Public hearing on The Woodlands tax rate set for Aug. 25

Budget workshops wrapped up in a half-hour session the morning of Aug. 17 in The Woodlands Township, resulting in a proposed tax rate of $0.2231 per $100 assessment for the 2021-22 fiscal year, the same as the current year.

The fiscal year runs from January to December in The Woodlands.

The Woodlands Township board of directors approved a base budget and set a public hearing for Aug. 25.

The previous day, the board considered requests for budget amendments, considering individual items to add to the base budget that would be funded by the 2022 general fund undesignated balance. Among the items are $202,562 for license plate readers, a $200,000 parks and recreation department needs assessment, $405,000 for pickleball courts and about $601,000 toward a Spring Creek Greenway trail project. That project will also be funded by about $2.2 million each from its capital contingency funds and transportation initiatives fund, said Monique Sharp, assistant general manager for finance and administration.

The budget includes a 3% raise for township employees, which required moving $300,000 from the fund balance into the budget, she said.

Township officials said funds for a comprehensive compensation study are also included in the base budget for the next year.

"I can justify a one-time thank-you for, 'It's been a year to remember,'" board Vice Chair Bruce Rieser said. "... But I don't want to create an ongoing expense without doing some due diligence."