Rick J. Staigle

The event centered on the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Black Cowboy Museum. Key discussions highlighted the historical significance of black cowboys in agriculture and their influence on American identity. Speakers emphasized the potential economic benefits the project will bring to the region and the importance of preserving local history. The event also acknowledged the project's funding sources, including the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and recognized the contributions of the design, engineering, and construction partners involved.

The town hall meeting focused on the People's Budget initiative for the upcoming fiscal year. Key discussion topics included budget planning priorities, constituent feedback regarding county services such as parks, recreational facilities, senior centers, and infrastructure maintenance. The presentation provided an overview of the county's revenue streams, emphasizing property and sales taxes, and detailed the county's responsibilities, including law enforcement, public health, and emergency services. The session utilized breakout activities to directly gather community input for budget development.

The town hall meeting focused on the county's participatory budgeting process, explaining how residents can provide feedback to inform general fund budget priorities. Key topics included an overview of county services such as law enforcement, infrastructure, public safety, and senior services. Attendees participated in an interactive exercise to prioritize budget allocations, with discussions highlighting the importance of parks, walkability, behavioral health, and library services.

This Investment Policy for Fort Bend County establishes comprehensive guidelines and procedures for the prudent and systematic investment of county funds, ensuring compliance with federal and state laws, including the Public Funds Investment Act. The policy prioritizes the safety of principal and maintenance of adequate liquidity, followed by optimizing yield. Key objectives include diversification, maturity management, quality investment management, and transparent disclosure. The policy outlines specific investment strategies and responsibilities to safeguard county assets and achieve financial goals through disciplined investment practices.

This Investment Strategy Statement for Fort Bend County details the framework for investing available funds in compliance with State and Federal Regulations, applicable Bond Resolution requirements, and its adopted Investment Policy. It establishes core priorities including investment suitability, preservation and safety of principal, liquidity, marketability, diversification, and yield. The strategy outlines tailored investment guidelines for General Operating Funds, Construction and Capital Improvement Funds, and Debt Service Funds, aiming to enhance interest earnings and mitigate investment risk while meeting each fund's unique cash flow and liquidity requirements.