What you need to know
The decision followed extensive debate on whether to increase police salaries beyond the across-the-board raise. Police leadership and some council members voiced concerns that Conroe officers are at risk of leaving for higher-paying agencies, with Montgomery County approving raises for its deputies following the city of Houston and Harris County doing so as well.
A poll shared with council showed that about half of Conroe police officers would consider leaving if the city did not reach pay parity.
Greg Tullis, who spoke on behalf of the Conroe Police Officers Association, said of the city’s officers:
- 50% would leave
- 30% would consider leaving
- 20% would not consider leaving
Several council members supported raising officer pay further, but said doing so would require either drawing on funding reserves or raising taxes.
Council members Marsha Porter and Howard Wood said that increasing pay for one department while excluding others would be unfair.
Also of note
Porter and council member David Hairel also said the city’s financial pressures, alongside issues such as population growth, infrastructure needs, water and sewer projects and debt obligations for facilities such as the new Oscar Johnson Jr. Enrichment & Recreation Center, are what the city needs to focus on.
Porter and Wood said a tax increase might eventually be needed, but that any decision on raising taxes for larger raises or additional staffing could be placed before voters in a future election.
Stay tuned
Conroe City Council is scheduled to take up final adoption of the FY 2025-26 budget and property tax rate at its next meeting Sept. 11.
