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Commissioners court looking to address homelessness By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
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FBISD mulling $1.2 billion bond referendum By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
At the end of a marathon regular meeting that ended past 1 a.m. Tuesday, the Fort Bend ISD board voted 6-1 to postpone voting on a proposed bond referendum until a special called meeting on Friday. The board faces a Saturday deadline to approve a bond measure in order to get it on the May 6 ballot. District officials, after taking advice from consultants, are recommending a $1.2 billion bond initiative for capital projects, including the construction of new schools and the rebuilding of others, as well as long-deferred maintenance of facilities throughout the district. The $1.2 billion figure was one most board members were leaning toward in discussions during the meeting. three other possible proposals were also presented by administration officials. The most conservative, at $998.5 million, was rejected even by the two trustees who were most vocal about keeping the bond proposal under $1 billion, Judy Dae and David Hamilton. Two higher scenarios at $1.4 billion and $1.6 billion, would include a new natatorium for the district and a new transportation facility. Deputy Superintendent Steven Bassett and chief financial officer Bryan Guinn laid out in detail how each of the proposals would affect the district's income and savings tax rate, with the two lowest adding one cent, the third highest three cents, and the highest five cents. The current ad valorem tax rate of $1.1346 for maintenance and operations would remain unchanged. Much discussion centered !""#!&X4E%$%&"#'
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Fort Bend County may soon consider getting into the business of helping people who are without housing in a much more concerted way. During the February 7 meeting of Commissioners Court, there was a lengthy discussion about one item involving the use of funds from the federal HOMEAmerican Rescue Plan
Allocation Plan, which was created by a Congressional act passed and signed into law in 2021 that set aside $5 billion to address the homelessness problem nationwide. In earlier public comments, Fulshear Mayor Aaron Groff, executive director of the nonprofit organization Abigail's Place, spoke on behalf of that organization and several other area nonprofits: At!""#UVMDWD44%$%&"#'
Freedom rings
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Renovation of Missouri City's Freedom Tree moving ahead By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
With the last piece of the puzzle now in place, Missouri City is soon to embark on a project to renovate and greatly expand Freedom Tree Park, which pays homage to the summer day in 1865 when
enslaved people at the former Palmer Plantation learned that they were free. According to the historical marker placed at the park, the Palmer Plantation was founded by planter and Texas state official Edward Palmer in 1860. After the death of Palmer and later his wife,
the plantation was owned by their teenage daughter, Bettie. After the end of the Civil War and the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston (now honored as the federal holiday Juneteenth), a white overseer and Ed Graves, one of the slaves at the Palmer Plantation, gath-
ered the remaining slaves underneath the large oak tree to announce that they were now free. They would be able to continue working the on the property, with a portion of the crops as compensation. Among the items the facilities bond referendum approved by Missouri City voters in 2021 was a $3.5
million item for the renovation of Freedom Tree Park, which has gained more public notice in recent years, according to District B Councilman Jeffrey Boney. The tree is located in the smaller portion of the present park, tucked !""#LHDD%$%&"#'
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