[00:00:10]
>> 5:45 P.M., SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2025. I CALL THE WOODLAND TOWNSHIP'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS PUBLIC MEETING TO ORDER. WE HAVE, IN OUR PREVIOUS MEETING EARLIER, STARTED 50 MINUTES AGO.
WE, WE SAID THE INDICATION AND WE SAID THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, SO WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO FULFILL LOWE'S, AND TO THE TEXAS FLAG. THOUGH IT IS 5:45 P.M. IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW OF THIS MEETING WAS POSTED 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING, POSTING OCCURRED INSIDE THE BANNERS OF THE WOODLAND TOWNSHIP AT THIS OFFICE BUILDING. STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST FOUR BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR CONDUCT BUSINESS. I ASK THAT BOARD NUMBER -- AS I CALL ROLE. VICE CHAIRMAN EISSLER.
>> PRESENT. >> DIRECTOR FRANKS? 27
>> HERE. >> DIRECTOR NELSON? HERE.
[3. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the meeting agenda;]
>> MY ROLLCALL IS DETERMINED. WE HAVE EFFICIENT NUMBER OF MEMBERS. PRESENT DECLARE THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM. MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM THREE, RECEIVING AT UPON THE ADOPTION OF THE MEETING AGENDA. PLEASE REVIEW THIS IN YOUR AGENDA PACKETS PAGES ONE
[4. Recognize public officials;]
THROUGH TWO. I CALL AN EMOTION AT A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.>> MOVED BY DIRECTOR FRANKS, SECONDED BY DIRECTOR NELSON.
>> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES. ARTHUR, WE WELCOME YOU AGAIN AS OUR PUBLIC OFFICIAL. IS THE PUBLIC HEARING,
[5. Public comment;]
THAT IS PUBLIC COMMENT -- OKAY, YEAH. WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. PARTICIPANTS , THEN ITEM FIVE, PUBLIC COMMENT. PARTICIPANTS WERE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE OPEN TO THE MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED. A PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA ITEM IS INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF ALL REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOARD ADOPTED A POLICY TO PRODUCE THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR ALLOWING THAT YOU WENT TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. THE WOODLAND TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXCEPT THE PUBLIC COMMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES ARE DISSIPATING IN THE PUBLIC MEETING. EACH PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST FIRST SIGN ON THE SPEAKERS ROSTER PROVIDED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO MAKE GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, ADDRESS A TOPIC THAT IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA, OR WISH TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS MUST DO SO UNDER THE PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA ITEM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. INDIVIDUALS WITH A LIMITED A TOTAL THREE MINUTES REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF TOPICS. IF THERE REMAIN MORE THAN 15 SPEAKERS SIGN UP FOR 15 -- EACH SPINNAKER WILL BE LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TWO MINUTES REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF TOPICS. SPEAKERS WILL BE TAKEN IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGN-UP. SPEAKERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO YIELD THEIR TIME TO ANOTHER SPEAKER ON THE LIST. STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE BOARD FROM FORMALLY ACTING ON A SPECIFIC ITEM OR PUBLIC COMMENT UNLESS IT APPEARS ON THE POSTED AGENDA.THEREFORE, ANY BOARD DISCUSSION OF THE ITEMS NOT INCLUDED ON THE POST AGENDA IS LIMITED TO QUESTIONS FOR CLARIFICATION, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE BOARD AGENDAS.
SPEAKERS WILL EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS OR VIEWPOINT ON AN ISSUE, BUT ARE NOT PERMITTED TO DISSIPATE IN THE DEBATE OF AN ISSUE. SPEAKERS WILL NOT USE PROFANITY, COMMENTS FROM SPEAKERS CAN BE MADE TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE OR TO INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS. ALSO I REMIND YOU TO PLEASE PLACE YOUR CELL PHONE ON SILENT MODE. THAT'S FOR YOU, ARTHUR.
CHAIRMAN, I CALL ON THE SPEAKERS ROSTER. FIRST UP, SCOTT PRESTON.
SCOTT? >> GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN.
DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS, AND THE MILLIONS VIEWING ONLINE.
SCOTT PRESTON, STARTING RIDGE GOING HOMEOWNER. AS A PRELUDE, I HAD ASKED RICHARD NOONS TO TIME MY PRESENTATION, BUT THAT'S NOT NECESSARY, BECAUSE LAURA IS SPECIFICALLY DOING THAT FOR ME.
