From FB Star: City Sells New Taxing Zone To City & County Residents/Taxpayers Near City Limits In Prime Commercial Area--

Missouri City approves TIRZ for Sienna area lifestyle center

By Barbara Fulenwider

The first official step to start Missouri City’s lifestyle center at Sienna Plantation was taken with Missouri City Council’s approval on first reading of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 3.

The action came at their Nov. 19 meeting after David Hawes, with Hawes Hill Calderon LLP, outlined what the development can do for Missouri City. And it’s a lot. He told council that the purpose of the TIRZ is to “bring about a higher value development than might otherwise occur but for creation of the zone” and that it will include a hospital, retail, offices, high density-residential, a county library, Houston Community College (HCC).... (click the title link for the full one sided story that doesn't mention the nearly 30 million requested from taxpayers for these projects, many already receiving tax funding).

--No one can accuse FBS of balanced reporting. Not a single quote from neutral or opposition grass-roots tax advocate groups on the redirection of county & city tax dollars to these private Houston corporation projects. The article also does not mention how long before the 4 to 5000 homes in this neighborhood will be annexed and the city will gain from the property taxes of conservatively nearly a billion dollars in property value. See this piece for a balanced report on the politics of reinvestment zones and how they are supposed to be used (http://www.fortbendnow.com/opinion/2801).

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MCC/CRD Comment:

Not mentioned in this article is the reason TIRZs were created. See this FBN piece from April of this year on these controversial taxing zones often used by politicians for big development companies at the expense of taxpayers:

http://www.fortbendnow.com/opinion/2801/the-politics-of-land-development-and-tax-breaks

CITY ELECTIONS ARE COMING, hang on to your hats!


(c) Calvin 2007

FortBendNow Announces Expansion!--click this title link--

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Missouri City, With Less Population Than Sugar Land, Touts Higher Crime Frequency (Actually MC has the highest frequency of crime in Fort Bend County)

According to the FBI/UCR, Missouri City, without counting crime in its ETJ, has the highest frequency of crime in Fort Bend County.....click this title link for more on this story from FortBendNow.com

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Chron: Community Upset At Recent FBISD Board Vote To Reduce Community Input On Zoning!

Fort Bend ISD parents want greater role in rezoning
School board trims procedure, forms committee
By ZEN T. C. ZHENG
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Some parents, community activists and a school board trustee are upset with a Fort Bend Independent School District decision to reduce the number of public meetings from three to one on annual plans to redraw attendance zones.

"It's extremely disappointing. They're taking away the taxpayers' right to participate in the process. That shows the district doesn't want to foster good will with the community," said Rosalia Guerrero, a member of the Concerned Citizens Group, a district watchdog organization formed in 2006 during rezoning that stirred strong public protest.

Stan Magee, the lone board trustee against the new policy proposed by the administration, also questioned the administration's practice of crafting a policy for the board to adopt.

Guerrero, a Sugar Land resident, said she was disappointed by the rest of the board.

"They were elected to represent the community and supposed to work for the community more and not less. But they were doing just the opposite," she said. . . (click the title link for more)

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MCC comment/opinion:

This decision by all but 1 of the BOT members would seem to defy the promises made for more open forums and public input during the recent bond campaign. Is this what our new superintendent and board has in store?

Chronicle: County Library At Sienna Plantation Hits A Snag--

A project for a new library in the Sienna Plantation area hit a road bump Tuesday as Fort Bend County officials decided not to approve construction documents until the Houston Community College System agrees to pitch in more for the joint venture.


Click the title link for the entire story--

Developer Gets Go Ahead On Another Reinvestment Zone In Missouri City (In prime commercial area) Possibly Passing The Buck To County & City Taxpayers!

Click the title link for the full story...

FB & Sugar Land Sun: Special Interest Backed Mayor Allen Owen Opponents Have Something In Common (click title link for more)--

Missouri City residents Noel Pinnock and Kevin Tunstall have quite a bit in common.

They live in the same neighborhood. They both ran for public office - Pinnock for the Fort Bend Independent School District Board of Trustees, Tunstall for the Missouri City council. Both are known vocal critics of the recently passed FBISD bond proposal. And at the end of last month, they were both victims of ATM theft totaling close to $1,000 each. Both are convinced they were specifically targeted because of their political stance.


The thefts occurred in Austin, and according to Tunstall, all withdrawals happened within a 3-square-mile radius. The amounts were the same, although Pinnock lost less because he realized the thefts were occurring before Tunstall. According to authorities, the withdrawals were made using bank cards and PIN codes - bank cards the victims say never left their wallets.

"I find it more than strange, more of a strategic attempt, if you will," said Pinnock. "That's just my opinion. My speculation is someone has access to the bank database. Someone, or some people, or some group."

"If it just happened to one of us, I could chalk it up to coincidence," said Tunstall. "Once it happened to two, it smacks of collusion." . . .

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Comment: Several other pro-bond accountability & improved representation (through SMD) committee members where also being harassed during this same 3 week campaign period. Hopefully Travis County authorities will get to the bottom of these criminal activities...

Precinct 1 Commissioners Race Heats Up: Click on the title link for the full story...

ABC13 Covers Growing Controversy At Sienna Crossing in Sienna Plantation!

Click the title link for the full story...

