[1. Invocation / Pledge of Allegiance;]
[00:00:05]
>> ALL RIGHT. WELCOME TO THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPECIAL MEETING.
WE DO NOT HAVE A PASTOR TO DO A PRAYER THIS MORNING OR THIS AFTERNOON. WE WILL TAKE A VOLUNTEER FROM THE BOARD, IF ANYONE. DR. SNYDER.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN BUNCH. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL BLESS THIS MEETING THIS EVENING.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED ON EACH OF US, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTY, OUR STATE, AND OUR COUNTRY. PLEASE GUIDE US TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE WOODLANDS.
WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US WISDOM IN OUR DECISION-MAKING.
WE ASK ALL OF THIS IN YOUR SON JESUS' NAME.
>> I'LL TAKE THE PLEDGES TO OUR FLAGS.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER DOG, ONE AND INDOES VISIBLE.
>> THIS MEETING WAS POSTED 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
POSTING OCCURRED INSIDE THE TOWNSHIP AT THIS OFFICE BUILDING. FOUR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE REQUIRED FOR ATTENDANCE. I WILL TAKE ROLL.
AND I AM HERE. WE HAVE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS TO TAKE ON OUR AGENDA.
[3. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the meeting agenda;]
I DO HAVE A REQUEST TO MOVE AGENDA ITEM 11 UP IN FRONT OF AGENDA ITEM SIX. WE WILL TAKE EXECUTIVE SESSION PRIOR TO GETTING INTO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTED CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA?
>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> I SECOND.
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.
>> ALL RIGHT. ITEM FOUR IS RECOGNIZING PUBLIC OFFICIALS. SEEING NONE AND HAVING NONE
[5. Public comment;]
SIGNED UP, WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA FIVE.OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL START WITH VIVIAN
FRIDAYLEY HEREFORD. >> THAT IS A MOUTHFUL.
CHECKING THIS WORKS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO, AS AN OLD SPEECH COACH, TO, IF SOMETHING IS REALLY PASSIONATE, I CAN GET TOO LOUD. TELL ME IF I GET TOO LOUD IF I START CARRYING ON. GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS VIVIAN HEREFORD. I HAVE LIVED IN THE WOODLANDS SINCE 1991 EXCEPT FOR A SHORT STINT WHEN I WAS WORKING IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. I CURRENTLY LIVE ON 242, THUS THE TOPIC THIS EVENING, THE WIDENING OF 242.
I LIKE TO THANK THE TOWNSHIP BOARD FOR LENDING AN EAR AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AS WELL AS GRACIOUSLY RECEIVING THE MANY E-MAILS I HAVE SENT YOU OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS UPDATING WITH CONCERNS AND DATA. THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SHARING AND GIVING COMMENT ON THEIR CONCERNS.
242 IS ON THE AGENDA. THERE ARE OTHER MATTERS MORE PRESSING. I'M TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REFRESH EVERYONE'S MEMORY. THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ON TEX DOT'S TIMELINE FOR THE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TOP SICK NOT LOST ON THE DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES OF CARING FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE WOODLANDS.
I'M GOING TO GET THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS.
I WILL DOCUMENT THE DETAILS AS WELL AS TALK WAY TOO FAST.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TEX.
>> DOT FOR EXTENDING THE COMMENT PERIOD FOR WIDENING 242.
THEY HAVE LISTENED. DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MR. WILLIAMS, CHAIRMAN MR. BRAGG, AND THREE COMMISSIONERS IN AUSTIN.
I THANK THE REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS ALSO RECEIVED MULTIPLE E-MAILS AS WELL AS SENATOR CRICHTON.
I THANK THE HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA AS WELL AS OUR MONTGOMERY PRECINCT, TWO, MR. RILEY FOR ACCEPTING OUR COMMUNICATIONS.
LET ME GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE. RESIDENTIAL ALONG THE WEST AND EASTBOUND SIDES OF 242. ALSO ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE
[00:05:01]
CREEK. RESIDENTS BETWEEN RESEARCH FOREST AND THE CREEK. RESIDENTS HAVE HAD FLOODWATERS AROUND THEM. ON THE SOUTH SIDE, RESEARCH FOREST SIDE OF THE CREEK HAVE HAD FLOODWATERS INSIDE THEM.THAT IS THE CONCERN FOR FLOODING.
WE HAVE YET TO HEAR ANY DATA ON HOW THREE RETENTION PONDS WILL RESOLVE THE POTENTIAL FLOODING WHEN NUMBER ONE, THE RIVER AUTHORITY MAP SAYS THE BRAIN DRAINAGE AREA WITHIN THE SPRING CREEK WATERSHED AND PANTHER BRANCH CREEK.
HOW IS INCREASED RUNOFF GOING TO IMPACT THE FLOODING UPSTREAM FROM WHERE THIS ENTERS THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN? WE HAVE YET TO SEE WHERE THE LOCAL UTILITY DISTRICT, THE REGIONAL FLOOD PLANNING GROUP, AND THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD HAVE COLLABORATED WITH TEX-DOT FOR FLOOD MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. IT WOULD SEEM LOGICAL FOR SUCH TO OCCUR. IT IS VITAL FOR TEX-DOT TO CONSIDER HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION, THE PARKWAY AND 2978.
AND IT IS VITAL FOR TEX-DOT TO CONSIDER SEVERE DROUGHT AND SEVERE FLOODING FROM CLIMATE CHANGE.
HURRICANES ALWAYS BEING A THREAT.
AND FIVE, NONE OF THE ABOVE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FLOODING PEECIAL FROM WIDENING TO FOUR TO SIX LANES, A WALKWAY, A SAND BARRIER WALL, AND A MEDIAN DRAINAGE DITCH.
AND REMOVAL OF TREES FOR WALKWAY FOR THE SOUND BARRIER WALL.
SAFETY IS THE RESIDENTS' MAJOR CONCERN.
I INVITE YOU TO A SLEEPOVER AT MY HOUSE TO EXPERIENCE LACK OF CONGESTION. MOTHERS HOLDING TODDLER'S HANDS, PARENTS WITH A DOG. KIDS WALKING DOGS, JOGGERS ANXIOUSLY TRYING TO KEEP MOVING. FISHERMEN CROSSING 242 AT WIND VALE CIRCLE. THIS IS THE TRUE MEANING AND THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE WOODLANDS.
AS A NEIGHBORHOOD, ACCESSING THE COMMUNITY POOL, PLAYGROUND, BASKETBALL COURTS, PICNIC AREA, TENNIS COURT, PICKLEBALL AND JOGGING TRAILS. WHILE RARE, I HAVE SEEN A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR CROSSING A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE PAST 11 YEARS. THERE IS A COMPLEX FOR THE DISABLED ALONG WINDVALE CIRCLE. AND THE SPORTS PARK AND COMMUNITY GARDEN JUST DOWN THE STREET.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, JONES STATE PARK JUST HAPPENS TO BE UP... BACK UP TO WINDVALE CIRCLE.
IT IS RIGHT AGAINST IT. PRESERVING OUR PARK IS IMPERATIVE. THERE IS A CONCERN: 242 HAS BEEN WIDENED. THERE IS A DRIVE FROM MASS TRANSIT AND COVID AS WELL AS INFLATION HAVE CHANGED THE WORKFORCE TO REMOTE. FINALLY, THERE IS THE CONCERN FOR PROPERTY VALUE, WILDLIFE CROSSING, DEER AND FOX.
I HAVE PICKED UP FOX ALONG 242. SAFETY, INCREASED TRAFFIC, HIGHER SPEEDS, CARS RECKLESSLY PASSING GIVEN THE WIDER HIGHWAY, AIR QUALITY, TRAFFIC NOISE, AND MAINTAINING ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WOODLANDS. ITS ROADWAYS ARE NOT PASS-THROUGHS. ULTIMATELY, WE ARE LOOKING AT PROTECTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR WHICH WE PURCHASE PROPERTY IN THE WOODLANDS. BOTTOM LINE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ENCOURAGE TX-DOT TO NOT WIDEN 242.
THE CHANGE IS UNNECESSARY. THE RESIDENTS HAVE PROVIDED ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS WHICH TX-DOT IS SUPPOSED TO DO, ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS. I HAVE BROUGHT THE DOCUMENT HERE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A HARD COPY.
BETWEEN I-45 AND GOSLING, CLEAN-UP IS SIX LANES, CLEAR RIGHT OF WAYS AS WELL AS ACCESS TO I-45, DEVELOPING A SIDEWALK TO BRING HARBOR'S LANDING TO THE BUSINESS.
[00:10:04]
BETWEEN GOSLING AND 1488, LEAVE 242 ALONE.IF MITIGATION BETWEEN GOSLING AND 1488 IS DESIRED, PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING OR CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING.
SYNCHRONIZE THE LIGHTS WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE ADDRESSED SOON IF NOT ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF. ADD A SECOND TURNING LANE ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF 242 ON THE BRIDGE.
CREATE A TURNING LANE ON THE SOUTHEAST-BOUND SIDE OF 242 ON THE BRIDGE. DO NOT BUILD A SOUND BARRIER WALL. PLEASE RESEARCH IF IT CAN BE MORE FEASIBLE ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.
I KNOW I HAVE EXCEEDED THREE MINUTES.
HEAR ME FOR 30 MORE SECONDS. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC BEHIND WIDENING 242. THE GROWTH IS ALONG 1488, WEST OF 242. 149 AND 249.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE TX DOT TO FIX THE OBVIOUS.
DO SOME UPGRADING ON 1488 AT I-45.
INSTEAD OF THE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION ON 1488, TO MOVE TRAFFIC ON TO A TRULY CONGESTED I-45 AND MORE CONCRETE NEAR THE RIVER, MASH MARSHLAND, CREEKS, AND JONES STATE PARK, ENCOURAGE TX-DOT TO PUT FUNDS WHERE THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY EXISTS.
BUILD NORTH SOUTHBOUND HIGHWAYS. TO ALLEVIATE THE TRAFFIC.
AS WELL AS FURTHER WEST ON 1488. AND DIRECT THAT TRAFFIC DOWN TO 99, THE GRAND PARKWAY. BUILD A THIRD LOOP AROUND HOUSTON FOR THIS ORIGINAL PURPOSE.
HELP THOSE PEOPLE. ENCOURAGE THEM TO COLLABORATE WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON TO SEE HOW BEST TO DIRECT TRAFFIC IN A CITY WITHOUT OVERBURDENING I-45, ALREADY AT A DAILY STANDSTILL ON 16 AND I-10. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE PRETTY PATIENT ABOUT THIS. WE ARE GOING TO KEEP AFTER IT.
PLEASE HELP US SAVE 242. PLEASE BE A VOICE FOR US.
