Montgomery County commissioners wrapped up several days of budget talks Aug. 13 with a roughly $552.7 million working budget for fiscal year 2026-27, adding about $15.4 million in expenses to the preliminary spending plan while proposing a higher property tax rate.

The preliminary budget filed in July totaled $537.3 million and included about $6.28 million in unallocated funding for commissioners to distribute during workshops. The budget has not been formally adopted, with commissioners expected to return Sept. 8 for public hearings and final action.

By the numbers: A major piece of the final workshop discussion centered on employee pay and staffing.

The working budget includes a 5% across-the-board pay increase and continued law enforcement pay parity beginning in June 2027. Commissioners also added positions to the Sheriff’s Office and constable offices, with 15 newly added positions ultimately identified across those departments, including patrol deputies, an Internet Crimes Against Children investigator and other support positions. Three County Clerk positions were also included.
 

A new Sprouts Farmers Market will anchor the Grand Imperial Marketplace in Spring, officials with Fidelis announced. In additional, retailers including Marshalls, Ross, Burlington, Five Below and Planet Fitness were announced for the location at the Grand Parkway and Imperial Promenade.

The details: The 170,000-square-foot Sprouts-anchored retail development is a joint venture between Fidelis and 830 Investors, Ltd., the master developer of The Falls at Imperial Oaks, according to a news release.
Located at the northwest corner of Grand Parkway and Imperial Promenade Drive, the center is across from the new Townsen Road extension planned for construction.

Construction on the Sprouts location is scheduled to begin this fall, with completed slated in fall 2027. Levinson Alcoser Associates has been engaged as the project architect.

What to expect: In addition to Sprouts Farmers Market, the center is expected to include:

• Marshalls
• Ross
• Burlington
• Five Below
• Planet Fitness

The Woodlands Township is offering engraved granite tiles at The Way Home Veterans Memorial Monument, a permanent veterans memorial near The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, along the project’s Walk of Honor, according to an Aug. 13 news release from The Woodlands Township.

At a glance: The stones surround the project’s centerpiece, a sculpture by artist Edd Hayes featuring two fallen soldiers from The Woodlands area. The memorial was dedicated on May, 25, 2015. Tiles are installed twice a year ahead of Memorial Day and Veterans Day, according to the release. Veterans Day orders must be received by Oct. 5, and Memorial Day orders must be received by April 15. 

2099 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands

Many Texas students began returning to the classroom for the 2026-27 school year in mid-August.

Here are five things Texans should know as the 2026-27 school year kicks off.

The details:

• 2026 school accountability ratings issued
• New rule impacts accountability-related school closures
• 100K students using new Texas Education Freedom Accounts
• Public school closures deepen across Texas
• Check out recent public education laws