FBW Reports On FBISD Accountability (click the title link for more)-

From The Fort Bend/Sugar Land Sun: Pinnock calls for input from the public on bond accountability!

In a recent front-page article in the Fort Bend Sun Noel Pinnock, considering a run for a Missouri City council seat in '08, was quoted by sources as stating " Over one third of the voters voted against the FBISD bond, which is an indication that there is some concern with the way FBISD handles their business with how it relates to previous bonds, that being said, it is incumbent upon the entire district to continue their involvement throughout the life cycle of the current bond to ensure they are held accountable to the taxpayers and, most importantly, our children."

Mr. Pinnock, earlier in the year, called for improved representation through the institution of single-member school districts, which he continues to support along with other community leaders and numerous elected officials. FBISDWatch has strongly endorsed this position too.

--Get the full story at: http://www.fortbendsouthwestsun.com

Stay tuned as we follow these ongoing district issues impacting our classrooms and children!

SLAPP-suit Victory Being Reported From FBISDWatch!

Follow the title link above for the full story....

After 2 Years MUD-ECO Scandal Criminal Case Moves Forward-click title link for full FBN story-

Sienna Developer Seeking Taxpayer Support To Develope Town Center!

This just in:

Sienna Plantation developers want county to provide $13.6 million

Money would help pay for costs of infrastructure for town center

By ZEN T. C. ZHENG
Houston Chronicle

Planners of a proposed town center in the Sienna Plantation area are seeking Fort Bend County's participation, which would obligate the county to pitch in $13.6 million from property tax revenues.

That amount represents 15 percent of the total $90.5 million cost to build public infrastructure, mainly roads, for the project proposed roughly between Texas 6 and McKeever Road along Sienna Parkway at the northern entrance to the Sienna Plantation development. . . click the link above for the full story.

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MCC comment: Apparently passing costs to taxpayers on big development projects is the norm in TX. I would suggest anyone interested in further information on reinvestment zones in prime commercial areas to look at the campaign finance reports for our Missouri City officials (council members) and County Commissioners to see which development companies are regular contributors. This is generally a good guide as to how they end up voting for projects like this.






(c) 2007 Calvin

From FortBendWeb: Chronicle Reports On 20 Year Tax Gift To Missouri City Relocating Company!

After voting a tax increase on home & property owners in September Missouri City council gives relocating company 20 year tax abatement (before QV golf course purchase).

-----Click title link above for the FBW post of chron story...

Missouri City grants tax abatement for food distribution center
Ben E. Keith company promises 210 initial job

By KAREN HASTINGS
Chronicle Correspondent

Missouri City council members on Monday unanimously approved tax breaks through the year 2027 for what it expects will be the mostly residential community's newest and largest business employer ever....

See this link for more:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/5276560.html

Also get FBISD record bond results below:

http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/3514/fort-bend-isd-bond-favored-2-1-in-early-voting#cpreview

http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com/2007/11/fbn-reports-record-fbisd-bond-proposal.html

http://missouricitychatter.blogspot.com/2007/11/record-bond-proposal-approved-by-voters.html

Record FBISD Bond Proposal Approved By Voters!

Click the title link for more comments...

FBN Reports: Special Interest Very Much Involved With Pushing This Bond--

Click the title link for the full piece...

Election Special Repost: MCC Formally Endorses Improved Representation & Accountability and Thus Opposes The '07 Record FBISD Bond/tax --VOTE Today--

MCC Formally Endorses Improved Representation & Accountability and Thus Opposes The '07 Record FBISD Bond!

With recent endorsements from the EDC, Chamber of Commerce and some local newspapers supporting the record FBISD bond, we here at MissouriCityChatter, after investigating extensively the proposal and attending the bond sales meetings have decided not enough accountability currently exist in the bond process to support a measure of this magnitude that will increase Fort Bend County residents taxes, on an average home, by about 11 cents per 100k valuation.

This week in the FB Sun article supporting the bond, the paper was quoted as reporting that our county is already one of the most highly taxed areas of the state. The second largest city in FBC (Missouri City) recently voted in an estimated 5.4% tax increase and mobility bonds and other county bonds were added to the tax rolls too in '06-'07 (with our commissioners giving themselves nearly a 15% raise just last year). Many families are already living check to check and further increases by our elected officials could have detrimental effect on hundreds of home and property owners, perhaps more, in our community.

Until the school district and other taxing entities seek authentic bond accountability with improved voter/taxpayer representation (for FBISD through single-member districts and BOT policies) MCC will continue to vigorously oppose this bond with the FBISDWatchDogs. . .(click title link to get more extensive background on this from fbisdwatch).

Stay informed and keep in touch!

Humor from another local pol. blog--click the title link to read more....

Click the title link for a good read from a fellow blogger....

Also see this KMBBB.com post on the Bond/Bank scam at: http://www.kissmybigbluebutt.com/#November_2


Stay informed and keep in touch!

FBN: Questions Fly In Banking Scam!

Click the title link to get more....

Chronicle Reports on FBISD Bond: Renovation cost concerns some critics

Follow the title link above for the entire story...

From FBISDWatch: Bond Promotion Presents Potential Conflicts For FBISD Superintendent!

Potential conflicts with TEC reported this morning via record bond promotion in this FBISDWatch report...(click the title link for more).