AND ENCOURAGE ALL THE ENTITIES FOR HIGHWAYS AND FLOAT FLOOD
CONTROL, TO COLLABORATE. >> THE OLD SPEECH COACH HERE.
THANK YOU, VIVIAN. >> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE WILL HAVE BOB. BOB, WE STILL HAVE A THREE-MINUTE REQUIREMENT. YOU CAN SEE WE ARE A LITTLE LAX TONIGHT. DO YOU HAVE HANDOUTS YOU WERE
GOING TO GIVE US A COPY OF? >> HI, GOOD EVENING.
I THINK I'LL KEEP MINE CLOSER TO THREE MINUTES.
I DID HAVE A LOT OF ITENSE I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THIS EVENING. I'M PRETTY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AS WELL. I'M ALSO HERE TO ASK YOU TO USE YOUR INFLUENCE WITH TX-DOT TO STOP THE WIDENING PROJECT.
I MOVED TO THE WOODLANDS IN APRIL TO ESCAPE CONGESTION, THE NOISE, THE UGLY SOUND OF HOUSTON.
I CAME HERE AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE WOODLANDS AND THE BEAUTY. GEORGE MITCHELL'S VISION OF A HOMETOWN WITHIN A NATURAL FOREST.
THIS 242 PROJECT IS GOING TO DESTROY ALL OF THAT.
(INAUDIBLE) (STAND BY FOR CAPTIONS)
[00:15:45]
(STAND BY FOR CAPTIONS) (STAND BY FOR CAPTIONS) (STAND BY FOR CAPTIONS) WE WILL TAKE UP AWE AGENDA ITEM[6. Receive, consider and act upon the Consent Agenda; (This agenda consists of non-controversial or "housekeeping" items required by law. One motion with modifications, if applicable, approves for action, all items contained within the Consent Agenda. Items may be moved from the Consent Agenda to the Regular Agenda by any Board Member making such request prior to a motion and vote.)]
[11. Recess to Executive Session to discuss matters relating to real property pursuant to §551.072, Texas Government Code; deliberation of economic development negotiations pursuant to §551.087, Texas Government Code; discuss personnel matters pursuant to §551.074, Texas Government Code; discuss IT network or critical infrastructure security pursuant to §551.089, Texas Government Code; and to consult with The Woodlands Township’s attorney pursuant to §551.071, Texas Government Code;]
[12. Reconvene in public session;]
SIX. DO WE HAVE A MOTION?>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[7. Receive, consider and act upon an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement by and between Montgomery County, Texas and The Woodlands Township for Supplemental Law Enforcement Services;]
>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THAT WILL PASS. MONIQUE?
[00:20:22]
I'M GOING TO START OFF BY DOING A POWER POINT.
MAKING A POWER POINT PRESENTATION IN REGARDS TO THIS AGENDA ITEM WHICH IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE DOING THIS IS BECAUSE THE TOWNSHIP HAS RECEIVED A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM OUR CITIZENS REGARDING THIS AGREEMENT AND WHAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE PAPERS, WHO HAS BEEN SAID IN PUBLIC MEETINGS AND BUDGET WORKSHOPS AT THE COUNTY, AND THEN ALSO SOME DISCUSSION HERE. THERE IS SOME CONFUSION IN TERMS OF THE HISTORY OF THIS AND HOW IT WAS BROUGHT UP.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A POWER POINT PRESENTATION TO TRY TO CLEAR SOME OF THAT UP FIRST BEFORE WE GET INTO THE BOARD DISCUSSION ON THE AGREEMENT. SO FIRST OF ALL, AS I JUST MENTIONED, WE ARE TALKING... THE AGREEMENT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THE INTER-LOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND THE WOODLANDS.
THIS IS RELATED TO SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I JUST PULLED OUT SOME GENERAL TERMS FROM THE EXISTING AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
SO TO SHOW WHAT THE BASIS OF THIS AGREEMENT IS.
WHICH IS THE SHERIFF WILL ASSIGN 92 COUNTY COMMISSIONED PERSONNEL TO THE TOWNSHIP, THE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENTERS IF PERSONNEL ASSIGNED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT ARE DEDICATED TO PATROLLING THE GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS OF THE TOWNSHIP, AND THERE IS AN EXHIBIT A TO THE AGREEMENT THAT DEFINE IT IS EXACT BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWNSHIP.
AND THEN IT SAYS THIS AGREEMENT IS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE COST WILL BE FUNDED DIRECTLY BY THE TOWNSHIP AS ENHANCED SERVICES.
THE CURRENT AGREEMENT STATES THAT THE TOWNSHIP SHALL PAY FOR THE SALARY AND BENEFIT COST OF THE 92 PERSONNEL, FOR OVERTIME PROGRAMS, FOR PATROL VEHICLES, AND EQUIPMENTS RELATED TO THE 92 PERSONNEL AND THE FUEL FOR THOSE VEHICLES.
SO AGAIN, THAT IS WHAT THE CURRENT AGREEMENT STATES.
THIS AGREEMENT WENT INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2021, WAS AGREED TO BY THE TOWNSHIP AND THE COUNTY.
IT CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THAT FIRST YEAR AND THEN THEREAFTER, UNLESS IT IS TERMINATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT ARTICLE SECTION A, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT HERE IN A SECOND, THE AGREEMENT AUTOMATICALLY RENEWS FOR A SUCCESSIVE ONE-YEAR TERM, NOT TO EXCEED FOR FOUR RENEWALS AND EXTEND BEYOND OCTOBER 1, 2025. SO THAT IS THE TERM OF THE CURRENT AGREEMENT. IN TERMS OF ARTICLE 5, SECTION A, THE WAY THAT THIS DEFINES HOW THE CURRENT AGREEMENT, THE ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT CAN BE AMENDED, BASICALLY, IT SAYS THAT TE PARTIES OF THE AGREEMENT... TO THE AGREEMENT CANNOT TERMINATE THAT AGREEMENT EXCEPT FOR THESE THINGS.
MUTUAL WRITTEN AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES, OR EITHER PARTY, GIVEN OTHER PARTY LIVE AT LEAST 180 DAYS ADVANCE NOTICE OF ITS INTENTION TO TERMINATE AS OF THE END OF THE AGREEMENT'S TERM.
WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICAL TERMS IS BASICALLY, BY JULY 1, AROUND JULY 1 OF EACH YEAR, IF EITHER PARTY IS INTERESTED IN AMENDING THE AGREEMENT, THEN THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE OTHER PARTY. SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE IS THE COUNTY DID, BUT BEYOND THE JULY 1 DATE, BEYOND THE 180 DAYS, WAS INTERESTED IN CHANGING THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT.
THEY ARE THE ONE THAT INITIATED DISCUSSION WITH THE TOWNSHIP, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS BEYOND THE 180 DAYS NOTICE, WE WERE DEALING WITH THE FIRST BULLET POINT THERE WHICH IS THE MUTUAL WRITTEN AGREEMENT OF THE PARTY. SO THAT IS WHAT THE EXERCISE OR WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ACHIEVE OVER THE PAST SIX WEEKS OR SO. SO NOW I'M GOING TO LEAD YOU THROUGH A SERIES OF ARTICLES THAT WERE PUBLISHED EITHER IN THE COURIER BY COMMUNITY IMPACT THAT TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE COUNTY AGAIN HAD INITIATED THE DISCUSSIONS WITH US AND WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THEIR BUDGET WORKSHOPS, AS THEY STARTED ALONG THIS PROCESS. SO AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE HERE FROM THE COURIER, DATED AUGUST 16, AND IT SAYS... THE TITLE SAYS IT ALL REALLY THERE. MONTGOMERY COUNTY PROPOSES ABSORBING THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT. THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WANT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE EMPLOYEES NOW DEDICATED
[00:25:01]
TO THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. THOSE 92 OFFICERS WE TALKED ABOUT. TO BE ADDED TO THE COUNTY PAYROLL, ENDING A LONG-TIME FINANCIAL CONTRACT WITH THE TOWNSHIP. THAT SAME ARTICLE, IT TALKED ABOUT HOW THE TOWNSHIP CURRENTLY FUNDS HERE.IT SAYS 93. THE CONTRACT IS ACTUALLY 92.
THEN IT SAYS TO PREPARE TO ABSORB THE $10 MILLION.
THE COURT AGREED DURING AN AUGUST 2 BUDGET HEARING TO FUND HALF OF THAT COST WITH RECLASSIFIED FEDERAL CARES ACT FUNDS, AND THEN A HALF CENT OF THE COUNTY'S PROPOSD 2023 TAX RATE. AND THEN IT SAYS... IT TALKS HERE ABOUT SHERIFF HENDERSON, THE ONE THAT MADE THE PRESENTATION AT THE COUNTY BUDGET WORKSHOP, AND HE DOES MENTION THAT HE IS NOT LOOKING TO STOP CONTRACTING WITH THE TOWNSHIP, AND HE QUOTES "I JUST THINK ALL THE COUNTY PERSONNEL SHOULD BE COUNTY PAID AND WE SHOULD MOVE FROM THEIR LEDGER TO OUR LEDGER AS FAR AS HOW THEY ARE PAID." AGAIN, REFERRING TO THE 92 OFFICERS.
HERE IS AN ARTICLE IN THE COMMUNITY IMPACT MAGAZINE, ALSO TALKING ABOUT THIS WHERE MONTGOMERY COUNTY APPROVES A PROPOSED 2022 TAX RATE, EXCEEDING THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. AGAIN, I JUST PULLED PIECES OUT OF HERE THAT PERTAIN SPECIFICALLY TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT, SO ACCORDING TO CARTER WHO IS MONTGOMERY COUNTY'S BUDGET... I'M NOT SURE OF HER EXACT TITLE.
BASICALLY, THEIR BUDGET DIRECTOR.
ACCORDING TO CARTER, INCREASES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL UNDER THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AS WELL AS THE COUNTY, 5% RAISE CONTRIBUTED TO THE RATE EXCEEDING THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. THEN ALSO MENTIONED, SHE GOES ON TO MENTION THAT A RENEGOTIATION OF THE WOODLANDS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY REGARDING LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES ALSO CONTRIBUTED. SAID THAT FUNDING FOR PART OF THAT NEW CONTRACT WOULD COME FROM PROPERTY TAX REVENUE WHILE THE OTHER PART WOULD COME OUT OF THE COUNTY'S FUND BALANCE.
MEANING IN THIS CASE, CARES FUND BALANCES THEY HAD REMAINING.
