GOVERNMENT
In the final financial model The Novak Consulting Group is preparing for The Woodlands Township as part of its incorporation study, three alternatives were provided for how it would like to envision law enforcement. LAW ENFORCEMENT H I N T HE WOOD L ANDS H
Township to include partial in-house police force in model for incorporation
“The only way we can have continu- ity of forces is to have our own police force,” township Chairman Gordy Bunch said. Director Bruce Rieser said the hybrid model makes the most sense because a town marshal—for example, a police chief—would be needed to enforce city ordinances, so some sort of in-house police department would be needed. Novak representatives said they would take the information from the meeting to create the financial model. After the presentation, several resi- dents asked questions during the pub- lic comment portion of the meeting on topics such as the possible timing of a vote on incorporation. “We are still missing the nuts and bolts of the data, the hard facts that you need to make a decision about this,” said resident Ann LeCocq. Bunch said the board has no date in mind for the public vote until the studies are complete. The board agreed to move the dates of its next incorporation planning meetings from Feb. 21 and March 21 to 6 p.m. Feb. 27 and March 27.
board members elected to stay with a conservative baseline budget estimate based on a projected 1 percent annual property tax growth rather than the 2 percent growth projected by the analysts. The board declined to choose whether it would include a contract for public works operations in the model, but on law enforcement the board members agreed to choose what was termed a hybrid for the purposes of a financial model. If adopted, this would mean the future city would continue to con- tract with Montgomery County for some law enforcement services, but it would bring in-house those services currently contracted to Harris County Precinct 4—such as policing the Creekside Park community. The cost for this hybrid option would be $14.7 million per year with another $1.6 million one-time capital cost, according to Novak.
BY VANESSA HOLT Among other items, the firm pre- paring a final financial model for The Woodlands Township’s incorporation study will include an estimated $14.7 million for a partial in-house police department, at the request of the township board of directors. The Novak Consulting Group firm provided the board with a 360-page report at its Jan. 23 meeting analyzing various revenue sources available to the township and costs it could incur if it incorporates in a future vote. The report asked the board to determine which scenarios for each of 15 initia- tives it wants to keep in the financial model that will be presented at a future meeting. Initiatives discussed included a property tax freeze for senior citizens as well as costs for law enforcement, public works and other services that would be needed as a city. On the question of property tax,
OPTION 1:
Continue to contract with Mont- gomery and Harris counties for all law enforcement needs.
OPTION 2:
Create an entirely in-house police department for The Woodlands in a four-year phase-in process.
OPTION 3:
Continue to contract with Montgomery County for law enforcement, but create an in-house police depart- ment for portions currently patrolled through a contract with Harris County.
SOURCES:NOVAKCONSULTINGGROUP,THE WOODLANDSTOWNSHIP/COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER
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The Woodlands edition • February 2019
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