The Woodlands Township adopts 2026 budget with no tax rate increase
The Woodlands Township board of directors approved the 2026 fiscal year budget in a 6-1 vote at a Sept. 4 meeting. Board member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs cast the dissenting vote.
What to know: On Sept. 4, township President and CEO Monique Sharp outlined the preliminary budget for FY 2026 with a revenue of $175.1 million and consolidated expenditures of $180.4 million.
The impact: Sharp said one of the budget’s departmental increases was due to the increase in law enforcement costs, for a total of about $2.8 million, as discussed in the preliminary budget workshops. The budget also slates $13 million for capital projects in areas such as parks and recreation and the fire department. However, expenditures overall are $22.7 million lower than the previous year, she said.
Well Infused files plans for work at site in The Woodlands
Well Infused has filed plans for work at a site in The Woodlands, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
The details: Renovations are expected to begin in September and wrap up in November, according to the filing. The project has an estimated cost of $150,000.
Harris County commissioners reject 64% pay raise for county’s 8 elected constables
A proposed $114,290 annual salary bump for Harris County’s eight elected constables died at Harris County Commissioners Court on Aug. 26 as county leaders continue to develop the fiscal year 2025-26 budget.
In a nutshell: Harris County commissioners considered a proposed 64% salary increase for the county’s eight elected constables, which would raise their annual salary to $292,796. Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia proposed granting the constables the raise if they agree to consolidate their departments’ dispatch and evidence services. However, Garcia’s motion died for lack of a second.
Going forward: When it comes to reviewing salary pay and potential pay raises for elected county officials, such as Harris County’s eight elected constables, officials can pursue such measures through a salary grievance committee.
‘This will save lives’: New Texas laws require summer camps to remove cabins from floodplains
Two months after 25 campers and two counselors died in the historic July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic, Gov. Greg Abbott signed three new laws Sept. 5 that he said will “make youth camps safer” and ensure Texas communities are better prepared for future disasters. The flood victims' families attended the Sept. 5 bill signing ceremony in Austin.
The details: Under the two-pronged camp safety package, summer camps are required to remove existing cabins from floodplains by Jan. 1.
Camps must also develop and annually update comprehensive emergency plans, set up warning systems to notify campers if something is wrong and install ladders so campers can climb on cabin roofs during floods.
Looking ahead: Two other disaster preparedness bills, as well as legislation designed to regulate Texas’ multibillion-dollar THC industry, did not pass during the recent special legislative session, which ended around 1 a.m. Sept. 4.
When asked Sept. 5 if he planned to call a third legislative overtime to continue work on those policies, Abbott told reporters to "stay tuned."