AND THEN HERE IS ANOTHER ARTICLE FROM COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY IMPACT. THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY NOW HAS APPROVED THEIR $397 MILLION BUDGET FOR '22-SCW 23 AND APPROVES THE TAX RATE EXCEEDING THE NO NEW REVENUE RAIVMENT IT TALKS ABOUT HOW THEY FINALIZE THE BUDGET, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL POSITIONS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SEVERAL FOR THE COUNTY. AND IT WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND THEN THE COUNTY JUDGE MARK KEOUGH IS SAYING THAT THE BUDGET FOCUSED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, ESPECIALLY ON THE COUNTY'S SHARED BORDER WITH HARRIS COUNTY. AND HIS QUOTE IS "I THINK WE CAME TO SOME CONCLUSIONS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
MY EMPHASIS IS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP CONTRACT WHICH WE HAD FIGURED INTO THE BUDGET IS A HUGE EXPENSE AND THAT WAS PART OF IT." SO AGAIN, TALKING ABOUT HOW THAT PART OF THEIR REASON FOR THEIR RATE INCREASE ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE DID TIE INTO THE ASSUMPTION OF TAKING OVER THE FUNDINGS IF... FUNDING THE PERSONNEL COST IN THE TOWNSHIP'S CONTRACT.
OKAY. AND WITH THAT, ALSO AGAIN, SO THAT THE PUBLIC AND EVERYONE CAN HEAR EXACTLY WHAT WAS SAID AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS MEETING, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CLIPS FROM
THAT. >> IF Y'ALL ARE GOOD, WHILE THE SHERIFF IS HERE SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT AND HIT THE TOWNSHIP AT THE VERY END, WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT THE IDEA OF... YOU WANT TO PRESENT THE CONCEPT AND THOUGHT BEHIND IT? ST (INAUDIBLE) (INAUDIBLE) WE SHOULD MOVE FROM THEIR LEDGER TO OUR LEDGER.
WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN >> AMANDA, IF WE WERE TO DO
[00:30:03]
THAT, WITH HALF TAX RATE AND HALF OF IT WITH THE RECLASSIFIEDDOLLARS, WE COULD DO THAT. >> OKAY.
WE WILL GO OVER THE EXPENDITURES REAL QUICK FOR YOU GUYS.
>> THE THREE PEOPLE IN... AND THE ONE PERSON IN JP-3.
>> OKAY. >> HOW MANY DEPUTIES DO YOU HAVE
IN THAT TOWNSHIP DOWN THERE? >> 23.
(INAUDIBLE) WE WILL MOVE THOSE >> THEY WOULD STAY IN THE WOODLANDS THE WHOLE MAJORITY OF THOSE
(INAUDIBLE) >> SHE IS STILL ADDING OVER
(INAUDIBLE) THE SHERIFF JUST DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO.
I UNDERSTAND THAT. I HAD THE SAME QUESTIONS.
IT MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU... WHEN HE TELLS YOU HOW HE WAS GOING TO... (INAUDIBLE)
>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE EVER BILLED THEM... I THINK THEIR TOTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRACT IS $9 MILLION WITH HARRIS COUNTY AS WELL. I DON'T THINK THAT IS THEIR TOTAL NUMBER. I THINK THAT IS FOR EVERYTHING IN THERE. (INAUDIBLE)
>> WHAT YOU ESTIMATED FOR THE WOODLANDS CONTRACT.
>> WHATEVER THE EXPENSE IS. >> OKAY.
>> KEEP IN MIND THE 5% ON THE WOODLANDS.
THE INSURANCE CHANGE AS WELL. >> YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. SO HALF WITH THE TAX RATE.
AND HALF WITH FUND BALANCE. >> SOME CONSENSUS ON THAT? THAT IS A BIG EXPENSE. NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE.
(INAUDIBLE) >> WE ARE IN THE PROCESS... WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO TAKE BACK TO THEM.
TO TELL THEM, HEY, HERE IS WHAT WE ARE SUGGESTING.
>> DO WE HAVE MONEY FOR THAT? (INAUDIBLE)
>> I MEAN, WE MAY BE PREFUNDING THIS TO GET THIS TO HAPPEN.
[00:35:02]
WE STILL HAVE TO GO TO THE TOWNURE OUT.(INAUDIBLE) >> IT IS PART OF THE ADOPTED
>> OKAY. SO YOU COULD SEE FROM THERE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT... THEY USE THE WORD "PREFUND" PRIOR TO COMING TO THE TOWNSHIP TO NEGOTIATE.
THAT IS WHAT THEY DID. THEY PUT THE FUNDING, AS YOU HEARD THEM SAY, THEY PUT HALF OF IT ON THEIR TAX RATE.
AND THEN THEY... THE OTHER HALF FROM THE CARES ACT FUNDING.
SO THAT IS WHERE THEY LEFT OFF ON THEIR BUDGET WORKSHOP.
AND THEN THEY DID CONTACT THE TOWNSHIP TO START HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND THOSE NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING AN AMENDED CONTRACT WHEREBY THEY WOULD FUND A PORTION OF THE PERSONNEL COST. HERE IS SORT OF A HISTORY OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS. BACK IN JULY, WHEN THEY SUBMITTED THEIR ORIGINAL BUDGET, AND THAT IS WHAT'S SHOWN IN THE FIRST COLUMN, WHEN I SAY THEY, THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SUBMITTED THE ORIGINAL BUDGET REQUEST TO THE TOWNSHIP.
AND IN JULY, IT INCLUDED THE VEHICLES, FUEL, EQUIPMENT, THE OVERTIME PROGRAM, AND THEN ALL OF THE PERSONNEL COSTS FOR A TOTAL OF $12.5 MILLION. THEN AFTER THEIR BUDGET WORKSHOP, WHICH WE JUST OBSERVED, THEY FOLLOWED UP THAT WITH A REVISED REQUEST THAT WE RECEIVED IN AUGUST, AND THERE YOU CAN SEE IN THE MIDDLE COLUMN WHERE THEY STRIPPED OUT WHAT THE TOWNSHIP WOULD FUND FOR PERSONAL COST BECAUSE THEY WERE PICKING THAT UP. THE ONLY THING THEY WERE ASKING US TO FUND AT THAT POINT, WAS $4.5 MILLION.
THEY WANTED US TO CONTINUE TO FUND VEHICLES, FUEL, EQUIPMENT, AND AN OVERTIME PROGRAM. BUT AGAIN, THEY WOULD PICK UP ALL PERSONNEL COSTS RELATING TO OUR CONTRACT, PLUS THE OTHER PROGRAMS, THE SAFE HARBOR PROGRAM, INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN AND JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT THREE.
SO WE STARTED MOVING ALONG THOSE LINES AS THEY... THE MEETING, THEY REQUESTED A MEETING WITH CHAIRMAN BUNCH TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS THEY ASKED THE TOWNSHIP TO DRAFT A... AN AMENDMENT. AT THEIR REQUEST, THEY ASKED US TO DRAFT AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REFLECT BASICALLY WHAT IS SHOWN IN THE MIDDLE COLUMN. WE PROCEEDED ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND DID... SO ON AUGUST 10, WE HAD THAT MEETING WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND SHERIFF HENDERSON. THEN AUGUST 19, AT THEIR REQUEST, WE DID E-MAIL THEM A DRAFT AMENDMENT, AGREEING TO THE TERMS THAT THEY DESIRED. TO DATE, NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF THE E-MAIL OR REPLY HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE TOWNSHIP. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MONIQUE.
AND SO THE PURPOSE OF BRINGING THIS FORWARD IS TO CREATE CLARITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS MEDIA REPORTS OF THE COUNTY FUNDING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OF WHICH THEY HAVE NOT ACTUALLY AGREED TO DO.
ALTHOUGH IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, THEY INCLUDED FUNDING TO DO SO, AND IN THE ADOPTED TAX RATE, THEY INCLUDED FUNDING TO DO SO.
TONIGHT IS OUR DATE TO ADOPT OUR TAX RATE.
AND AT THE POINT OF BEYOND TONIGHT, NEITHER ENTITY CAN READJUST THEIR PROPERTY TAX RATE BECAUSE IT WILL BE ADOPTED.
AND SO SO FAR AS THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY PUT IT IN THEIR TAX RATE, AND IN THEIR BUDGET, WITHOUT THEM CODIFYING AN AGREEMENT, WE HAVE ALREADY... WE ALREADY HAVE OUR BUDGET AND OUR PROPOSED TAX RATE, THE SAME FUNNING FOR THE SAME LAW ENFORCEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, IT LOOKS LIKE THE RESIDENTS OF THE WOODLANDS WILL BE DOUBLING-TAXED FOR 2023 BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CODIFYING OF THE AGREEMENT.
THAT IS A GOOD SUMMARY. >> OUR BOARD HAS A RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF IT. WHERE WE ARE REQUESTING THE COUNTY TO ACTUALLY, COME TO AN AGREEMENT REGARDING THE FUNDING AND THE SERVICES AS THEY REQUESTED SO THAT THERE ISN'T A DUPLICATE TAX BURDEN TO OUR CITIZENS.
NOW, IT MAY NOT BE RESOLVED FOR '23.
THERE IS NOTHING PREVENTING THEM FROM RESOLVING IT FOR $24.
[00:40:01]
... '24, WHICH WE ESTIMATE COULD SAVE TAXPAYERS ON THE TOWNSHIP SIDE THREE CENTS TO FOUR CENTS OF OUR TAX RATE.AND IF YOU PUT THAT IN CONTEXT, OUR PROPOSED TAX RATE IS 18.75
>> RIGHT. >> SO 3% OR 4% OF THAT IS ALMOST 20% OF THE TAX RATE. COULD HAVE GONE DOWN EVEN FURTHER. HAD THEY MET THE STATUTORY DEADLINE AND AGREED TO WHAT THEY APPROVED IN THEIR BUDGET AND APPROVED IN THEIR ADOPTED TAX RATE.
>> YES, SIR. >> SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO NOT FUND BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T COME TO THE TABLE TIMELY, BUT WE DON'T THINK IT IS RIGHT TO ADOPT A TAX RATE UNTIL THE... AND TELL THE PUBLIC YOU ARE GOING TO FUND SOMETHING AND NOT FOLLOW THROUGH. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS WERE AWARE WHERE THAT IS AT.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY SHERIFF HENDERSON AND I ARE COMPLETELY ALIGNED ON THIS ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, WE WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE.
WHEN WE DO WE DO. WHEN HE FIRST GOT ELECTED IN '16, HE WAS THE FIRST COUNTY OFFICIAL TO START WORKING TOWARDS GETTING THE COUNTY TO PROPERLY FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2012, THERE WAS ONLY SIX PERSONNEL FUNDED BY THE COUNTY.
IN THE ENTIRETY OF THE WOODLANDS.
WE GOT THAT UP TO 23 WITH SHERIFF HENDERSON TAKING ON THE COMMAND STAFF AND THE LIEUTENANTS AND SOME OTHER PERSONNEL OFF OF THE SHOULDERS OF OUR TAXPAYERS.
WE STILL FUND 92 WHICH IS ALL THE PATROL DEPUTIES.
