During a Nov. 30 meeting, the Montgomery County commissioners chose to defer Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act reimbursements to cities, townships and emergency services districts until Dec. 8 while awaiting audits for the requests to be completed.

The reimbursements are requested from Montgomery County entities for expenses incurred due to the coronavirus pandemic and will not exceed $507,981.

Commissioner James Noack said he wanted to see more detailed numbers on the request from The Woodlands Township to see how much was involved with The Woodlands Fire Department.

"I am in favor of paying for the fire expenses but not their other expenses," Noack said.

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough opposed Noack's statements and said he wanted to give the full amount to the requesting entities once their audits were complete.


"They are a political subdivision and our community that we support," Keough said. "They are doing things in the spirit of what we are trying to do. The governor took 40-55% of the money that came to us, and we originally deferred [The Woodlands] to the state to get reimbursed, who said they could not do it. They have given us receipts; it is in the process of being audited."

Noack and Commissioner Mike Meador raised questions on how The Woodlands incurred more expenses than the city of Conroe and the ESDs.

The requests are not to exceed the following:
  • The Woodlands Township: $328,402.13
  • City of Conroe: $77,126.50
  • City of Splendora: $6,428.81
  • City of Shenandoah: $2,661.76
  • City of Stagecoach: $2,488.37
  • City of Patton Village: $750
  • City of Magnolia: $6,234.65
  • ESD No. 8: $5,967.19
  • ESD No. 6: $8,296.10
  • ESD No. 1: $10,247.84
  • ESD No. 10: $52,954.87
  • ESD No. 2: $6,428.81
The commissioners recently approved $22 million for public safety expenses and plan to vote on the reimbursement requests Dec. 8.