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Conroe ISD approves tax rate and budget for 2026-27 school year

After months of deliberation and planning, the Conroe ISD board of trustees officially approved a lower tax rate for the 2026-27 fiscal year at the Aug. 18 regular meeting.

The cost: As previously reported, CISD began drafting initial projections for the new tax rate in January. The seven-month-long process ended on Aug. 18 when the board approved a new tax rate of $0.9471 per $100 valuation presented by CISD Chief Financial Officer Karen Garza. When broken down, the rate is comprised of $0.6671 for maintenance and operations and $0.28 for debt service per $100 of taxable valuation. The budget for FY 2026-27 is officially set to be $769.6 million.

Quote of note: The CISD board of trustees noted the upcoming pitfalls they may face in the near future with their budget and debt. Trustee Melissa Dungan has said that the district is heading into a legislative year, and things can rapidly change when it comes to school financing.
 
 
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The Woodlands board talks township staff growth on second day of budget discussions

The Woodlands Township board of directors met Aug. 18 for the second day of discussion of its fiscal year 2027 budget, including details about employee salaries and services.

What residents need to know: Township President and CEO Monique Sharp presented information about growth in the community, noting that the park operations department grew the most, by 13.5 employees, between 2016-25, according to last year's budget presentation.

Also of note: According to data, a total of 162.75 new full-time positions had been added in the township overall since 2016. Additions to staff in that time included:

  • 6 dispatch and 38.75 recreation/aquatics positions, which were offset by revenue gains

  • 13 trolley drivers and 35 streetscape positions, which replaced previously contracted services

  • 15 employees were added in the new 10th company for The Woodlands Fire Department


Before you go: Discussion will continue Thursday and Friday, if needed, for budget workshop meetings at 8:30 a.m.

 
 

Beyond the classroom: How policy shifts, budget strains are reshaping Houston-area public schools

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Mark Your Calendar
8 events to check out in The Woodlands this weekend, Aug. 20-23

There are several events happening in The Woodlands from Aug. 20-23, including Lobb’s Padel’s Pickel, Paddle, Burger event and a performance by Santana and The Doobie Brothers at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Events are subject to change.

Chicago & Styx
Rock band Chicago and Styx is performing at The Cynthia Woods Mitchel Pavilion this weekend with a variety of classic rock hits.
The band will perform fan favorites from instrumentals and powerful vocals known for generations. Attendees should adhere to the pavilion’s bag policy on its website.

  • Aug. 20, 7 p.m.

  • $44 and up

  • 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands

Pickel. Paddle. Burger.
Lobb’s Padel is hosting group pickleball and paddle with smash burgers and drinks. The facility has five panoramic courts, cafe and bar and other amenities.
There are available spots for 80 groups.

  • Aug. 21, 6-10 p.m.

  • Admission varies

  • 3905 FM 1488, Ste. 120, The Woodlands
 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Dueling Pianos Night

High Caliber Gun Show

Aug. 21, 7 p.m.
8502 Rio Grande St., Jersey Village

Aug. 22-23, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
9055 Airport Road, Conroe

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100-year celebration

Matcha and Pilates Market

Aug. 22, 12-4 p.m.
550 McKinney St., Houston

Aug. 22, 2-8 p.m.
2711 Plaza Drive, Sugar Land

See more

See more

 
To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas
Live updates: ERCOT will complete data center audit in late 2026, officials say

The Texas House State Affairs Committee heard from power grid officials; data center developers and industry representatives; local government officials; cybersecurity experts; and utility companies during an Aug. 19 hearing on the growth of data centers in the state. Dozens of Texas residents also testified about the impact of data centers in their communities.

The details: Pablo Vegas, CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said it will take the grid operator several months to audit about 200 gigawatts of data center proposals. ERCOT will request information from all large and medium-sized data centers that are expected to use at least 25 megawatts of electricity.

ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission were ordered on Aug. 3 to audit all data centers seeking to connect to Texas’ power grid. They anticipate completing that audit in late November or early December, Vegas said.

 

Your local team

Vanessa Holt
Senior Editor

Nicole Preston
General Manager

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

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