SECOND, MR. CHAIRMAN, MAY I ASK HONORABLE ARTHUR READ OFF, ARTHUR, IS YOUR CELL PHONE MUTED? THANK YOU, SIR. MILLIONS WATCHING, THANK YOU FOR THAT. LET US PROCEED. THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL ROLE OF THE BOARD IS SERVING THE CONSTITUENTS. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE 2026 BUDGET, REVIEWED, ANALYZED, PREPARED FOR FINALIZATION. WHILE THE BUDGET REFLECTS COMMUNITY GOALS, AMENITIES, THE COST OF PROPERTY TAXES HAS INCREASED FOR THE 30,000 HOMEOWNERS, DUE DIRECTLY TO VALUATIONS. SPECIFICALLY THE DECISION TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY TAX AT THE .1714 FOR $100 VALUATION AS SPECIFICALLY INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES AND SPECIFICALLY TAXES. MY VALUATION INCREASED, AND I WILL PAY MORE ON PROPERTY TAXES THIS YEAR.
REAL COST, REAL DOLLARS ADDED TO MY TAX ROLL DUE TO VALUATION
[00:05:03]
INCREASED. WITH THE INFLATIONARY CLIMATE, IT IS A DAUNTING TASK FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS TO FACE A TRUE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.ESPECIALLY THOSE ON INCOMES. THE PRESIDENT VALIDATED MY STATEMENT ABOUT INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAXES WITH THE .1714 EARLY IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, STATING SHE FORECASTED A MINIMUM OF $2 MILLION VALUATIONS, REVENUE STREAM FOR THE 2026 BUDGET. THE BUDGET REVENUE PAGE NOW REFLECTS $3.6 MILLION FOR A 7.6% INCREASE. I WANT TO NOTE, $30 MILLION IS THE AGGREGATE PROPERTY VALUATION TAX BASE FOR THE WOODLANDS. MOST REASONABLE, RESPONSIBLE EQUALIZER IS THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. THANKS TO THE CHAIRMAN'S COURAGE, PERSEVERANCE, WE HAVE A 3% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. IT'S AN EQUITABLE TOOL FOR PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION FOR HOMEOWNERS. AS OF TODAY, THE BOARD HAS NO STRATEGIC PLAN IN PLACE TO INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. NO DISCUSSIONS, NO DIALOGUE OCCURRED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INCREASE. MILLIONS WATCHING COLLECTIVELY ASKED WHY? WHY NO PLAN? MAY IT BE ONE YEAR? BE AT TWO YEARS, MAY IT BE FIVE YEARS TO OFFER THE 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT OUR 10 MONTHS OFFER TODAY. WE ASK SPECIFICALLY, AND I MAY OFFER MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS OFFER A 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. HOW ABOUT HOUSTON? YES, HOUSTON.
SPACE CITY. 20%. AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, FRISCO, DEER PARK, PLANO, CARLTON. I OFFERED IN MY HAND OUT VARIOUS OTHER CITIES.
LET ME ALSO NOTE, MULTIPLE CITIES IN TEXAS OFFER LOWER PROPERTY TAX RATES THAN THE WOODLANDS, AND OFFER 10% TO 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS. THEY ENJOY THE TAX EQUALIZER. LET ME SUMMARIZE THE KEY TAKEAWAYS. WE ARE ASKING FOR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY AS STEWARDS OF OUR PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS. WE ARE ASKING FOR A PLAN, A STRATEGIC OFFERING THAT QUANTIFIES AN INCREASE IN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. WE'RE ASKING FOR A SYSTEMATIC TIMETABLE TO ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM 20% MARRYING OUR MUDS. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, CHAIRMAN DAILY
AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. >> THANK YOU, SCOTT. POINT OF CLARIFICATION. IT WAS THE ENTIRE BOARD ON 2023 THAT DID THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, NOT JUST ME. SO IT WAS A FULL 7-0 VOTE ON PUTTING A 3% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
[6. Receive, consider and act upon an overview of 2025 property tax rates;]
>> IN QUEUE. >> NO PROBLEM. BUT KEEP IT ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. MOVING TO REGULAR AGENDA , ITEM 6, RECEIVE AND ACT UPON THE REVIEW OF THE 2025 PROPERTY TAX RATE. FIRST TO PAGES 3 TO 5 OF YOUR PACKET. I CALL ON MONIQUE SHARP, OUR PRESIDENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO PRESENT. BUSY NIGHT TONIGHT FOR MONIQUE.
