Howdy WHA Members!
September’s county budget debates brought a familiar tension into sharp focus. Harris County approved a higher property tax rate as it addressed a budget shortfall, while Fort Bend County reduced its rate to provide some relief to taxpayers. The decisions moved in different directions, but both raise a question that matters across Greater West Houston: how do we keep public costs manageable while paying for the infrastructure and services a growing region needs?
That question will follow us into the November elections and the next legislative session. Voters and candidates may disagree about tax rates and spending, but roads, drainage, water supply, and public safety still require decisions that extend well beyond an election cycle. State policies also shape what local governments can fund and how they can respond to growth. WHA’s role is to keep the practical consequences of those choices in view and help public and private partners work through them together.
A broader debate over data centers offers another example. Across Texas, political leaders are weighing the economic opportunities these facilities bring against their demands on power, water, and local infrastructure. Those are questions WHA members already ask of many kinds of development: what capacity is available, what new investment is needed, who pays for it, and how will the surrounding community benefit? As the political conversation evolves, those practical questions deserve careful answers.
Meanwhile, growth on the western edge of our region continues. Plans announced in September for a community of approximately 1,130 homes near Waller and major retail development along the Grand Parkway in Cypress show why decisions about infrastructure timing cannot wait until every lot is occupied and every storefront is open. Coordination among counties, cities, special districts, developers, and utilities is what allows those investments to serve both new and existing communities.
On October 7, WHA’s Public Officials & Awards Reception will bring many of those partners together to recognize leadership and projects advancing quality growth. I am especially pleased that we will honor Marlene Gafrick as our 2026 Star of Excellence for her decades of service to planning and development in our region. I hope you will join us at the Junior League of Houston.
Our committees will continue examining the issues behind these headlines throughout October. Education & Workforce meets October 2 to continue discussion on the educational village in Katy; Flood Control & Drainage meets October 7 and will be discussing HUDs funds extension and how we can best support projects getting to completion; Government Affairs meets October 12 to finalize our 2027 legislative agenda; Sustainable Infrastructure meets October 13 to discuss their 2027 forum and potential Sustainability Stars projects; Water Resources meets October 15 to continue discussions on water reuse; Regional Mobility meets October 21 to discuss TIA challenges; and Quality Planned Development meets October 28 to review potential changes to the QPD recognition program. Rather than hold its regular meeting this month, our Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces Committee will tour Mandolin Gardens Park on October 23.
On November 13, our West Houston Trails Forum will explore how we can better connect parks, neighborhoods, and destinations as the region grows. Greater West Houston has valuable parks and trails, but gaps between them can limit their usefulness. A regional network could give residents more ways to reach schools, community facilities, and open spaces while making better use of corridors associated with drainage and new development. Connecting those pieces will require cooperation across jurisdictional and property boundaries, and the opportunity to preserve a route is often greatest before surrounding land is developed. I hope you will join us for this discussion with Commissioner Leslie Briones, Houston Parks Board CEO Justin Schultz, and Barron Wallace from Bracewell, to plot out a road map for moving forward!
Political priorities will change, and budgets will always involve tradeoffs. Our responsibility is to keep working across boundaries so Greater West Houston has the infrastructure, connections, and long-term planning it needs. Thank you for being part of that work.
Alan Steinberg
President & CEO
West Houston Association