Need to catch up on local government and education news from March? Check out six stories that impact residents in the Spring-Klein area.
This list is not comprehensive.
Harris County looks to increase capacity of public defenders, assigned counsel in criminal courts
As part of Harris County’s ongoing goal to reform its criminal justice system, county leaders want to expand the capabilities of public attorneys who represent criminal defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, known as indigent cases.
March data from the Public Defender’s Office shows public attorneys have been appointed to about 15% of felony indigent cases and 30% of misdemeanor cases so far this year. However, county leaders want the office to be able to take on half of all indigent cases in the legal system.
To do so, officials told commissioners they will need more funding for increased staffing and expanded services over the next several years.
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Local water authority moves forward with Spring-area surface water conversion
The North Harris County Regional Water Authority on March 3 moved forward on a final design for Project Series 39, a Spring-area project designed to help the district catch up with a mandated 60% groundwater reduction plan.
As part of a regional effort to reduce groundwater usage, the Houston-Galveston Subsidence District, or HGSD, in 1999 mandated water providers to convert to primarily surface water sources to combat land sinking—otherwise known as subsidence.
The authority was required to have no more than 70% of its total water usage come from groundwater sources by 2010. By the end of 2025, the authority was supposed to have reduced total groundwater usage to only 40%.
However, NHCRWA officials said the agency has only been able to convert around 35%-38% of its total water users from groundwater since 2010—roughly 22% below the required 60% use reduction set for 2025.
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Klein ISD adds new security measures following campus safety concerns
Klein ISD officials announced a number of security enhancements going into effect March 23 following three separate incidents at different campuses involving firearms over the course of a single week.
However, parents are advocating for additional steps, including a third-party security audit for the district.
Klein ISD officials said the new improvements include:
- Additional law enforcement presence on all campuses
- Increased required random metal detector screenings
- Random searches with partner law enforcement K-9 police units
Explore the full story.New Harris County policy allows labor unions to serve as consultants for county employees
Harris County workers will now have a seat at the table in discussions about workplace regulations, grievances and salaries after commissioners approved a new policy allowing labor organizations to advocate on behalf of county employees—a first for a Texas county.
Commissioners Court passed the Harris County Consultation Policy on March 19 in a 3-1 vote, with Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey as the only dissenting voice. Judge Lina Hidalgo was absent.
Harris County employees will have the option to select a labor union organization to serve as a “consultation agent” on their behalf. Organizations must receive signatures from 20% of eligible county workers to serve as an agent, County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne said.
See more details.
Harris Health gets green light to expand county-run Level I trauma hospital
Following an hours-long March 19 public hearing, Harris County commissioners unanimously approved the acquisition of 8.9 acres of Hermann Park for the expansion of Ben Taub Hospital, one of only two adult Level I trauma facilities in the county.
The long-awaited vote comes after months of contention about whether or not Harris Health—the county's hospital system—should acquire the land by eminent domain, which grants local governments the legal power to use land for public use.
Commissioners authorized the condemnation March 19 after Harris Health officials confirmed that no "feasible alternative" exists for the $410 million expansion of Ben Taub's campus, located in the Texas Medical Center. Patients from across the Harris County region travel to Ben Taub to receive care, and the hospital regularly exceeds its bed capacity, Community Impact previously reported.
Read on.
Lone Star College System ends fiscal year 2024-25 with $163M net income
Lone Star College System finished fiscal year 2024-25 with a net income of $163 million, after subtracting expenses from revenues, according to LSCS’ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
According to a March 5 presentation to the board, actual totals for FY 2024-25 were:
- $604 million in nonoperating revenues, which include property taxes and state funding
- $563.64 million in operating expenses, which includes educational and auxiliary activities
- $122.68 million for operating revenues, which includes tuition and grants
The district’s FY 2024-25 net income—expenses subtracted from revenues—was $163 million, according to Vienne’s presentation. For FY 2023-24, LSCS’s net income was $103 million.
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