>> CONTROL. I DON'T REMEMBER. HOW TO DO THIS. CONTROL L? YEAH.
THANK YOU. OKAY. >> ARE WE GOING STRAIGHT INTO QUESTION? OH, OKAY, SORRY. I'M LIKE, ALL RIGHT. LET'S START
ASKING QUESTIONS. >> REVIEW OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATES. AS A REMINDER, OUR CURRENT TAX RATES SIT AT 17.1% PER $100 OF VALUATION. THAT WAS THE PROPOSED RATE BY THE BOARD AT THE END OF THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS. OUR NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS 1603, AND OUR VOTER APPROVAL RATE IS 18.89. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE BUDGET, SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE A HISTORY OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN WITH OUR TAXES, OUR PROPERTY TAXES. SO -- A REAL HOME THAT WAS AN AVERAGE VALUE IN 2012 AT
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$312,000. THE TAX RATE WAS 32 1/2 SINCE AT THAT POINT IN TIME, AND THAT TAXPAYER, THAT HOMEOWNER PAID $1014 IN TAXES.WHERE WE SIT TODAY, AT THE TAX RATE IS 17.14 CENTS. THAT SAME HOME VALUE IS NOW AT $595,000, AND THAT TAXPAYER PAYS $989. SO LESS THAN WHAT THEY WERE PAYING OVER 13 YEARS AGO. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF THE SERVICES THAT HAVE -- THE ENHANCED SERVICES THAT HAVE PROVIDED OVER THAT TIME, I THINK IT IS REMARKABLE , BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT I THINK. LET'S SEE WHAT OUR RESIDENTS THINK. AND THAT'S WHAT'S SHOWN OVER THERE AT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. OUR RESIDENTS ON OUR MARKET SURVEY, THE RESIDENT SURVEY THAT WAS DONE EARLIER THIS YEAR, 95% OF THEM SAID THAT THEY GET A VERY GOOD OR A GOOD VALUE FOR THEIR MONEY FOR TOWNSHIP SERVICES. SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD INDICATION OF THE SATISFACTION OF WHERE WE SIT. ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WHEN WE HAVE, WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL ON A $500,000 HOME, THE TOTAL THAT YOU'LL RECEIVE A $7340, BUT THE TOWNSHIP IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS $831 IF YOU LIVE IN A $500,000 HOME, OR 11%. AND IN HARRIS COUNTY, IT'S , YOUR TOTAL TAX BILL'S GOING TO BE 2255 AGAIN AS A TOWNSHIP, TAXPAYER, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY $831, OR 8% OF THAT TOTAL BILL. SHORT OVERVIEW, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> QUESTION. IF YOU GO BACK TO THE, THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN PULL THAT SLIDE UP, TO RESERVE FUND
>> PAGE 13 -- BUT OH, YES, OKAY, GOTCHA.
>> THE $2.1 MILLION THAT WE HAVE LEFT OVER FROM LAST YEAR, COULD WE USE THAT UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE TO BUYDOWN THE RATE?
>> NO, YOU CANNOT, AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE IT IS A, IT IS, THAT IS SORT OF LIKE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR , AND YOU CAN ONLY USE IT FOR ONE-TIME PURCHASES. THAT IS NOT, YOU, THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BUYDOWN A RATE IS IF YOU HAVE ONGOING, IF YOU'RE REDUCING ONGOING REVENUES. IF YOU'RE REDUCING ONGOING EXPENSES THAT ARE COVERED BY ONGOING REVENUES.
>> HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO GET DOWN TO THE --
>> HERE WE GO. SO THE, IN THE TERMS OF THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AT 1603, IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT TO THE REVENUE IMPACT TO THE TOWNSHIP OF $3.3 MILLION, WHICH WOULD EQUATE TO 50, A SAVINGS OF $53 OR $4.49 A MONTH ON A HOME VALUED AT $500,000.