AND IT IS HIS BELIEF THAT OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BE GETTING STATUTORY LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES OFF THE COUNTY LEVY AS IT IS A COUNTY STATUTORY REQUIRED SERVICE.
AND THAT THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD BE FUNDING SUPPLEMENTAL AND ADDITIONAL SERVICES ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT NORMALLY SHOULD BE PROVIDED. THIS WAS NOT AN INITIATED BY US.
I COULD TELL YOU, I HAVE BEEN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AT LEAST TWICE REQUESTING AN OUTCOME SIMILAR TO THIS.
GOING BACK TO 2014, 2015, 2016 TIME PERIODS.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS BOARD AND PAST BOARDS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY AS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY. NOTHING IN THIS PROPOSAL WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE SERVICES THE COMMUNITY POLICING, THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, THE VACATION WATCH PROGRAM.
EVERYONE WAS REMAINING CODIFIED WITHIN THE CONFINEMENT OF OUR AGREEMENT THAT RUNS THROUGH 2025.
THIS IS 100% A TAXATION AND FUNDING ISSUE.
WE HAVE NO ISSUE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE SERVICES THEY ARE PROVIDING. SHERIFF HENDERSON WAS ADVOCATING FOR SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS HIS DEPARTMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT WOULD HAVE HAD US ABLE TO LOWER OUR TAX RATE EVEN FURTHER THIS FUTURE TAX YEAR. SO WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO...
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK IT IS CHARITABLE FOR THE COUNTY TO INITIATE THIS, ALTHOUGH NOW THE FOOT-DRAGGING IS PUZZLING. I THINK THAT THE RESOLUTION BEFORE US IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO PASS AND TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW AND THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW THAT YES, WE ARE IN FAVOR OF WHAT THEY OFFERED. WE WANT THEM TO CONTINUE AND TO DO SO. WE JUST WISH IT HAD BEEN DONE PRIOR TO TONIGHT. SO THAT WE COULD REDUCE OUR TAX RATE AND SHOW THE BENEFITS IMMEDIATELY TO OUR TOWNSHIP TAXPAYERS. THE CHARITABLE PART IS ALSO CONFUSING BECAUSE AS I RECALL, I KNOW THAT CHAIRMAN BUNCH AND I AND PROBABLY OTHERS ASKED THE COUNTY FOR THE ADDITIONAL $5.8 MILLION IN CARES ACT MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE COME TO THE TOWNSHIP DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME OF COVID RELIEF.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS THE VERY SAME MONEY NAST THEY ARE NOW TURNING AROUND AND SAYING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE THIS WAY. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TWO YEARS AGO. AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT THING TO DO THEN. IT IS JUST KIND OF LIKE SMOKE AND MIRRORS THAT THEY ARE PLAYING.
SO I DO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. I HOPE THE REST OF THE BOARD WILL AS WELL. I THANK YOU, MONIQUE, FOR PUTTING THAT VIDEO TOGETHER AND ALL THE OTHER DOCUMENTS SO THAT THE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS CAN SEE CLEARLY HOW THIS HAS DEVELOPED.
>> THANK YOU. >> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DECISION BY THE COUNTY OFFICIALS TO DECIDE TO GO IN THIS PARTICULAR DIRECTION REALLY WASN'T DISCUSSED IN ADVANCE WITH US.
[00:45:02]
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF THEIR BUDGET WORKSHOP.AND YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
THREE WEEKS AGO, FOUR WEEKS AGO, YOU KNOW, EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE, YOU KNOW, SAW THE REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY TO, YOU KNOW, TO RESPOND TO AN AMENDED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT.
WE ACTUALLY ENGAGED LEGAL SERVICES ON OVERTIME OVER THE WEEKEND TO REDRAFT THAT AGREEMENT AND SEND IT BACK.
WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE. YOU KNOW, AFTER... THEY HAD A COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING ON THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY.
THE ITEM WAS ON THE AGENDA. THEY WENT TO EXECKIVE IS SESSION. THEY DECIDED TO TABLE THE AGENDA ITEM. GOING AHEAD ANYWAY, YOU KNOW, PLACING, YOU KNOW, THAT ADDITIONAL $9 MILLION INTO THE BUDGET AND SEEING THE TAX RATE TO APPROPRIATELY COVER IT.
YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, AMAZED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE PLAYING GAMES WITH THIS. YOU KNOW, USING IT AS COVER FOR THE COUNTY'S INABILITY TO GO DOWN TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
YOU KNOW, IN FACT, I THINK THAT THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP, YOU KNOW, IS THE ONLY TAXING ENTITY IN THE COUNTY WHO IS ACTUALLY PROPOSING GOING BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET CYCLE. IT IS FAIRLY SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ALL THE STUFF THAT GOES ON HERE AND THE SOARING APPRAISAL RATES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, AS LONG AS... YOU KNOW, AS THE TAXING ENTITIES CONTINUE TO OPERATE AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THE APPRAISALS ARE REALLY IRRELEVANT.
BECAUSE THEY ARE AN ACTUAL, YOU KNOW, DIRECT PROPORTION... YOU KNOW, THE TAX RATE GOES DOWN IN PROPORTION TO THE INCREASE AND THE APPRAISAL VALUES FOR THAT PARTICULAR YEAR... SO IF YOU WORK OR OPERATE AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, APPRAISALS CAN GO UP. PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, REALIZE AN INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY.
A GREAT SLIDE... YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO SEE ET LATER ON OR NOT. IT WAS IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION TEN YEARS AGO IN 2012.
A MEDIAN HOME IN THE WOODLANDS WAS $346,000.
WE TOOK $1,197 IN PROPERTY TAXES THAT YEAR, I THINK.
FLASH FORWARD TEN YEARS TO 2022. THAT MEDIAN HOUSE IS NOW WORTH $500,000. THE HOME OWNER HAS GOTTEN $160,000 INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF THEIR ASSET.
AND WE TOOK LESS TAX MONEY IN 2022, YOU KNOW, IN ACTUAL DOLLARS THAN WE DID IN 2012. IF YOU ADJUSTED THAT FOR INFLATION, YOU WOULD BE TALKING... YOU KNOW, YOU ARE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT A DECREASE, A REAL DECREASE OF ABOUT 33%. YOU KNOW, IN REAL TERMS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY TAKING.
NEXT YEAR, IT WILL BE $550. WE WILL DROP DOWN BELOW $1,100.
SO THIS IDEA THIS THERE HAS BEEN THIS CRAZY INFLATION IN ACCUSATION IN THE WOODLANDS... TAXATION IN THE WOODLANDS AND THE BOARD HAS CAPRICIOUSLY OVERTAXED RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, FOR PROPERTY TAXES IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
AND THE STATISTICS DON'T LIE. YOU KNOW, THE REVENUE NUMBER IS ESSENTIALLY SAME THE SAME NOW WITH ACTUALLY THE ADDITION OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTY. IN THE LAST, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS, THAT ADDITIONAL PROPERTY HAS COME ON AT LESS THAN 3% A YEAR. SO THAT ISN'T AFEBRUARYING THE EXISTING HOME OWNERS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NEW HOME
OWNERS IN THE COMMUNITY. >> RIGHT.
>> THE EXISTING HOME OWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST DECADE HAVE ESSENTIALLY SEEN, YOU KNOW, A REAL REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF TAXES TAKEN BY THE TOWNSHIP, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ARE PROBABLY THE ONLIENT I ENTITY IN THE COUNTY THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. BE THAT AS IT MAY, WE COULD HAVE GONE EVEN LOWER IN THIS CYCLE. YOU KNOW, HAD EVERYBODY DEALT WITH THIS AND... IN AN APPROPRIATE AND FORTH RIGHT WAY.
SO NOW WHAT WE'VE GOT ESSENTIALLY BETWEEN THE TWO OF US IS APPROXIMATELY $18 MILLION, YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULD HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN $9. WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE $9 MILLION MORE THAN WE PROBABLY SHOULD BE.
SINCE WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR, THIS WE REALLY CAN'T JUST ARBITRARILY REDUCE THE RATE , YOU KNOW, AND GO FORWARD.
>> YES, SIMPLET >> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE AT.
AND THE POLICIES OF THE TOWNSHIP IN TERMS OF TAXATION.
OVER THE LAST DECADE. >> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET ME READ THIS RESOLUTION.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAD COPIES READY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
[00:50:01]
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP, TEXAS. AUTHORIZINGS EXECUTION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF THE WOODLANDS AND MONTH MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOR SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.
THE MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
WHEREAS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF THE WOODLANDS INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2021 THE COUNTY AND THE TOWNSHIP ARE HERE COLLECTIVELY CALLED THE PARTIES. WHEREAS THE COUNTY REQUESTED THE TOWNSHIP TO PREPARE AND PROVIDE A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDES FOR THE COUNTY TO FUND PERSONNEL COST FOR THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TOTALLINGS OVER $9 MILLION ANNUALLY AND FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO FUND OVERTIME COSTS, VEHICLE, FUEL AND EQUIPMENT. THE COUNTY INDICATED IT INTENDED TO USE CARE FUNDS IN PART AND PROPERTY TAX IN PART, TO PAY FOR THE PERSONNEL COST AND TO PASS A BUDGET ALLOWING FOR THE PERSONNEL COST TO BE FUNDED AND WHEREAS, THE TOWNSHIP HONORED THE COUNTY'S REQUEST TO PREPARE THE AMENDED AGREEMENT PROVIDED THE AMENDED AGREEMENT TO THE COUNTY BY THE DEADLINE REQUESTED AND DESIRES TO AMEND THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE UPDATED PROVISIONS FOR PAYMENT, RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO PROVIDE MAX COST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THE AMENDED AGREEMENT. WHICH IS ATTACHED TO YEAR TWO AS EXHIBIT A. WHEREAS THE COUNTY'S FAILURE TO TAKE ACTION ON THE AMENDED AGREEMENT PRIOR TO THIS STATUTORY DEADLINE FOR THE TOWNSHIP'S BOARD TO ADOPT ITS BUDGET AND TAX RATE HAS RESULTED IN THE TOWNSHIP INCLUDING THE $9 MILLION IN PERSONNEL COSTS IN THE TOWNSHIP BUDGET.
WHEREAS THE BOARD HAS DETERMINED ENTERING INTO AN AMENDED AGREEMENT WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY THEY CALL ON THE COUNTY TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGREEMENT IT REQUESTED SO THAT CITIZENS OF THE TOWNSHIPS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PAY PROPERTY TAX TO THE COUNTY TO FUND THE PERSONNEL COST AND PAY PROPERTY TAX TO THE TOWNSHIP TO FUND THE SAME PERSONNEL COSTS.
WHICH WILL BE THE CASE FOR 2023 SINCE THE COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP CANNOT CHANGE THE TAX RATES AFTER ADOPTION.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE TOWN SHI OF THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS, TH% BOARD HEREBY APPROVES THE AMENDED AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZED THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE TOWNSHIP, SUBJECT TO ALL CONTRACT DOCUMENTS BEING PROPERLY COMPLETED AND APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CONTENT BY THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY, TO EXECUTE THE AMENDED AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE UPDATED PROVISIONS FOR PAYMENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM COSTS FOR CERTAIN ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF ALL CONTRACT DOCUMENTS ATTACHED TO YEAR TWO EXHIBIT A.
AND PART OF YEAR TWO FOR ALL PURPOSES.
IT IS HEREBY OFFICIALLY FOUND AND DETERMINED THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS RESOLUTION IS PASSED IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC NOTICE OF TIME, PLACE, PURPOSE OF SAID MEETING WAS GIVEN AS REQUIRED BY LAW. PADS PASSED AND APPROVED ON THE 12TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER. WE ACTUALLY NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 1 015-22.
>> OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL RIGHT. >> I'LL TAKE THAT AS A
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED RESOLUTION. >> THANK YOU.
[8. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the 2023 Consolidated Budget for The Woodlands Township; ]
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON. TO AGENDA ITEM EIGHT.
RECEIVE THE CON SOL DATED BUDGET FOR THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP.
>> OKAY. TONIGHT I'M GOING TO GIVE A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE 2023 BUDGET.
THESE ARE ALL, WHAT IS REFLECTED HERE ARE ALL OF THE DECISIONS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MADE DURING YOUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SO AGAIN, THIS IS PRETTY HIGH-LEVEL.
ALL OF THE DETAILS ARE ONLINE THAT WE ALL HAVE YOUR BUDGET DOCUMENTS AND THAT BUDGET DOCUMENT IS ON-LINE, TOO FOR THE PUBLIC. SO WITH THAT, WHAT WE HAVE FOR THE TOWNSHIP IS A CONSOLIDATED BUDGET.
WITH REVENUES TOTALING $144.9 MILLION.
AND THE CHART TO THE RIGHT SHOWS HOW THOSE... THAT $144 MILLION IS ALLOCATED. TO OPERATING EXPENSES, TO OUR RESERVES, TO DEBT, PAYMENTS, OUR CAPITAL, THAT IS NOT FUNDED BY
[00:55:01]
RESERVES. AND THEN RIGHT NOW AT AN 18.75 RATE, WE HAVE UNDESIGNATED FUNDS REMAINING OF $802,000.LOOKING AT OUR REVENUE SOURCES, AS I MENTIONED, ABOUT $144.9 MILLION FOR THE 2023 BUDGET. THAT IS AN INCREASE OF $11.4 MILLION. AND HERE SHOWS WHERE THOSE INCREASES ARE COMING FROM. OVERWHELMINGLY, THE INCREASE THAT WE ARE PROJECTING FOR 2023 RELATES TO OUR SALES AND USE TAX OF 8.6 MILLION. HOTEL TAX.
AND 1.6 MILLION INCREASE IN GRANT FUNDS OF ABOUT $1.5 MILLION. THAT IS PRIMARILY RELATED TO OUR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS. PROGRAM REVENUE OF $800,000.
PROGRAM REVENUE RELATES TO OUR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS PRIMARILY. SOME MISCELLANEOUS CONTRACT REVENUE AT $700,000 IS INCREASING.
AND THEN YOU DLOWN DOWN THERE AT THE BOTTOM, YOU CAN SEE AND IT HAS A LOT TO SEE WITH WHAT THE DIRECTOR WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT, AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT SOME MORE, OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BASED ON AN 18.75 RATE. BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS ACTUALLY DECREASING PROPERTY TAX REVENUE PAID TO THE TOWNSHIP BY ABOUT $2 MILLION. THIS IS A LOOK AT OUR REVENUES BY TYPE. SALES AND USE TAX IS OUR PRIMARY CATEGORY. AND HERE IS A LOOK AT I BY PERCENTAGE. SALES TAX MAKES UP ABOUT 46% OF THE BUDGET. AND HOTEL TAX, 6%.
PROPERTY TAX IS ONLY AT 32% WHICH IS REALLY REMARKABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THAT LITTLE NOTE DOWN THERE AT THE BOTTOM, ACCORDING TO THE STATE COMPTROLLER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AROUND TEXAS, THEY TYPICALLY RAISE ABOUT ONE DOLLAR IN SALES TAX FOR EVERY $7 IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. YOU CAN SEE WE ARE WAY BEYOND OPPOSITE OF THAT. IN TERMS OF THE EXPENDITURES, WE HAVE A CONSOLIDATED BUDGET OF $148.4 MILLION.
THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT A $700,000 OR A .5% INCREASE FROM THE 2022 BUDGET. THIS IS A LOOK AT OUR CONSOLIDATED EXPENDITURES BY DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS VERY MUCH HOW IT HAS BEEN OVER THE YEARS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, PARKS AND RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. MAKING IT THE LARGEST COMPONENTS OF THAT, FOLLOWED BY CAPITAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> I WANT TO STOP ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE SAW THE VIDEO FROM COMMISSIONER NOWAK CLAIMING WE ONLY SPENT $9 MILLION A LOW YEAR TOTAL ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.
INCLUDING HARRIS COUNTY OUR BUDGET IS ACTUALLY $14.7
THAT IS CORRECT. >> WE WANT TO SEND A COPY OF THE
SLIDE >> I WANTED TO MENTION COMMUNITY SERVICES IS SOME OF OUR LARGEST CONTRACTS.
INCLUDED IN THERE IS STREET-LIGHTING, SOLID WASTE SERVICES, STREET SKATE MAINTENANCE AND COVETED
ADMINISTRATION. >> IT IS ALSO NOTEWORTHY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW COMMUNITIES WHERE SOLID WASTE SERVICES IS ACTUALLY INCLUDED AT THE AD VALOREM TAX RATE.
THAT IS A SEPARATE CHARGE IN ALMOST EVERY OTHER INSTANCE
AROUND TEXAS. >> THAT IS A GREAT POINT.
THANK YOU. >> HERE IS LOOK AT WHERE OUR EXPENDITURES ARE INCREASING AGAIN.
AND DECREASING. THIS IS GONE OVER IN GREAT DETAIL DURING THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS AND ALSO BY DEPARTMENT BY INDIVIDUAL LINE ITEM. DOWN TO OFFICE SUPPLIES.
IN THE BUDGET IT IS ON-LINE. YOU CAN SEE WHAT IS MAKE UP EACH ONE OF THOSE THE PRIMARY INCREASES ARE IN THE THREE AREAS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
FIRE DEPARTMENT, PARKS AND RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY
SERVICES. >> MONIQUE, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS THE EXTRA COMPANY THAT WE ARE ADDING?
>> YEAH. THE EXTRA COMPANY IS ABOUT $1.8 MILLION. OUT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN PARKS AND RECREATION, YOU WILL RECALL, WE ARE TAKING ON THE WATERWAY MAINTENANCE. NEXT YEAR.
THAT IS A LONG-TERM AGREEMENT. WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR THAT FOR A LONG TIME. A LOT OF THE COST, THE INCREASE YOU SEE THERE IS RELATED TO THAT.
MOVING ON TO CAPITAL PROJECTS, AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM IN GREAT DETAIL ONLINE, BY INDIVIDUAL PROJECT, THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT I WANT TO MENTION, THE TOWNSHIP YEARS AGO, BACK IN 20123, AUTHORIZED A CAPITAL RESERVE STUDY WHICH ALLOWS US TO PUT FUNDS AWAY OR WHENEVER WHEN WE HAVE FAVORABLE VARIANCES, OFTEN IT GOES INTO THIS CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND. AND IT ALLOWS US TO FUND CAPITAL THROUGH THAT CAPITAL RESERVE RATHER THAN THROUGH CURRENT-YEAR TAX RATES OR THROUGH FUNDING FOR BONDING AND THEREBY, NOT HAVING TO INCUR INTEREST EXPENSE OR DEBT SERVICE.
THAT HAS WORKED OUT VERY, VERY WELL FOR US.
THAT IS SOMETHING OUR RATING AGENCIES ALWAYS COMMENT ON AND ALSO JUST LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, OUR SALES TAX FUNDING
[01:00:01]
SOURCE, HAVING THIS AS A REVENUE SOURCE FOR OUR CAPITAL IS VERY ALSO VERY UNIQUE TO COMMUNITIES ... ACTUALLY, TO ANY COMMUNITY. IN TERMS OF THE RESERVES AND FUND BALANCE, HERE IS A LOOK AT WHAT THE BALANCE IS PROJECTED TO BE. FOR 2023.IN EACH ONE OF THESE RESERVES. BY FAR, OUR LARGEST RESERVE IS IN OUR CAPITAL REPLACEMENT RESERVE.
AND I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE AN OPERATING RESERVE OF $31.8 MSM.
THAT IS TIED TO MAINTAINING A BALANCE IN THERE.
EQUAL TO 25% OF GENERAL FUND OPERATING EXPENDITURES.
THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT THREE MONTHS OF OPERATIONS.
ALSO SOMETHING THAT OUR RATING AGENCIES ALWAYS COMMENT ON.
THAT IS SOMETHING THEY LOOK AT. A MINIMUM OF 20.
THEY LIKE 25% BETTER. IT IS CERTAINLY SUPPORTING OUR
DOUBLE A+ BOND RATING. >> I KNOW IN THE CAPITAL REPLACEMENT RESERVE, AND I KNOW PREVIOUS SLIDES, YOU SHOWED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH A COUPLE OF MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL STUFF FOR NEXT YEAR. THERE IS A LARGE CHUNK OF THAT THAT IS GOING TO GO INTO THE FIRE STATION FIVE.
WE DON'T EXPECT THAT CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN UNTIL
>> THE MONEY IS ALREADY PREFUNDED IN THE CAPITAL
REPLACEMENT RESERVE >> THANK YOU.
THAT IS A GOOD POINT. IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFIC AMOUNTS. IT DIDN'T GET SET UP IN CAPITAL, BUT WE HAVE THE FUNDING THERE TO DO IT AS WE GET FURTHER INTO THE
PROCESS. >> MISS MONIQUE, THERE WERE A
COUPLE OF FUND RESERVES. >> YES.
>> YOU DON'T SEE THEM ON THE SLIDE
>> RIGHT HERE. (LAUGHTER) THANK YOU. YOU ARE RIGHT.
DURING THE BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETINGS, THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF REALLOCATING A CERTAIN RESERVE.
YOU CAN SEE HERE WHAT THE RESULTS OF THAT WERE.
