Whew, with property taxes paid, we now only have the national and state budget shortfalls to face. Expect the issues regarding taxes, spending, health care and insurance, entitlement programs, energy and electricity, water, transportation, elementary, secondary and higher education, effective justice, property rights and tort reform to be among the hot issues. Expect to see red for a while until everyone can get their hands around what is really needed and necessary.

February is the month restaurants, florists, card shops and candy makers love to plan. Yes, this year it can still be in our budget. The colors red and white are generally the theme carried out in most stores. February is also National Engineer’s Week and National Heart month.

Texas’ pro-growth, low tax environment has been critical in making Texas and Fort Bend county the powerhouses they are today. Texas and Fort Bend lead the nation in overall economic growth, job creation, low unemployment rate and Fortune 500 companies. Fort Bend is ranked No 1 in employment growth in the United States according to the U.S. Department of Labor. It’s the fastest growing county in Greater Houston. Fort Bend has consistently ranked in the Top 3% of the nation’s counties in five key demographic measurements. Fort Bend can also be proud of its regional leadership in secondary education and its exceptionally educated and skilled resident workforce is proof that it’s a hot place to live, work and play. Texas and Fort Bend are leading examples of successful diversity in the community and the workplace.

For nearly 20 years, Fort Bend has been in the Top 20 counties in the United States for economic excellence and population growth. That is not expected to change. After all, we stay right in the heart of the matter.

Keep those cash registers ringing,

Sharon K. Wallingford