BY VANESSA HOLT & KARA WILLIS
Township board discusses FY 2027 budget plans The Woodlands Township board of directors held a strategic planning session meeting May 15 to discuss goals as they begin discussing the fiscal
Shenandoah OKs $2M meter system The city of Shenandoah will replace its current water metering system with a new system for $2.04 million, a figure higher than the $1.5 million originally planned. The city approved infrastructure company Ameresco for construction. City Council unanimously approved the expense at the May 13 meeting following a presentation by Chad Nobles, representing Ameresco. He said work on the system, which will allow customers to track use hourly, would begin in August and take about three to four months to install about 1,700 meters. Next steps City Finance Director Lisa Wasner said the additional funds needed above the $1.5 million originally estimated will come from water and sewer reserve funds.
Budgetary considerations The Woodlands offers several exemptions but typically focuses on maintaining or lowering the tax rate, officials said. Exemptions since 2024: Residents age 65 and older: $50,000 Homestead exemption: 3% of property value Deadline to change exemptions in 2026: June 30
year 2027 budget. Meeting highlights
Current tax rate:
$0.1714 per $100 valuation Township tax bill for $500,000 home: $831 Deadline to submit tax rate in 2026: Sept. 15
The board discussed several options for the FY 2027 budget, including the potential effects of increasing current property tax exemptions. The fiscal year runs from January to December. Township President and CEO Monique Sharp said the township has offered a $50,000 exemp- tion for residents age 65 and older as well as a 3% homestead exemption for qualifying homeowners since 2024. Changes to homestead exemptions must be submitted before June 30; however, the township’s budget workshops are not held until August. Sharp said historically the township has opted to work on lowering its tax rate instead of
increasing exemptions. “You can offer tax relief through an exemption, or you can offer it by looking at the tax rate, which impacts all taxpayers,” she said. What's next The board told staff to schedule pre-budget meetings potentially in June and July, preceding the Aug. 17-21 workshops.
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION
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