THE INCORPORATION RESERVE, THE PREVIOUS INCORPORATION RESERVE HAD A $15.3 MILLION BALANCE THE BOARD ALLOCATED $1.7 MILLION OF THAT TO THE OPERATING RESERVE TO INCREASE THAT MINIMUM BALANCE TO 25% AS I WAS JUST MENTIONING. AND THEN $13.6 MILLION WENT TO THE CAPITAL REPLACEMENT RESERVE TO FUND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PARKS AND RECREATION CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND THEN THE SAME THING WITH THE GROGAN'S MILL PROPERTY RESERVE.
THAT GOT REALLOCATED TO THE CAPITAL REPLACEMENT RESERVE, AGAIN, TO FUND THOSE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PARKS AND REC PROJECTS. WE TALK ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE PARKS AND REC PROJECTS I'M TALKING ABOUT ARE FROM THE 2022 NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
WE WENT, AGAIN, IN GREAT DETAIL DURING THE WORKSHOPS.
THERE IS A LOT OF PROJECTS THERE THAT WERE IDENTIFIED.
ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY. OUR SPORTS FIELDS.
NEW AMENITIES. RENOVATED AMENITIES.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
WE WILL BE BRINGING BACK THE DETAILS TO THE BOARD.
WE HAVE SET THE FUNDING. THE BOARD HAS SET THE FUNDING
ASIDE >> BUT THE LOW-HANGING FRUIT, EASY TO IDENTIFY ONES ARE DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS.
>> YES. >> SAILBOATS ON THE LAKE.
PATHWAY CONNECTORS. OUR FIRST BIKE LANE ON LAKE
>> CONNECTING EAST TO THE WEST. PLUS THE MAJOR PARKS ARE GOING
TO HAVE HUGE, HUGE ITEMS. >> RIGHT.
>> BIKING IMPROVEMENTS. YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE THEM USING BIKE LANE. IT IS NOT A BIKE LANE.
AND IMPROVEMENTSES IN THE SHOULDERS TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, LAKE WOODLANDS MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR CYCLING.
BUT IT IS NOT, IN FACT, THE DEFINITION OF A BIKE LANE.
>> THANK YOU. >> AND MONIQUE, CAN YOU ALSO ADDRESS THE INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM BALANCE? IT WAS 20% OF THE GENERAL FUND, AND MOVED TO 25% OF GENERAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES. THE REASON FOR US APPROVING THAT
>> RIGHT. THE BOARD DID DISCUSS THAT FOR A LONG TIME. WE HAVE HAD 20% WHICH IS THE MINIMUM THAT THE CREDIT AGENCIES LOOK FOR.
THE BOARD FELT THAT IT WAS PRUDENT TO MOVE THAT TO 25%.
AND AGAIN, BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK OF IT, ALTHOUGH THAT MAY LOOK LIKE A BIG NUMBER, IT IS REALLY ONLY THREE MONTHS OF OUR OPERATIONS. IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN CATASTROPHIC, THEN WE HAVE THAT FUNDING TO GET US THROUGH.
WITHOUT HAVING TO IMPACT SERVICES.
AND ALSO, IT SUPPORTS OUR DOUBLE A+ RATING.
>> THANK YOU. >> AND HISTORICALLY, IT HAS ALLOWED US TO WEATHER A HURRICANE, TWO FLOODS, A PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, INFLATIONARY ISSUES.
SO 20%, IF SOMEONE SITS STILL ON A 20% STATIC RESERVE, 12 MONTHS AGO, IT IS ALREADY INADEQUATE TODAY.
BECAUSE OF THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES THAT WE HAVE HAD AND
SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES. >> RIGHT.
>> SO 20% IS THE BARE-BONE MINIMUM KIND OF GUIDELINE.
>> RIGHT. >> 25% IS BEST PRACTICES.
>> THIS IS A BEST PRACTICES COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE LEAVE IT IN THE BEST FINANCIAL CONDITION
IT CAN POSSIBLY BE >> THANK YOU
>> MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE FIGURES, HAVING, YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF RESERVES THAT WE HAVE ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR US TO GO TO THE
[01:05:05]
>> AND YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, AT THIS TIME, THE INTEREST RATES WERE IN THE LOW 1'S.
YOU KNOW, NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT 4.5, 5.
YOU KNOW, IT IS EVERYBODY PROBABLY... AS EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM KNOWS, THE FED CHAIRMAN MADE SOME MAYBE TARGETED REMARKS TWO WEEKS AGO IN JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING.
THE STOCK MARKET LOST A THOUSAND POINTS THAT DAY.
>> YES >> HE IS SIGNALING A 75 BASIS-POINT RISE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE ARE PROBABLY LOOKING AT BOND RATES APPROACHING 7.5%. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IN PROPERTY TAXES. WHEN IT COMES TO THE INTEREST ON THINGS WE REALLY NEED TO DO WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED SO FAR, WE ARE TALKING BETWEEN $50 MILLION AND $60 MILLION.
>> YES, SIR. WE HAVE $375 MILLION IN ASSETS.
THERE IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE, PLUS THE NEW AMENITIES THAT ARE OFTEN REQUESTED BY RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU. YOU ACTUALLY TEED THAT UP PERFECTLY FOR THE NEXT DISCUSSION.
(LAUGHTER) >> MONIQUE, I DID NOT SEE THIS AT THE PRESENTATION... THANK YOU.
YES. I WAS GOING TO MENTION THAT WHAT WE DO WITH OUR RESERVES A VERY MUCH PLAYS INTO OUR DEBT MANAGEMENT PLAN AND THEN THAT FOLLOWS INTO BEING ABLE TO KEEP OUR TAX RATE LOW. SO IN OUR TERMS OF OUR DEBT PROFILE, SOME HIGHLIGHTS, THE BOARD HAS PAID OFF $22.7 MILLION OF DEBT OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
RESULTING IN $6.8 MILLION SAVINGS IN INTEREST EXPENSE THE BOARD HAS REFINANCED $46.5 MILLION OF DEBT AT HISTORICALLY LOW INTEREST RATES RESULTING IN $5.7 MILLION IN INTEREST EXPENSE SAVINGS. AND ALL OF THAT HAS HELPED US TO ACHIEVE A BOND RATING OF DOUBLE A+.
THAT IS THE HIGHEST BOND RATING HELD BY A SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CREDIT RATING AGENCY COMMENTS.
THEY DO A VERY, VERY DETAILED REVIEW OF OUR FINANCIALS AND IN THE LAST REVIEW, WE GOT COMMENTS LIKE STRONG FISCAL MANAGEMENT, A HISTORY OF SOUND RESERVES, CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING PRINCIPLES, A LARGE AND DIVERSE TAX BASE AND LOW DEBT AND POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT BURDENS. ALL OF THOSE POLICIES THAT THIS BOARD AND PREVIOUS BOARDS HAVE ENACTED TO GET US AT THIS EXCELLENT POINT IN OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION.
>> HERE IS A LOOK AT OUR DEBT SUMMARY.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE... OR WE WILL NEXT YEAR.
HAVE $30.5 MILLION IN OUTSTANDING DEBT.
THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE ON THAT IS $5.9 MILLION.
AND THEN HERE IS A LOOK AT OUR OUTSTANDING DEBT BALANCES FROM 2013. SO AGAIN, OVER THE PAST 10-12 YEARS, WE HAVE THE BOARD... THE BOARD HAS REDUCED DEBT BY $76.8 MILLION. A 72% REDUCTION.
AGAIN, THOSE RESERVE BALANCES THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AND UTILIZING THOSE IN A VERY RESPONSIBLE WAY AND WITH THE FAVORABLE VARIANCES, HAS ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT A LOT OF THOSE SAVINGS AND THOSE RESERVE ALLOCATIONS WENT INTO A BOND REDEMPTION RESERVE. WHEN THOSE BONDS BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR REDEMPTION, THAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT THE BOARD DID.
HERE IS A LOOK... I JUST MENTIONED THAT IN 2023, WE WILL HAVE ABOUT A 30.5 MILLION. IF YOU LOOK OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS, YOU CAN SEE BASED ON THE CURRENT PROFILE, WE WILL BE PAID
OFF IN 2032. >> WHAT IF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT LOOKED LIKE THAT? >> THAT WOW AWB AWESOME.
THAT WOW AWESOME, YES. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
THE DEBT BALANCE AS WE PAY OFF THESE DEBTS, AND THEY MATURE, YOU CAN SEE IN 2028, WE WILL HAVE A $2.8 MILLION DECREASE IN THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY ABOUT FOUR YEARS LATER, AN ADDITIONAL $2.4 MILLION.
>> MONIQUE, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T GET THIS, YOU KNOW, GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS HAVE TO BE COVERED BY PROPERTY TAXES.
>> YES. >> THEY HAVE TO BY LAW
>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> IT IS PART OF, YOU KNOW, OF YOUR TAX... YOUR TAX CALCULATION.
OKAY. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION ON THE BUDGET. SO IF THE BOARD WOULD, I GUESS THE MOTION BEFORE THE BOARD IS TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.
[01:10:02]
>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.
[9. Receive, consider, adopt and set by Order the 2022 Ad Valorem Tax Rate for Debt Service;]
>> OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT THE BUDGET HAS BEEN ADOPTED. AGENDA NUMBER NINE.
ADOPT AND SET BY ORDER THE 2022 AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR DEBT
[10. Receive, consider, adopt and set by Order the 2022 Ad Valorem Tax Rate for Maintenance and Operations;]
SERVICE. MONIQUE?>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO GOW THERE GO THROUGH A PRESENTATION THAT TALKS ABOUT THE DEBT SERVICE RATE AND THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE TOGETHER.
AND THEN WE CAN TAKE THE... THE BOARD CAN TAKE UP THOSE ACTIONS.
SO I WANT TO START OFF BY REMINDING... A REMINDER FOR ALL OF US. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, THAT IS REVENUE TO THE TOWNSHIP, THE OTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT THIS IS THAT IS TAX BURDEN ON OUR PROPERTY OWNERS.
THAT IS WHAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS PAY.
THOSE ARE INFLUENCED BY TWO FACTORS.
THE TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUE AND THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
AND THERE IS DIFFERENT THINGS YOU CAN DO ON EACH SIDE OF THAT IN ORDER TO MANAGE THE DEBT... NOT THE DE,... NOT THE DEBT THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR THE RESIDENT.
WHAT THIS BOARD HAS VERY SUCCESSFULLY DONE WHICH IS WHAT I'M GOING TO SHOW IS FOCUS HEAVILY ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATE COMPONENT OF IT. SO HERE ARE THE PROPERTY TAX VALUES TO NO ONE'S... I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS BY NOW, 202 WAS A HUGE INCREASE. THE LARGEST INCREASE IN MAYBE MY ENTIRE CAREER HERE THAT WE HAVE HAD IN TERMS OF THE REVALUATION INCREASE OF 13.6% AND THEN THE INCREASE RELATED TO NEW PROPERTIES ADDED TO THE ROLL WAS JUST UNDER 1%.
