The Woodlands Township board develops schedule for possible 2020 incorporation vote

The schedule for a possible incorporation election in The Woodlands in the next year has become more clear after consultants presented an outline of proposed next steps at the Dec. 11 board of elections meeting.

Julia Novak, president of The Novak Consulting Group, which has been conducting an incorporation study this year, said the first step for the board in 2020 will be selecting a law enforcement scenario to include in the financial model for incorporation.

On Jan. 15, the board will decide if it wants to include an assumption that a future city of The Woodlands would continue its contract service with Harris and Montgomery counties, form a full-service city police department or use a hybrid of the two. It will also confirm other assumptions to be included in the financial model.

On Feb. 20, Novak will present a recommendation for a maximum initial tax rate, which is needed for the board to place an incorporation question on the ballot in a November election.

Community engagement sessions will be held to gather resident feedback in April and May.

A decision on whether to call an incorporation vote must be made by Aug. 17, according to information presented at the meeting.

Additional community engagement sessions would be held in September or October if the board opts to call an incorporation election.

The board accepted the Novak report without extensive discussion.

Novak representatives also demonstrated a sample tax calculator that will be available online in early 2020 that will allow residents to determine the effect a new city tax rate would have on their properties' tax bills.