>> SO YOU -- >> SO BECAUSE WE HAVE, WHAT WE HAVE IS $200,000 IN ONGOING REVENUES. THAT HAD OTHER UNALLOCATED BALANCE, YOU SAID. IF, IF THE BOARD WANTED TO GO TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WE WOULD BASICALLY HAVE TO, WE WOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY $3.1 MILLION IN ONGOING OPERATING EXPENSES TO CUT IN ORDER TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
>> OKAY, SO THERE'S NO, THERE IS NO WAY TO USE THAT TO .1 TO, TO PAY FOR ONE-TIME EXPENSES IN THE CURRENT BUDGET. IN THE
APPROVED BUDGET. >> IT, AGAIN, IT WOULD JUST BE TO COVER ONE-TIME EXPENSES, SO WE'RE NOT IMPACTING ONGOING
>> MAY I ADD SOMETHING? THANK YOU, PRESIDENT SHARP. I THINK IT BOILS DOWN TO, FOR THE BOARD, TO TAKE A, A, A SHARP PENCIL AND LOOK AT EXPENSES, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET HERE. YOU CAN'T PAY FOR IT OUT OF A SAVINGS ACCOUNT. AND EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD BE NICE TO DO SO, WE HAVE TO CUT EXPENSES.
THEN WE COULD'VE DONE THAT PRIOR. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
BUT IF WE WANTED TO RECESS, TAKE A MINUTE, THINK ABOUT IT. I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO DO THIS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION OR DO IT FULL BOARD, BUT THERE IS STILL THE POSSIBILITY OF CUTTING. MAYBE WE CAN'T GET DOWN TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE COMPLETELY, BUT MAYBE WE COULD GET THERE PARTIALLY. ANYTHING WILL HELP. WE CAN'T DO IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE HERE, AND BRETT AND I WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT, BECAUSE YOU JUST ADOPTED A BUDGET.
>> YEAH, WE JUST, YEAH. SO -- >> BUT IT'S DOABLE.
>> NO, IT'S, YEAH. WE HAD THREE DAYS OF BUDGET MEETING, AND WE WERE ON THE LOSING END OF THAT , SHELLEY, SO I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE'S MINDS HAVE CHANGED ON THAT. SO I, WELL, I,
[00:15:01]
I AGREE WITH YOU. THAT'S WHY I WAS TRYING TO GET CREATIVE WITH THE UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE, BUT I GOT A HARD NO, FORTUNATELY. OKAY, SOWE ARE -->> AND I, CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION? MAYBE THE BOARD WOULD BE MORE AMENABLE TO LOOKING AT WHAT MR. PRESTON BROUGHT UP.
MAYBE INCREASING, AND AGAIN, I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT, AND MAYBE WE HAVE TO COME BACK ANOTHER DAY AND GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RECALCULATE THE FIGURES, REVIEW THE BUDGET, BRING IT BACK, BUT MAYBE IT WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY TO WORK IN FAVOR OF THE RESIDENTS AND GIVE THEM A PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO GO TO SERVE THE
PUBLIC. >> THAT DEADLINE EXPIRED ON JULY 1ST. THOSE HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 1ST. SO THAT'S NOT
POSSIBLE FOR THIS TAX YEAR. >> IS THAT STATE LAW?
>> THAT IS STATE LAW. >> AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, WE TALKED ABOUT IT, AND YOU MENTIONED DURING OUR, THE LAST MEETING IN JUNE THAT IF WE, IF IT WAS SOMETHING WE WANTED TO DO, IT HAD TO BE DONE THEN, OR YOU MENTIONED IT MAY --
>> WE DID, WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO, TO HAVE A HEARING, A BUDGET HEARING IN MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY, INDIVIDUALLY, BASED AROUND THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR NEXT BUDGET CYCLE TO LOOK SO WE CAN LOOK AT HOW WE CAN START PINCHING IT UP TO THE, TO THE RATE. AND IF WE CAN HAVE THAT OVER THREE MONTH PERIOD TO REALLY KIND OF GET OUR ARMS AROUND IT, I THINK THAT WILL BE HELPFUL. BECAUSE JULY 1ST, IT KIND OF COMES AND GOES, AND WE,
[7. Recess the regular meeting of the Board of Directors;]
WE DIDN'T EVEN, I DIDN'T EVEN HARDLY REALIZE IT, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE COULD DO THAT IN 2026.>> SURE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE'LL DO THAT.
>> OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MONIQUE? COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS WHERE I NEED TO RECESS THE REGULAR MEETING, IS THAT
[8. PUBLIC HEARING: Convene and conduct a Public Hearing on the Proposed 2025 Property Tax Rate;]
>> AGENDA ITEM SEVEN, RECESS THE REGULAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING. IT IS 6:02 P.M.. PUBLIC HEARING -- PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED FOR THE 2025 PROPERTY TAX RATE. PAGES SIX OF YOUR PACKET. WE WILL NOW CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2025 PROPERTY TAX RATE. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY, ANY PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SPEAKER ROSTER. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE CROWD THAT SHOWED UP LATE, WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK? IF NOT, I CALL ON PRESIDENT MONIQUE SHARP TO
PRESENT. >> THERE'S NOTHING I NEED TO, AND I'M SORRY, BECAUSE I THINK WE HAD THAT WRONG IN YOUR SCRIPT. SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY FAULT. THERE'S NOTHING WE, I NEED TO PRESENT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING. THAT'S JUST ONLY FOR THE PUBLIC IF THEY WISH TO SPEAK. OTHERWISE YOU CAN RECESS THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE ADOPTION OF
THE RATE. >> WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP, NO
[9. Reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Directors;]
ONE IN THE AUDIENCE IS WANTING TO COME UP AND SPEAK. GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. ALL RIGHT. IT IS 6:03. WE WILL RECONVENE THE REGULAR, WE WILL RECONVENE THE REGULAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AT 6:03 P.M. AND RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION. AGENDA ITEM[10. Receive, consider and act upon approval of a 2025 debt service tax rate of $0.0102 per $100 of taxable value;]
10, RECEIVE AND CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE APPROVAL OF 2025 DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE OF .0102 PER 100 TAXABLE VALUE. REFER TO DIRECTORS TO LOOK AT PAGE SEVEN, AND CALL ON MONIQUE SHARP, PRESIDENT CHIEF CLO, TO EXPLAIN THE NEXT STEPS OF THE PROCESS.>> OKAY. THIS IS GOING TO BE A THREE-STEP PROCESS TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE. THE FIRST STEP IS TO ADOPT THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE.
THAT RATE CANNOT CHANGE FROM WHAT WAS PROPOSED, SO THIS IS THE EXACT AMOUNT THAT WE, THAT, WHEN APPLIED AGAINST TAXABLE VALUES , WILL GENERATE THE INCOME THAT WE NEED TO PAY DEBT SERVICE ON OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. SO AGAIN, THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE ADOPTED AS, EXACTLY AS PRESENTED.
>> ALL RIGHT. CAN I COMMENT, QUESTION? MONIQUE, I THINK IT'S THE BOARD FOR OUR AUDIENCE IN THE MILLIONS, MILLIONS WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE SEEING OTHER CITIES AROUND US OF WHAT THEY'RE FACING. LINDA GAVE ME AN ARTICLE EARLIER TALKING ABOUT THE CITY CONROE. DUE TO THE PROBLEMS I THINK WE'RE ALL HAVING WITH MAJOR INCREASES OF
PUBLIC SAFETY COST -- >> RIGHT.
>> THE CITY OF CONROE, PER THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE -- CURRENT TAX RATE IS $.42 PER, 42.72 PER $100 VALUE. SO, FOR THE RECORD, 42 74 CENTS PER $100 VALUE. THEY ARE , COUNCIL IS LOOKING TO BUMP IT UP 7.8 -- TO 46.13 PER $100 VALUE. THAT'S THE HIGHEST THEY CAN GO
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WITHOUT NEEDING VOTER APPROVAL, IS THAT CORRECT, MONIQUE?>> THAT'S A VOTE OF APPROVAL, RIGHT?
>> A RISE OF ALMOST 8% IN THE CITY OF CONROE, I BELIEVE FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD, SHENANDOAH'S IS FACING THE SAME PROBLEMS. DIRECTOR SNYDER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO KIND OF REFERENCE THAT?
>> AND I ASKED MAYOR A SCOTTO THIS AFTERNOON IF I COULD QUOTE HIM. IT'S, THEIR PROPOSED TAX RATE IS .2021. THEY'LL VOTE ON THAT TAX RATE WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK FOR $100 VALUATION. I BELIEVE THEIR PREVIOUS TAX RATE WAS .14, THEIR CURRENT RATE IS
14 SOME, 14 SOMETHING CENTS. >> AND SO THEY TOO, WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO INCREASE PAY PARITY, EVERYONE'S FACING CHALLENGES. SO I REALLY COMMEND THIS BOARD, AND THE LEADERSHIP, MONIQUE AND HER TEAM, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN AS OUR PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 1714. I MEAN, IT'S INCREDIBLE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE LAW ENFORCEMENT WENT UP $2 MILLION.
>> $2.8 MILLION. >> ALMOST $3 MILLION.
