Montgomery County commissioners got a look Aug. 6 at a roughly $537.3 million preliminary budget for fiscal year 2026-27, with several days of budget workshops set to begin Aug. 11.

The preliminary budget, filed July 27, totals $537,298,232, an increase of about $29.2 million from the county’s $508.1 million adopted FY 2025-26 budget. Budget Officer Amanda Carter said the proposal was built around the county’s current tax rate of $0.3770 per $100 valuation and includes about $6.28 million in unallocated funding that commissioners can direct toward priorities during workshops.

A closer look: Priorities include employee step increases, continued funding for the detention officer pay program, increased employee health insurance costs and startup expenses for the new 523rd District Court. The county is budgeting a $19,000 employer insurance contribution per employee, up from $18,450, as discussed.

By the numbers: County departments requested 103 new positions totaling about $12.8 million, although Carter stressed those requests are not necessarily included in the preliminary budget.

Montgomery City Council is set to spend two consecutive evenings focused on the city’s next budget as officials continue working through spending priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.

Council will first meet for a budget workshop at 6 p.m. Aug. 10, followed by its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 11.

What’s happening? During the Aug. 10 workshop, council members are slated to review and discuss the city’s proposed budget ahead of the regular meeting the following evening.

The workshop gives council another opportunity to work through the numbers and provide direction as the city moves closer to adopting its spending plan for the new fiscal year.

Council will return Aug. 11 for its regularly scheduled meeting, where the budget process will continue. City Council is responsible for approving the city of Montgomery’s annual budget and tax rate.

What’s next? The two meetings are part of the city’s annual budget process, which ultimately determines how much funding goes toward city operations and services in the coming fiscal year.

On Aug. 6, Lone Star College System’s board of trustees unanimously approved a balanced $577.5 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27, which features 2% raises for full- and part-time employees.

The gist: According to Aug. 7 meeting documents, the FY 2026-27 budget featured employee pay raises of:

• 2% increase for all full-time employees hired on or before March 31
• 2% bump for part-time hourly, non-instructional employees, except for student assistants and college work-study participants
• 2% more for adjunct faculty, who are paid per contact hour

• $18.5 million in additional funding from local taxes for FY 2026-27
• $7 million more state revenue for FY 2026-27

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out these trending stories across the northern portion of the Greater Houston area from Aug. 3-Aug. 7.

1. Conroe ISD reviews preliminary budget, compensation plan at special meeting

2. Humble ISD's rebuilt Foster Elementary School set to open in August

3. PREVIEW: Klein ISD board of trustees to call November election

4. Studio 3113 Modern Needlework opens store for crafters in The Woodlands

5. Emergency service providers adapt to keep up with growth

6. The future of downtown Tomball takes shape

7. Tim Hortons to open along Barker Cypress Road in August