Convenience Big Store: 5 must-see murals around Montgomery County

The Woodlands sets no-new-revenue property tax rate, approves $157.3 million budget

Homeowners in The Woodlands will have a tax rate of 17.14 cents per $100 property valuation next year, leading to $45.4 million in estimated township revenue — the lowest since before 2019.

The Woodlands approved its proposed budget of $157.3 million for 2024 last week, implementing a no-new-revenue property tax rate while funding new law enforcement, park and reforestation plans.

Here's a look at what will be on the 2024 budget, if officially adopted Sept. 7:

13 new law enforcement officers, including six Town Center officers and two crisis intervention officers with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. The Montgomery County Constable's Office will have three new Safe Harbor detectives, while the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office will have three new Creekside Park officers.
$3.57 million in ongoing park improvements.
A $412,000 pathway connection between North Millbend and Wild Ridge Drive
$2 million in additional funds for the fire department's new Fire Station 5

The Woodlands also discussed setting aside $8 million in hotel tax reserves to potentially fund a new performing arts center. For the first time, the township publicly discussed the recently-acquired 208 acres of future parkland, which it has named South Gosling, as well as a potential new trolley route to the Grogan's Mill Village Center.

Read more about what's on next year's budget here.

What else would you like to see funded by the township? Let me know at claire.partain@houstonchronicle.com.

Claire Partain, Suburban reporter producer

Claire.Partain@houstonchronicle.com

Education

Sunlight streams into one of the hallways at Highland Heights Elementary on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 in Houston.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer

Several Texas laws impacting Houston schools will take effect this year

Texas lawmakers passed several new state laws affecting education this year. Here's a look at the policies on vaping, library books and police staffing that apply to Houston-area schools.

Growing The Woodlands

Construction workers continue progress on additional lanes along Texas 105, taking water and rest breaks under a large, blue tent on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 in Conroe.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

County plans road projects with $56M in unused TxDOT funding

Montgomery County is moving closer to using $56 million in escrow funds from the county's pass-through toll program with the state for road projects.

Need to Know

Ann Snyder, chairman of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, leads a meeting of The Woodlands Township, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, in The Woodlands.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Meet The Woodlands township's 7 board of directors candidates

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Woodlands Symphony Orchestra artistic director Darryl Bayer returns for the second year to the Woodlands Renaissance Faire Sept. 23

Photo by: Courtesy Of Woodlands Symphony Orchestra

2nd annual Renaissance Faire returns to The Woodlands

Before a few members of The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra bring their bugles and trumpets to the Texas Renaissance Festival, the orchestra gets the spotlight at The Woodlands' own renaissance faire.

Openings and Closings

It has been personally confirmed that the Taco Bell of my late-night craving dreams has officially reopened (lobby only) on 650 Sawdust Rd.

Shout out

Shout out to this 'cool front' for a few drops of rain and, for the first time in 35 days, high temperatures that are expected to stay under 100 degrees all week.

That comes after Houston tied for its all-time high of 109 degrees for the second time this summer on Sunday.

One last thing …

Home values have finally cooled in the Houston area and have even dropped slightly when compared to one year ago. Prices rose by at least one percent in each zip code of The Woodlands but still remained stable when compared to the pandemic craze.

Check out home values in each zip code in Houston with our interactive tracker.