>> $2.8 MILLION, AND WE'VE ADDED LAW OFFICERS BECAUSE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS. WE'VE HAD TECHNOLOGY. SO I, I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE MAYOR A SCOTTO IS FAR FROM A LIBERAL SPENDER THAT WANTS TO RAISE TAXES. HE IS, HE'S, HE MIGHT BE TO THE RIGHT OF ATTILA THE HUN. I'M NOT SURE ON THAT. BUT HE IS VERY FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE. MAYOR, THESE ARE, THESE ARE ISSUES THAT HAVE HIT EVERYONE IN THE ENTIRE REGION. AND I THINK THE, THE, THE VOTERS AND MEMBERS OF OUR PUBLIC NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
EVERY SINGLE, FROM GALVESTON TO, GALVESTON COUNTY TO GRIMES COUNTY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. HUNTSVILLE. BECAUSE OF WHAT HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY DID, THE TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT, TRICKLE UP EFFECT IS GONE PRETTY RAMPANT. WE ALL, AND I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS BOARD , BELIEVE PUBLIC SAFETY'S THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF THIS BOARD, AND WE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS. NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON DID. WE'VE DONE THIS LONG BEFORE THE CITY OF HOUSTON RAISED IT. AND OUR POLICE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. WE SAW THAT LAST WEEK WITH WHAT HAPPENED THAT THE LOUIS VUITTON STORE. AN ARREST WAS MADE, AND DONE QUICKLY, SO I, I APPLAUD OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS. BUT THIS BOARD HAS, AND ALONG WITH DEATH -- STAFF, I HEAR YOUR, OUR ESTEEMED PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. I TRULY BELIEVE IN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. BUT YOU ALSO, WHAT'S MISSING FROM HERE IS THE TAX RATES THAT THEY'RE CHARGING PER $100 VALUE OF ALL THESE COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS 48, 49. FRISCO IS, I THINK, AT 47. WE WENT TO A RETREAT THERE. $.47 PER $100 VALUATION. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I HEARD THAT. I GOT A LOT OF NICE AMENITIES, BUT THEIR TAX RATE IS UP THERE. SO I APPLAUD THAT WE DONE THIS, WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOME THINGS MORE. I DO WANT TO STUDY THE, THE, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION NEXT YEAR, AND GIVE US TIME, AND GIVE STAFF TIME TO, TO LOOK THROUGH THIS IN A MORE RESPONSIBLE WAY, BECAUSE JULY 1ST IS PRETTY QUICK. AND IT SNEAKS UP ON YOU, SO. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THOSE UP ABOUT WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND
>> DON'T THINK THAT NEEDS A SECOND, BUT I APPRECIATE IT. I GOT YOU, RICHARD. OKAY, SO MOVING BACK TO AGENDA ITEM 10, CALL THE MOTION OF A SECOND TO APPROVE THE 2025 DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE OF .0102 PER, THIS IS NOT THE TAX RATE, RIGHT? THIS IS
THE DEBT -- >> DEBT SERVICE RATE, YES SIR.
>> DEBT SERVICE. 2025 DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE OF .0102 PER
$100 TAXABLE VALUE. >> SO MOVED.
>> MOVED BY DIRECTOR HEISER, SECONDED BY DIRECTOR FRANKS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RESPOND BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. >> YOU HAVE TO TAKE A ROLL CALL.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE A ROLL CALL? >> WE DO WHEN WE GET TO THE
ORDER, YES. >> WE DON'T NEED THIS ONE?
