Missouri City property owners will get their say on the 2026 tax rate at a public hearing scheduled for Monday, Sept. 21, after the City Council designated the proposed maximum ad valorem rate at its Monday, Aug. 17 regular meeting.

Chief Financial Officer Rhonda Smith presented the tax rate item alongside a certified tax roll showing the city's 2026 taxable value in Fort Bend County at $12.58 billion, up from $12.38 billion in 2025. The city also holds roughly $758 million in taxable value in Harris County. The 2025 adopted rate was $0.570825 per $100 of assessed value, split between $0.455029 for maintenance and operations and $0.115796 for debt service.

The specific maximum rate proposed for 2026 was not listed in the meeting agenda. Under Texas law, designating a maximum rate triggers a mandatory public hearing before the council can formally adopt a final number.

Fort Bend Central Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Jordan T. Wise certified the roll on July 13, covering 34,838 accounts with a total market value of $14.16 billion. Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen P. Turner certified a 100% anticipated collection rate on July 7.

Sienna zoning heard on second reading

The council considered the second and final reading of a zoning ordinance for roughly 57 acres in the Sienna Management District, as we reported Aug. 5 when the first reading advanced. Interim Director of Development Services Stori Nuri presented the item, which establishes commercial retail uses, including office, restaurant, bakery and retail space, with architectural standards for a gateway mixed-use concept at Fort Bend Parkway and Sienna Parkway.

School safety mutual aid and COPS grants

Fire Chief Mario Partida presented a Mutual Aid Agreement with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office for school safety response planning at Fort Bend County primary and secondary schools. The agreement falls under House Bill 33, the "Uvalde Strong Act," which took effect Sept. 1, 2025, and requires annual active shooter response planning between officers and school officials.

Five federal grant applications followed. Recognition and Compliance Coordinator Rachel Murray presented four to the Community Oriented Policing Services Office covering recruitment, unmanned aerial systems, violent crime enforcement and crisis response training, plus one cybercrime enforcement grant through the Office on Violence Against Women.

Contracts on the consent agenda totaled more than $700,000, including $208,600 for HUB International insurance services, $150,000 for holiday lighting at City Hall and city monuments, $116,352 for electrical infrastructure at City Hall, a $187,667 increase to the Ziegler Cooper parks building contract and $50,000 for a police and fire compensation study by Logic Compensation Group.

Director of Public Works Mustafa Albassam also presented a TxDOT agreement to upgrade the FM 2234 and Buffalo Run/Scanlin Road intersection from a span wire signal to a mast arm.

The Sept. 21 public hearing on the tax rate will be held at City Hall, 1522 Texas Parkway.