Impacts of Governance & Incorporation
The Woodlands Township is the governmental service provider for residents and businesses of The Woodlands. The Woodlands was originally founded in 1974 by George P. Mitchell, and 2007 legislation provided the authority to enter into the Regional Participation Agreements with the City of Houston and the City of Conroe and to establish a new governance body for The Woodlands. In 2010, the Township took over full responsibility of Association services. In 2014, The Woodlands became eligible to incorporate as a municipality. The Regional Participation Agreement protects The Woodlands from annexation through November 16, 2057. The Woodlands in Focus continually strives to be an exhaustive repository of fact-based information. The issue of incorporation has recently become a topic of discussion in The Woodlands, and the impacts of changing to this mode of governance must be thoroughly researched and discussed.
It is time to elect civic-minded leaders who will listen to the community while removing incumbents and other candidates who have followed along with the Incorporation Squad and its misguided... Read More
The Township Board rejected calls to return its $20.8M of incorporation reserves in full to The Woodlands taxpayers through a one-time property tax rebate of $.0835 and 2023 property tax rate of $.1129 per $100 of valuation. With a new $19.8M in estimated annually recurring revenue surplus and... Read More
At the last Township Board of Directors Incorporation Planning Session, questions were raised about the impact incorporation would have on preventing The Woodlands Parkway extension and a possible threat of forced annexation for The Woodlands in 2057 when its Regional Protection Agreement (RPA)... Read More
In the recent legislative session, state lawmakers approved two new bills that will lower school property taxes and limit the rise of other property taxes in Texas, at least until the next legislative session... This reverses... Read More
Candidates for The Woodlands Township Board explained their views on incorporation at a recent forum hosted by The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce.
I urge all Woodlands residents to pay special attention to the upcoming November 2018 elections for the new seven member Board for the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD). We need new board members who will vote to support future decisions that will not adversely impact south... Read More
Most Woodlands Residents normally pay little attention to the requirements of our Restrictive Covenants and Standards (collectively called Deed Restrictions) or their enforcement. At least until they want to make improvements or major repairs to their property. But when they purchased their... Read More
The Township election is conducted in accordance with the county elections. Please consult www.montgomeryvotes.org or www.harrisvotes.orgfor the latest information, or you may... Read More
Please join the four Township Candidates and The Voter Awareness Council at the Black Walnut Cafe for an informal opportunity to meet the candidates on the November 7, 2017 ballot. This is an opportunity to thank John McMullan (Position 5), Ann Snyder (Position 6), Laura Fillault (Position 7)... Read More
Township Board Chairman Bunch spoke about his vision for the community, saying “I want our township to be an example for all the cities in Texas, our country, and the world as well.” The success of The Woodlands is easily summed up but not so easily done, Bunch said. It’s all about “the... Read More
I served as the Town Center Improvement District (TCID) representative on Sen. Tommy Williams' committee that developed the "regional participation agreements" with the City of Houston and Conroe. We are protected from annexation per the agreements until 2057 and since it is after June 2014, we... Read More
The Woodlands In Focus recently submitted an Open Records Request with The Woodlands Township to get copies of all of the Township's Incorporation Impact studies and memos (2012 to 2016). The Township was prompt and responsive to the request.
Though these documents self disclose that they... Read More
By state law, we can incorporate any time between now and 2057 to avoid annexation by Houston and Conroe. The Regional Participation Agreements between the Township and both Houston and Conroe were entered into pursuant to the express authority of Section 43.0754, Texas Local Government Code... Read More
Our success is not accidental. Certain things have been done to keep us on track.
First and foremost, Mr. Mitchell’s vision and implementation.
Another is when former Senator Tommy Williams, Representative Rob Eissler and other community leaders led the charge at the Texas Capitol... Read More
Today, our unique “Township” form of government, technically a “Special District,” provides a broad range of essential services not provided by our County and does so at a relatively low cost. We have a very efficient alternative form of government. So why incorporate until we are forced to do... Read More
REFERENCES
- September 25, 2018 Board of Directors Special Meeting on Incorporation
- September 25, 2018 Incorporation Planning Study Presentation
- Novak Incorporation Benchmarking Study
- Complete Incorporation Impact Documentation (September 2016)
- Incorporation Analysis Memo (April 2016)
- VIDEO: Jon Hockenyos of TXP Presents The Woodlands Incorporation Fiscal Impact Study (2016 Update)
- REPORT: Fiscal Impact of Incorporation of The Woodlands (2016 Update)
- 2015 Budget Planning Initiative Summary Review of Incorporation Cost and Issues
- The Woodlands Incorporation Study: Financial Model and Results (Feb. 2012)
- The Woodlands Incorporation Study: Financial Assumptions (Nov. 2011)
- The Woodlands Township Timeline
- The Woodlands Township Governance