>> MONIQUE, YOU KNOW, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT 13.6%. IT IS ONLY 13.6% THAT IS
>> YOU KNOW, THE ACTUAL APPRAISAL RATES, YOU KNOW, HAVE GONE UP, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN 23% AND 28%, I BELIEVE IN THE WOODLANDS. AS YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE HOME OWNERS WHO ARE HOMESTEADED, THOSE INCREASES ARE CAPPED AT 10%. THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE ONLY SEEN
THE 13% INCREASE >> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT POINT.
>> YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE AN INCREASE AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
>> RIGHT. BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT.
OUR TOTAL, OUR TOTAL APPRAISAL INCREASE WAS 26.5%.
SO THAT IS RIGHT. IT GOT LIMITED ON HOMESTEAD
PROPERTIES TO 10%. >> THE APPRAISAL, THE APROPOSAL SAL DISTRICT, UNLESS IT REDUCE IT IS APPRAISED VALUES, THE RATE GOES UP AND UP UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY CAPTURE THE FULL AMOUNT. THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES, YOU ARE RIGHT, ARE CAPPED AT 10%. SAY, IF THE VALUE ON YOUR HOME ACTUALLY WENT UP 20%, YOU GOT CAPPED AT 10% NEXT YEAR, BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT CAN PICK UP THAT ADDITIONAL 10%. THAT IS CORRECT.
UNLESS THE APPRAISALS ARE REDUCED.
SO ON THE... AS I WAS TALKING ABOUT HERE ON THE FAR LEFT-HAND SIDE, IN TERMS OF PROPERTY VALUES, WHAT THE BOARD HAS DONE IS GRANTED AN AGE 65 AND OLDER OR DISABLED EXEMPTION.
SINCE 2011, THE BOARD HAD AN EXEMPTION IN PLACE OF $25,000.
FOR THIS YEAR, THE BOARD OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS INCREASED THAT EXEMPTION TO $40,000. THAT IS ONE WAY FOR A TARGETED GROUP TO BE ABLE TO LESSEN THE TAX BURDEN.
HERE IS A LOOK HISTORICALLY FROM THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, FROM THE INCEPTION OF THE TOWNSHIP AND JUST BEFORE 2010, TO WHERE WE ARE NOW. SO THIS IS THE TAX RATE.
IT HAS DECREASED, A TOTAL OF 55.4% OVER THE TIME PERIOD.
YOU CAN SEE THERE ON THE FAR RIGHT, WHAT THE BOARD IS DOING, THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS 18.75. THAT IS DOWN FROM 22.31 THIS YEAR. THE IMPORTANT THING TO LOOK AT IS NOT JUST WHAT THE TAX RATE HAS DONE BUT WHAT IT HAS DONE IN RELATION TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
BECAUSE AGAIN, WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE EQUATION AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO MANAGE FOR THE PROPERTY TAX PAYERS WHAT THE TAX IS, THAT IS WHAT THE IMPORTANT COMPONENT IS.
SO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS THE TAX RATE THAT PRODUCES THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE FOR THE SAME PROPERTIES TAXED IN BOTH YEARS. YOU CAN SEE HERE FOR THE TOWNSHIP, THE BLUE LINE REPRESENTS THE ADOPTED TAX RATE.
AND THE BEIGE, BROWNISH LINE IS THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS SET AN ADOPTED RATE AT OR BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THIS PERIOD THE ONLY TIMES THEY DIDN'T, IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE TIME PERIODS, ARE WHEN WE WERE HAVING ECONOMIC NATIONAL, REGIONAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND IT DIDN'T SEEM PRUDENT AT THAT TIME BASED ON THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE LOCAL OR NATIONALLY ECONOMY
[01:15:05]
TO LOWER THE RATE. BUT AGAIN, IT WAS STILL VERY CLOSE. HERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AT 22.31 CENTS. THAT IS THE CURRENT RATE.THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE CERTIFIED BY THE TAX ASSESSOR FOR NEXT YEAR IS 19.64. AND THE PROPOSED RATE IS 18.75.
THAT PROPOSED RATE OF 18.75 IS 16% LOWER THAN THE CURRENT RATE AND 4.5% LOWER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
AS I MENTIONED A LITTLE WHILE AGO THAT, MEANS... THAT MEANS THIS IS AN ACTUAL DECREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR THE TOWNSHIP. AND NOW I'M GOING TO DIRECT YOU
TO THIS POINT >> YOU LOOK BACK HISTORICALLY, WE ARE VERY... FAIRLY FLAT IN TERMS OF TAX REVENUE OVERALL.
PROPERTY TAX. WHERE YOU DO SEE THOSE INCREASE,S IT WAS DUE TO THE EXPIRATION OF ABATEMENTS ON CERTAIN PROPERTIES OR BECAUSE OF NEW RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. SO ALL THAT TO SAY A BETTER WAY TO SAY THAT IS THE INCREASE THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR THE TOWNSHIP IS NOT DUE TO THE REVALUATION OR THE REAPPRAISAL OF HOMES. SO I ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT, IN TERMS OF NOT JUST THE TOWNSHIP BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND FOR TAXPAYERS TO UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY ARE PAYING THE TOWNSHIP TAX , WHAT THAT IS IN RELATION TO SOME OF THE OTHER TAXING ENTITIES THAT SHOW UP ON THEIR TAX BILL. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE 2022 ADOPTED RATES, COMPARED TO 2023, YOU CAN SEE THESE DIFFERENT TAXING ENTITIES. AND I DON'T HAVE LONE STAR UP THERE. THEY HAVE NOT MADE THE FINAL DECISION ON THE RATE. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE...
>> AND HARRIS COUNTY. >> HARRIS COUNTY IS ON A DIFFERENT THING. SO HERE, YEA, THIS IS THE MONTGOMERY TAXING ENTITIES. SO WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS EVERY SINGLE ENTITY, WHEN YOU COMPARE FROM 2022 TO 2023, THEY WENT DOWN. AND THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE OF THE APPRAISALS WERE SO HIGH THAT REALLY THEY COULD NOT SET A RATE ANY HIGHER THAN THAT OR THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE GONE TO THE VOTERS FOR APPROVAL. THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT A LOT OF THE TAXING ENTITIES LIKE TO REPORT ON.
AND LIKE TO SHOW. THAT THEY WENT DOWN IN THEIR TAX RATE. AND THAT IS TRUE.
THEY DID. WHEN YOU COMPARE TO THE CURRENT YEAR. WHAT'S IMPORTANT, THE IMPORTANT CALCULATION OR THE IMPORTANT COMPARISON IS WHAT DID THE TAXING ENTITIES DO FOR THEIR ADOPTED RATE IN '23 COMPARED TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. AGAIN, THAT IS WHAT IMPACTS THE RESIDENTS PAY. AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT THE TOWNSHIP WAS THE ONLY TAXING ENTITY THAT, WHEN YOU GET YOUR TAX BILL HERE IN OCTOBER, THE TOWNSHIP WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT SAID... THAT SET A TAX RATE, A PROPOSED RATE AND POSSIBLY WILL ADOPT A RATE TONIGHT THAT IS GOING TO BE LOWER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. ALL OF THE OTHER ENTITIES WENT UP. THIS IS HOW MUCH THEY WENT UP.
WHEN YOU LOOK IN TERMS OF THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE, THAT THESEN'TTIES ADOPTED THE RATE OVER THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, HERE IS A LOOK AT IT. MONTGOMERY COUNTY WAS ALMOST 13% OVER THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, 8.7.
THE TOWNSHIP, AGAIN, WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT ACTUALLY LOWERED
THEIR RATE BY ABOUT 4.5%. >> AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER ON A PREVIOUS AGENDA, PART OF THAT MONTGOMERY INCREASE WAS TO INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN THE WOODLANDS THAT HASN'T MATERIALIZED. OTHERWISE, WE COULD HAVE OFF-SET EVEN FURTHER ON THE TOWNSHIP SIDE OF THE TAX RATE DECREASE.
>> YES >> I'M TRYING TO THINK, IF WE ARE AT 18.75 AND WE WENT DOWN TO THREE CENTS, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN AT 15.75. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MASSIVE
COMPARED TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
YES. >> AND THIS I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND MUCH TIME ON. BUT THE MUD DISTRICTS, ALSO HERE IS A LOOK AT THE RATE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT... DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LI, YOU ARE IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT. SOME OF THEM STAYED THE SAME.
SOME WENT DOWN. >> BUT THE POINT IS ONCE AGAIN, THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT A
PROPERTY APPRAISAL IS UP 13%. >> RIGHT
>> IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT 6% REDUCTION IN THE RATE, IT MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE STILL GETTING A TAX INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 6%. 6% OR 7%
>> YES, SIR. >> SO HERE I WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH TO WHAT... WE HAVE TAKEN ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE OWNER OF AN AVERAGE VALUE HOME? AND LOOKING BACK AT THAT, THIS IS, AGAIN, WHAT THE DIRECTOR WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER. IF YOU LOOK AT A HOME IN 2012,
[01:20:03]
THE AVERAGE VALUE WAS $346,000. IN 2022, THAT HOME HAD A VALUE BECAUSE OF THE APPRAISALS. THAT SAME HOME.A VALUE OF ABOUT $500,000. AND NOW, IN 2023, IF YOU LOOK AT THE VALUE OF THAT HOME THAT WENT UP BY THAT FULL 10%, THAT IS CAPPED ON A HOMESTEAD PROPERTY, IT IS NOW AT $550,000.
BUT YET, OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME, THE TAX PAID ON THAT HOME BY THAT PROPERTY OWNER WAS AT $126,000 IN 2012.
NOW AT 2023, THAT IS AT $1,031. IT HAS DECREASED OVER TIME.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT DECREASE THAT WE ARE SEEING IN 2023, IS BECAUSE OF THE TAX RATE WHERE IT IS BEING SET.
THERE IS A LOT OF TALK... EVERY YEAR ABOUT THE TOWNSHIP NOT HAVING A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. THAT IS RIGHT.
WE DON'T THE TOWNSHIP... THE BOARDS HAVE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON THE TAX RATE PROVIDING THE RELIEF TO THE TAXPAYER. AND SO YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THAT IS WHAT THE CASE IS HERE. I FINALLY GOT AROUND TO DOING THIS AT LEAST FOR ONE SLIDE. (LAUGHTER) I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO FOREVER. IF YOU TAKE THAT 212 HOME THAT WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE WHILE AGO, THAT WAS PAYING $1,126 IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, THAT WOULD BE $1,455.