[11. Receive, consider and act upon approval of 2025 maintenance and operations tax rate;]
>> THANK YOU, THOUGH. THANK YOU. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RESPOND
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. TO AGENDA ITEM 11. I ASKED THE DIRECTORS TO REFER TO PAGE 8 OF YOUR PACKET FOR RECEIVE AND CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE 2025 MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TAX RATE AT THE AUGUST 21ST, 2025 BUDGET WORKSHOP THE BOARD PROPOSED A RATE OF .0612 PER $100 TAXABLE VALUE FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION COMPONENT OF THE 2025 PROPERTY TAX RATE. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE ADOPTION OF AN, OF AN ORDER LEVELING AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION. SO, MONIQUE, DO YOU WANT TO GO
INTO THIS THING, OR? >> YES. I'M SORRY, I'VE LOST MY PAGE. LET ME -- THAT. OKAY. HERE WE GO. SO YES, THIS IS THE
[00:25:08]
SECOND PART OF THE THREE-STEP PROCESS, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE 2025 MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE. THAT TOTAL IS 16.12 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE, AND THAT, WHEN COMBINED WITH THE DEBT SERVICE RATE OF .0102 THAT YOU JUST ADOPTED, EQUALS THE 17.14 CENTS, WHICH IS OUR CURRENT TAX RATE. SO THE MOTION ON THIS ONE WOULD BE TO APPROVE A 2025 MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE OF 0.1612 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE.>> OKAY. >> I THINK IT BEARS READING THAT PARAGRAPH , OR I'LL READ IT OUT LOUD, IF I MAY. THIS TAX RATE WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE. THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 7.04% , AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY, BY APPROXIMATELY 0.90. SO I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE, OH, THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL, BUT IT IS A BIG DEAL WHEN IT COMES TO RAW NUMBERS. 7% INCREASE IS A 7% INCREASE, AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A 7% RAISE ON THEIR SALARY, BUT IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. SO IT'S SOMETHING, IT'S SOMETHING TO, TO CONSIDER, AND THAT'S WHY
I'LL BE VOTING NO. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK? I CALL EMOTION AT A SECOND TO APPROVE THE 2025 MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TAX RATE OF .1612 PER
$100 OF TAXABLE VALUE. >> SO MOVED.
>> MOVED BY DIRECTOR SNYDER. >> SECOND.
>> SECOND BY DIRECTOR EISSLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RESPOND BY
[12. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of Order Levying Taxes;]
>> AYE. >> DID YOU VOTE NO, CHAIRMAN?
>> RECEIVE AND CONSIDER AND ACT UPON, AGENDA ITEM 12. RECEIVE AND CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE ORDER LEVYING TAXES. ORDER NUMBER 015-25. REFER TO PAGES NINE THROUGH 11 OF YOUR PACKET.:
MONIQUE SHARP. >> THANK YOU. THIS IS THE FINAL STEP, AND THIS IS TO ADOPT THE ACTUAL ORDER LEVYING THE TAX RATE, AND, AGAIN, IT WOULD BE, THE MOTION WOULD BE TO ADOPT A TAX RATE OF .1714 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A X .92% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE, AND ADOPT ORDER NUMBER 015 POINT-25. SO THAT IS THE MOTION.
>> OKAY. I NOTE, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ACTION WILL REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE BY EACH BOARD MEMBER , IN WHICH THE CHAIR CALLS ON EACH DIRECTOR ONE BY ONE. FOR AN INDIVIDUAL VOTE, IN ORDER FOR THE VOTE TO PASS, BY STATE LAW, AT LEAST THE PERCENT OR FIVE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY MUST VOTE IN FAVOR. IF NOT, IT
GOES TO THE -- BE NOT CORRECT. >> CORRECT?
>> YES, SIR. >> ALL RIGHT. I CALL EMOTION AT A SECOND TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE OF .714 PER $100 VALUE, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY 6.92% INCREASE THE TAX RATE. IN THE ADOPTION ORDER
>> MOVED BY DIRECTOR SNYDER. >> SECOND.
>> SECOND BY DIRECTOR EISSLER. RESPOND BY SAYING AYE, EACH INDIVIDUAL VOTE AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. VICE CHAIRMAN
>> DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS? >> DIRECTOR SNYDER?
>> MOTION CARRIES 5-2. THIS MOTION CARRIES. NOTICE OF CLOSED
>> THAT IS ALL I NEED TO DO? >> YES SIR. WE'RE AT.
[15. Consideration of items to be placed on the agenda for next month's meeting;]
>> OKAY. >> NO CLOSE SESSION, NO RECONVENING IN THE PUBLIC SESSION. ANY FUTURE AGENDA
ANNOUNCEMENT? >> I HAVE ONE. AGENDA ITEM, PERHAPS, IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER. IT'S AN UPDATE ON THE GOSLING 208 ACRES, IF THAT COMMITTEE IS MET.
>> SECOND. >> OKAY. WE HAVE MET ONE TIME , AND NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. WE'RE STILL MEETING AGAIN, SO WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING COMING UP.
>> AN UPDATE. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER ONE? ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. IF NOT, ANY BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT? AGENDA ITEM 16. IF NOT, AGENDA ITEM 17. I CALLED TO MOTION AT A SECOND TO
ADJOURN THE MEETING. >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND BY DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RESPOND BY
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.