In further preparation for the possibility of incorporation, The Woodlands Township board of directors voted Thursday to place $2 million in the 2017 budget to establish an ongoing road and bridge fund. All members of the board—with the exception of board chairman Ed Robb—voted in favor of the item. “We have not had our [resident] survey come back telling us the appetite of the people for any quicker incorporation,” Robb said. “I’d rather have that information before I know how much money we’re just throwing into this.” During the budget process this week, the board also voted to set aside $2.5 million in an incorporation reserve fund to help mitigate some of the immediate expenses that may be related to incorporation. There is no concrete timeline for incorporation, but The Woodlands has until 2057 to do so before it risks becoming annexed by the cities of Houston or Conroe. Residents will have the final say of whether to incorporate or not if the board of directors places the item on a future ballot. Township Director Mike Bass said when The Woodlands does incorporate, it will need a significant amount of money in a road and bridge fund. “That is going to be primarily one of the biggest areas we’re going to have to deal with,” he said. “I don’t see this as just a 2017 initiative, I see it as an ongoing strategy to prepare to incorporate no matter when we do it.” Township Director John McMullan also spoke in favor of the motion. “My perspective is—and I want to be super clear that this is not a criticism of prior boards or the good folks who got us our freedom from the city of Houston—I applaud their efforts and am grateful for that,” he said. “I think, irrespective of the date of when we incorporate, with the benefit of hindsight, I think we would have been better served if years ago we started putting away $1 million a year [for incorporation costs] or something like that.” Additionally, up to $150,000 from the $2 million fund could be used for an engineering study in 2017 to evaluate what repairs and refurbishments need to be completed on roadways in The Woodlands. The township’s 2017 budget will be up for final approval in mid-September. For a more comprehensive look at the proposed township budget, see the Sept. 8 edition of Community Impact Newspaper.