt deGrood) Current and former leaders in Stafford are sounding the alarm over the city's financial situation, arguing that property taxes may be needed to pay for more than $36 million in outstanding capital projects such as road maintenance, which is an issue in places such as the Stafford/Sugar Land border. (Photo by Matt deGrood)
Concern grows over state of Stafford’s finances By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
It’s usually the first thing most people learn about the place – Stafford is the city without a property tax. Ever since Leonard Scarcella – the longest-serving mayor in America before his death in June 2020 – eliminated the tax in 1995, the city has generated revenue primarily through sales tax, permits and other fees, contrary to the vast majority of Texas cities.
That fact has become a point of pride for many Staffordians, with the city’s own tagline declaring itself the “city with no city property taxes,” and has helped draw many businesses to town over the years. But in recent months, a growing number of current and former elected leaders have sounded alarm bells over the state of Stafford’s financial well-being, arguing that if major changes don’t come soon, the council may have no choice but to ask for a property tax to pay for more
than $36 million in outstanding capital projects. “If we don’t plan for the future, eventually we’re going to be in a position where we have to do a property tax to pay for bonds,” said AJ Honore, a former councilman from 2014 to 2019. “We’ve taken on debt the last three or four years. No one wants to admit the condition the city is in.” Wen Guerra, a longtime city councilmember, took it a step farther than Honore. “We are at a crossroads,” Guerra said. “If another
budget shows up that looks anything like this year’s, I’m going to vote against it. We have got to make some kind of adjustment.” Not everyone agrees with Honore, however. Mayor Cecil Willis, for instance, said the current city budget is based on sound principles, that the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t hurt the city’s sales tax revenues as much as expected and that those questioning the city’s finances are doing so for political reasons. “The budget is balanced and our two fund balances
are higher than they’ve been in three years,” Willis said. “As long as the foundation of Stafford is there, we’re good to go.” No new taxes Most cities in Texas fund their operations through a variety of different measures, including property and sales taxes, permits, charges and other fees. Stafford in 1995 under the leadership of thenMayor Scarcella became one of the largest cities in
SEE STAFFORD PAGE 11
Childcare program expands with $2 million in new funding By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 46 • No. 8
Fort Bend County has added $2 million in federal funding to a program that has already helped cover some childcare costs for more than 300 families. County Judge KP George last week announced he’d added additional funding to
the program, under which qualified families can receive a voucher for up to $500 for as many as three children per family, according to the county. The voucher can be used at childcare facilities in the county that are licensed and participating. It is a onetime voucher. The county initially set about $250,000 aside for the program in March 2020,
shortly after the federal government passed the first stimulus package related to the coronavirus pandemic. That funding has already gone to support more than 300 families and paid for childcare for more than 500 children, according to George. Applicants must be Fort Bend County residents, must have a child under
13 years old and must meet other income criteria and seen a loss of income because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to receive a voucher, according to the county. The county opened a portal for new applicants on Monday at https://www. coronavirusfortbend.gov/ com mu n it y- r e sou r ce s/ education-and-childcare-resources/childcare-voucher-program/.
George
JERRY FLOWERS
Real Estate Agent, MBA, CNE, ABE Army Veteran (RET) • 832-702-5241 Jerry@dreamhomesbyjerry.com
4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478