With notices of high property appraisals from the Montgomery Central Appraisal District recently released, Conroe City Council will vote on an ordinance to increase the city's property tax homestead exemption from 2.5% to 20% at its April 28 meeting, according to an April 25 news release from the city.

If approved, the ordinance would give residents a larger exemption from property taxes and relief from increased real estate appraisals. An exemption of 20% is the maximum allowed by law, according to the release.

The homestead exemption would only apply to the the city's tax rate—currently $0.42 per $100 valuation—for residents living within the city.

“I understand our citizens are outraged and shocked by these recent valuations. ... I did what I am encouraging any citizen with concerns over their recent appraised value to do—protest,” Mayor Jody Czajkoski said in the release. “However, with these historic increases in appraised values, protesting is not enough, the city must do our part. Mayor Pro-Tem [Raymond] McDonald has championed the effort to bring this historic exemption before Council, and I am confident that our current Council will vote in favor of granting this historic relief."

McDonald said in an interview that the city cannot control what the appraisal district does but can use the homestead exemptions to help provide residents who are concerned with rising appraisals some relief. McDonald said he voted against the city's first homestead exemption of 2.5%, which passed in 2020, because he believed it should have been higher.