SO NOW IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE TAX AMOUNT IS, THAT IS ACTUALLY A $424 REDUCTION. SO SOMETIMES WHEN WE ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT $30 OR $40 REDUCTIONS, WHEN YOU INFLATE IT, WHEN YOU ADJUST FOR INFLATION, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING MUCH, MUCH GREATER THAN THAT. THAT IS A TRUE SAVINGS.
NOW, I WANT TO COMPARE WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.
I WANT TO DRIVE HOME THE POINT ABOUT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND WHAT THIS BOARD HAS DONE IN TERMS OF FOCUSING IN ON THE TAX RATE. SO HERE IS THE EXAMPLE... I STARTED TO USE THE HIGHEST TAX THAT PEOPLE PAY, THAT PROPERTY OWNERS PAY TO THE CON ROW END INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THEIR TAXES WORK A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
I USE THE CLOSEST THING WHICH IS THE COUNTY SO AGAIN, WHAT I WANT TO SHOW HERE IS EVEN THOUGH THE COUNTY HAS A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OF 20%, SO THAT $550,000 HOME IS ONLY BEING TAXED ON $440,000, IF YOU ARE NOT MANAGING TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, IF YOU ARE NOT MANAGING THAT THROUGH THE RATE, YOUR TAX CAN STILL GO UP. THE PROPERTY, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON THOSE HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES ARE THERE.
AND OTHERWISE, THE TAX WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS PLAY TOGETHER. SO A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT YOUR TAXESARE GOING TO BE LOWER.
THEN I WANT TO ALSO SHOW WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES. ON NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES, WHICH ARE YOUR ONES THAT ARE AFFECTING YOUR RENTERS OR YOUR SMALL BUSINESSES OR YOUR APARTMENTS OR YOUR NURSING HOMES, ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THESE ARE IF PEOPLE AFFECTED HERE. ON A NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTY, BECAUSE THE TOWNSHIP MANAGES TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, AND THEN GOES DOWN, THEN THESE PEOPLE ARE ALSO... THE PEOPLE IN NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES ARE ALSO GETTING THE BENEFIT OF THE TAX BREAK. THEREFORE, NOT PASSING IT ON TO THEIR RENTERS OR THE PERSON RESIDING IN THE NURSING HOME OR THE SMALL BUSINESSES PASSING IT ON TO CONSUMERS.
IT IS A REAL SAVINGS FOR ALL PROPERTY OWNERS.
AGAIN, COMPARING TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY, THEY DON'T HAVE A HOMESTEAD THERE. YOU DON'T GET THE BREAK LIKE WE SAW ON THE RESIDENTIAL. AGAIN, BECAUSE NOT MANAGING TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THERE IS A PRETTY SHARP INCREASE THERE IN TERMS OF THE TAX PAID. AND THEN FINALLY, THE LAST COUPLE OF SLIDES WE HAVE, HERE IS A LOOK.
WHEN YOU GET YOUR TAX BILL IN OCTOBER, IT IS JUST, AGAIN, PART OF THIS WHOLE EXERCISE. IF YOU REMEMBER.
WE GET THIS ALL THE TIME. ALL OF THESE OTHER ENTITIES WHERE YOU SEE THE RED ARROWS, YOUR TAXES ARE GOING UP COMPARED TO WHAT YOU PAID LAST YEAR. FOR THESE ENTITIES.
THE TOWNSHIP IS GOING DOWN. AND THE TOWNSHIP ONLY REPRESENTS 10% OF YOUR TAX BILL. IN TERMS OF HARRIS COUNTY, THE TOWNSHIP REPRESENTS ABOUT 8% OF YOUR TAX BILL.
AND THESE OTHER ENTITIES WHEN YOU GET YOUR TAX BILL IN OCTOBER , ONCE AGAIN, THEIR TAXES ARE GOING TO BE GOING UP.
COMPARED TO WHAT YOU PAID IN THE CURRENT YEAR, THE TOWNSHIPS WILL BE GOING DOWN. OKAY.
ANY QUESTIONS? BEFORE WE GET TO THE ACTUAL VOTE
ON THE RATE? >> VERY THOROUGH.
>> SO HERE ARE THE DIFFERENT TAX RATES.
I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE FIVELE-YEAR PLAN IMPACT OF THOSE
[01:25:05]
BECAUSE WE ALWAYS LOOK AT THE FIVELE-YEAR PLAN WHEN MAKING DECISIONS. RIGHT NOW, THE TOP ONE IS THE PROPOSED RATE OF 18.75. AND THEN I JUST TOOK IT DOWN IN THE INCREMENTS TO 18.5. THE OUT-YEARS ARE IN RED.AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS UNCOMMON FROM WHAT WE HAVE DONE BEFORE. BY RED, THAT MEANS A NEG TY FUND BALANCE. WE HAVE VERY CONSERVATIVE BUDGET ESTIMATES. WE HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY BUILT INTO OUR BUDGET. SO NUMBERS, AT THIS LEVEL, PARTICULARLY, IN THE TOP THREE COLUMNS HAVE NOT REALLY EVER...
WE HAVE HAD THOSE TYPES OF NUMBERS THERE BEFORE.
IN THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN. AND WE HAVE WEATHEREDST IT
I LIKE THAT 18.5. >> I DO, TOO.
>> I DO, TOO. >> YOU HAVE LIKED IT SINCE THE BEGINNING. (LAUGHTER)
>> IF WE WENT TO 18.5, YOU WOULD HAVE TO GIVE ME THE NEW MAINTENANCE AND DEBT SERVICE NUMBERS.
UNLESS YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE THOSE.
>> LET ME SEE IF I CAN... >> OF COURSE, THERE IS THE REST OF THE BOARD THAT HAS TO AGREE TO THAT.
>> I HAVE 17.29. WE WILL CHECK THAT MATH.
>> I BELIEVE THE M&O RATE IS 7.29.
TOTAL 18.50. >> I DIDN'T KNOW.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO YOU GUYS HAVE TO AGREE TO WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. AGENDA ITEM 9 AND 10 ARE REALLY
COMBINED INTO THIS MOTION >> RIGHT.
>> I HAVE SUGGESTED .185. WHICH WOULD GIVE US AN M&O RATE OF .1729. A DEBT SERVICE RATE OF .0121.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PROPOSED RATES?
>> ALL RIGHT. SO GIVE ME JUST A SECOND TO WRITE THAT INTO MY SCRIPT.
>> IF WE WENT ANY LOWER THAN THAT, YOUR AL CAN ELSE ISER BUDGET WOULD OFF-SET ANY BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.
>> WE ARE GOING TO BE GOOD. GOOD TIMING.
>> 18.50, I CAN STILL SLEEP. THERE YOU GO
>> I CALL FOR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO ADOPT ORDER NUMBER 014-22 LEVYING A 2022 AD VALOREM TAX RATE OF .1279 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND .0121 FOR DEBT SERVICE THIS RESULTS IN A TOWNSHIP TAX RATE OF .1850 PER HUNDRED TAXABLE VALUE WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A LARGE DECREASE IN
I NEED YOU TO TAKE SEPARATE VOTES ON THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND ON THE DEBT SERVICE.
>> YOU HAVE TO DO IT SEPARATELY. >> YES, PLEASE.
>> OKAY. I DIDN'T WRITE THE SCRIPT.
WELL, IT DOES HAVE HERE... I'M SUPPOSED TO SAY A PERCENTAGE TAX DECREASE. CAN WE GET A TAX DECREASE PERCENTAGE CALCULATION? NOT REQUIRED.
BUT IT SOUNDS GOOD. YOU LIKE A LARGE TAX DECREASE? OKAY. I WILL TAKE THE VOTES SEPARATE.
A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AD VALOREM TAX RATE OF .1729 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> OKAY. A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ACOOPERATE A .0121 FOR DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE.
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.
WE NOW A COMBINED TAX RATE OF .1805 PER TAXABLE VALUE.
[01:30:02]
THAT IS A LARGE PERCENTAGE DECREASE IN THE TAX RATE.WE GOT THAT RESOLVED. SO THAT DOES TAKE CARE OF AGENDA ITEM TEN. WE HAVE BEEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE ARE NOW ALL THE WAY TO FUTURE
[14. Board announcements; and]
AGENDA ITEMS AND BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS.AND... I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. >> WE HAVE A REGULAR JUST BOARD
ANNOUNCEMENT. >> IS THAT OKAY?
AT THIS POINT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE A MEETING BETWEEN TXDOT AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE 242 GROUP THAT CHAIRMAN BUNCH HELPED TO PUT TOGETHER IN A RECENT MEETING.
THAT MEETING... I SHOULD SAY AT A RECENT BOARD MEETING THAT MEETING WITH TXDOT WILL BE A ZOOM MEETING.
WE WILL HAVE TOWNSHIP STAFF THERE AS WELL AS PRESUMPTIVELY REPRESENTATIVE STEVE TOTE. PERHAPS OTHERS THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT I WANTED TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT TXDOT WILL CONTINUE THEIR OPEN-DOOR POLICY THAT TEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN WITH THE WOODLANDS.
WE APPRECIATE THE FACT OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US, AND WE OFFER THEM OUR GOODWILL AND WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS. WE DID HEAR QUITE A BIT TONIGHT, VERY GOOD SUGGESTIONS FROM SOME OF THE RESIDENTS.
AND I APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT. SO HOPEFULLY, SOMETHING GOOD WILL COME OUT OF THE MONDAY MEETING.
TXDOT IS A LONG PROCESS. THEY WORK SLOWLY.
AND TAKE THE RESIDENTS' VIEW INTO CONSIDERATION.
HOPEFULLY, IT WILL COME OUT IN A GOOD WAY.
I'LL MAKE ONE SAD ANNOUNCEMENT. THIS CONCLUDES MY 11TH BUDGET AND MY 11TH TAX RATE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR OUR TOWNSHIP. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO SWERVE OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND CURRENT AND PAST BOARDS AND BEING FIDUCIARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS AND CAN'T BE EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT LEAVING OUR COMMUNITY IN SUCH FINANCIAL CONDITION AS WE HAVE THE LOWEST HISTORICAL RATE, THE LOWEST AMOUNT OF DEBT AND THE MOST AMOUNT OF CAPITAL ON HAND TO ADDRESS CURRENT NEEDS AND FUTURE NEEDS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN PART OF THIS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
IT IS NOT DONE ALONE. WE RIDE ON YOUR SHOULDERS.
I THANK YOU FOR A GREAT 11 BUDGET CYCLES AND 11 TAX RATE
>> DON'T MAKE HIM FEEL BAD ABOUT TELLING HOW MANY BUDGET CYCLES YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH, MONIQUE. (LAUGHTER)
>> MORE THAN 11? >> MORE THAN 11.
>> YOU ARE CLEARING OUT A LOT OF SPACE IN MY HOUSE
FROM BINDERS FROM THE PAST. >> YUP.
>> ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, WE WILL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.