HTX-COM: Impact 10/21/2025

Montgomery County officials adopted a $508.1 million budget for fiscal year 2025-26 alongside a reduced property tax rate of $0.3770 per $100 valuation. County leaders said this year’s budget, adopted Sept. 5, was designed with growth, public safety and modernization in mind.

The details: While the rate is slightly lower than last year’s rate of $0.3790 per $100 valuation, it remains 2.09% above the no-new-revenue rate, meaning some taxpayers could still see higher bills depending on property values. For a home at the county’s average value of $335,928, the county’s portion of property taxes will amount to about $1,266, Tammy McRae, Montgomery County’s tax assessor-collector, said.

A closer look: The budget also covers the second year of the county’s transition to a medical examiner’s office, with the addition of two full-time positions and one part-time position. Information technology funding increased from $19.1 million to $20.6 million with a focus on cybersecurity, storage and software renewals.  

McKenzie’s Barbecue and Burgers celebrated its 30th anniversary on Oct. 4, owner Colin McKenzie confirmed.

The gist: The family-owned restaurant offers menu items such as brisket, sausage, pulled pork and cheeseburgers, according to the website. McKenzie said the business also offers private event rooms, pickup and delivery catering as well as full-service catering for events such as weddings.

Quote of note: “The milestone isn't just about our restaurant—it's about the community that has supported us every step of the way. We're proud to celebrate with a community that has become family, and we look forward to serving up another 30 years of Texas [barbecue],” McKenzie said.

• 1501 N. Frazier St., Conroe; 17099 Walden Road, Ste. 200, Montgomery

Isaiah 117 House, a nonprofit that offers children a home while awaiting placement with a foster family, opened up a house serving Montgomery and Walker counties earlier this year.

Two-minute impact: Usually, when children are removed from their homes by Child Protective Services, they are brought to the department’s office, Emily Miller, who leads the location serving Montgomery and Walker counties, said. The Isaiah 117 House provides the children a home stocked with clean clothes, beds, food, bath items and toys they can stay at instead.

The nonprofit also works to lighten the load for the caseworker who will stay at the house with the child and help ease the transition for the future foster family by making sure kids walk out the door with clothes and other necessities like school supplies.

By the numbers: Miller said 34 children have come through the Isaiah 117 House serving Montgomery and Walker counties since the location opened at the end of January. Miller also said there are currently 97 volunteers at the location.

Houston renters saw more listings in September while lease prices remained steady compared to this time last year, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ September 2025 Rental Market Update released Oct. 15.

Two-minute impact: There was a 5.3% increase in the number of single-family homes leased this September compared to the same time last year, according to the report. Surpassing last month’s record, 11,255 single-family homes were available for rent in September. 

The average lease price was $2,341 per month, which is statistically unchanged from September 2024, per the report. This marks the third month in a row where the average listing price remained flat, indicating a plateau in prices.

Quote of note: “We continue to see steady demand for single-family rentals as many people find homeownership challenging right now due to affordability issues—not just in Houston, but nationwide,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar said via the report. “With so many properties on the market, renters have more choices than ever, and that’s helping them find places that fit their needs and budget."