Government
BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN, JESSICA SHORTEN & LIZZY SPANGLER
County expects 2024 25 $21.68M budget increase In a presentation reviewing the scal year 2024- 25 preliminary budget for Montgomery County on July 23, commissioners were informed of a projected $21.68 million increase in expenditures and more than 100 new position requests. Budget workshops were held Aug. 13-15 after press time. Zooming in Montgomery County Budget Director Amanda Carter said there were 116 new personnel requests from county departments; however, Carter only included 28 of the positions in the budget. Montgomery County Tax Assessor-Collector Tammy McRae will provide proposed tax rates during the budget workshops in August, after
Montgomery eyes term extension At its July 23 meeting, Montgomery City Council informally agreed on sending a proposal to voters this November to extend terms for the mayor and council members from two to four years. In a nutshell The change aims to reduce the frequency of elections and associated costs, City Secretary James Greene said. Montgomery holds annual elections, but the proposed change would shift elections to every other year, resulting in cost savings, per the July 23 agenda packet. If approved by voters, the change would go into e ect for o cials elected after the May 2025 election. Council should vote to include the proposal on the November ballot at its Aug. 13 meeting after press time.
Conroe council accepts sta retirements, resignation On July 25, Conroe City Council accepted the retirements and resignation of sta members. What happened
Operational increases include: Economic development
“I have no ill will toward any of these employees. I and my team ran on change. To make e ective change, it must be from the top.” SHANA ARTHUR, PLACE 2 COUNCIL MEMBER
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two council members must agree on something for it to then be placed on a meeting agenda. In statements sent to Community Impact on July 26, council members David Hairel and Shana Arthur said they agreed to place the retirements and resignation on the agenda. “I am willing to make the hard decisions for what I believe to be changing the city of Conroe for the better,” Hairel said. What they’re saying Coon said he didn’t support the changes. “We’ve lost some good folks,” Coon said. In a statement, council member Marsha Porter said “when new leadership comes in, sometimes change takes place.” “This takes place all the time in the corporate world,” Porter said. Council member Harry Hardman said he wasn’t part of the initial decision to make the personnel changes but respected the opinions of
Jail food service and medical
$2.44M
Utilities
In two separate 4-1 votes, with council mem- ber Howard Wood voting against, Conroe City Council accepted the retirements of: • Fire Chief Ken Kreger • Police Chief Je Christy Council then voted 5-0 to: • Appoint Mike Legoudes, Jr. interim re chief • Appoint Lee Tipton interim police chief • Accept the resignation of Danielle Scheiner, the executive director of the Conroe Economic Development Council • Accept the retirement of Mike Riggens, the parks and recreation director How we got here In an interview July 26, Mayor Duke Coon said
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Montgomery Central Appraisal District
$734,000
SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT
“I was advised after the fact and after action had already been executed. I truly appreciate both chiefs and their families.” HOWARD WOOD, PLACE 4 COUNCIL MEMBER
commissioners will need to consider this year is the cost of software upgrades to the Criminal Justice Information System. Funds are no longer set aside in the Capital Improvement Fund for system enhancements, she said. “Renewals are nally hitting the IT budget,” Carter said. “You’re seeing some big increases there. Microsoft has increased their rates across the world. So it’s not just particular to Montgomery County.” Carter said no cost-of-living increases had been factored into the preliminary budget.
press time. What else? Carter said an additional expense
his fellow council members. “Change is never easy, but it is inevitable and necessary to achieve the new vision and goals we have for Conroe,” Hardman said.
CONROE 1304 W Davis (936) 539-8787 NORTH CONROE 18434 Hwy 105 W (936) 582-5410
MONTGOMERY PLAZA 1420 N Loop 336 W (936) 441-7161
WILLIS 9618 FM 1097 (936) 228-0385
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