HTX-WDL: Impact 8/13/2026

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Top Story

Montgomery County budget discussion includes tax rate, pay parity projections

Montgomery County budget workshop discussions for fiscal year 2026-27 began Aug. 11 at the Alan B. Sadler Commissioners Court Building in Conroe. The conversation started with commissioners' review of tax rate options as well as the FY 2026-27 certified taxable value of about $109.27 billion, a 3.23% increase over the FY 2025-26 adjusted taxable value. Budget Officer Amanda Carter also presented where the county stands on its pay parity goals and employee promotions.

At a glance: The 3.23% rate increase over the FY 2025-26 current adjusted taxable value is less of an annual increase than the county has seen within past years, Tax Assessor Tammy McRae said.

Quote of note: “We [the county] didn't see a large increase in the '26 values … this year, as we have in [the past] five years, and the data showed that we had more of a stabilized market this year, and so for that reason, very few areas of our county saw an increase in their market value,” McRae said.

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On The Business Beat

Family-owned PostNet now offering shipping and printing services on Rayford Road

Shipping, printing and logistics company PostNet announced a new location held a soft opening on Rayford Road in early August, with a grand opening event planned later this summer

About the owners: The PostNet Spring location is owned and operated by Ron and Wendy Tish, along with their two sons, Peyton and Jordan. It will provide professional printing, shipping, graphic design and business services with personalized customer support, according to a news release. The location will also offer mailboxes with an address, virtual mailboxes, notary services, passport photos, shredding services and other products and services.

The Tish family also plans philanthropic efforts such as supporting schools, churches, first responders and other community organizations through volunteer work, sponsorships, donations and local involvement, according to the news release.

Opened in early August
3555 Rayford Road, Ste. 40, Spring

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Key Information

Commercial retail rental rates rebound in August in The Woodlands area

Vacancy rates in The Woodlands area grew slightly in retail and industrial sectors in August, while the office sector saw a slight decrease when compared to the third quarter of 2025, according to commercial real estate data from Caldwell Cos.

Measuring the impact: Rental rates per square foot for retail units saw growth between the third quarter of 2025 and early August with an increase of $3.70 per square foot. Office units in the Woodlands area saw a growth of $1.96 per square foot in monthly leasing rates in the same period. Industrial units follow the same trend of slow increases since the third quarter of 2023.

Statewide News

Texas senators consider how to better prepare communities for wildfires

From 2020-25, more than 45,000 wildfires burned over 2.7 million acres of Texas land, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Ahead of the 2027 state legislative session, lawmakers are looking into ways to better prevent wildfires from happening and prepare communities to respond when fires do start.

The background: In 2025, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 34, which required the Texas A&M Forest Service to create a statewide database of firefighting equipment; established a council to improve emergency communications between local, state and federal agencies; and increased funding to help rural volunteer fire departments purchase equipment from $30 million to $40 million.

Quote of note: Sen. Kevin Sparks, a Midland Republican who authored the law, said more work needs to be done to increase wildfire preparedness across the state.

"As we move forward, our focus should be on a more proactive approach that prioritizes prevention and mitigation alongside response preparedness," Sparks said during an Aug. 11 hearing of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs.