While the rate is slightly lower than last year’s rate of $0.3790 per $100 valuation, it remains 2.09% above the no-new-revenue rate, meaning some taxpayers could still see higher bills depending on property values. For a home at the county’s average value of $335,928, the county’s portion of property taxes will amount to about $1,266, Tammy McRae, Montgomery County’s tax assessor-collector, said.
Officials are also submitting this year’s budget for consideration in the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award program, Budget Officer Amanda Carter said.
“A budget document should be more than just a compilation of numbers ... it should assist citizens in understanding programs, leadership, and goals for how their tax dollars are being allocated and spent efficiently,” Carter said.
A share of the budget is devoted to law enforcement and justice system costs. The county approved pay parity adjustments for sheriff’s deputies and detention officers to bring salaries in line with Houston and Harris County. Staffing was also expanded, with 30 full-time positions and one part-time position added across law enforcement and support departments. These include new staff in the district clerk’s office, the tax assessor-collector’s office and juvenile services.
Inmate care costs also rose, Carter said. Medical services at the jail increased to $8.3 million, and food service costs grew from $1.8 million to $2.2 million, driven by inflation and a rising inmate population, Carter said.
The budget also covers the second year of the county’s transition to a medical examiner’s office, with the addition of two full-time positions and one part-time position. Information technology funding increased from $19.1 million to $20.6 million with a focus on cybersecurity, storage and software renewals.
The county also allocated nearly $1.7 million to local nonprofits and outside agencies, including $407,905 for Yes to Youth and $369,844 for Meals on Wheels Montgomery County.
