The Woodlands Township property owners would see a lower tax rate next year after the Board of Directors voted 6-1 on Thursday, Aug. 20, to set a proposed maintenance-and-operations rate of $0.1594 per $100 of taxable value for fiscal year 2027.

The new M&O rate, suggested by Board Chair Brad Bailey, is a reduction from the current $0.1714 per $100. Combined with the interest-and-sinking rate of $0.01, the total proposed rate comes to $0.1694 per $100, according to Community Impact.

That total is still above the no-new-revenue rate of $0.1654 per $100, meaning the township would collect more in property tax revenue than it did the prior year due to rising property values.

The rate still drops overall.

Director Shelley Sekula-Gibbs cast the lone dissenting vote on the proposed rate, according to Community Impact. Vice President Craig Eissler voiced concerns about cutting the rate but ultimately voted in favor.

"I would love to lower tax [when] we can. My concern is we don't know what's going to happen in this legislative session with property tax," Eissler said at the Thursday meeting. "They could eliminate property tax entirely, not likely, but it's possible. And I would hate to then have to look at raising potential rate at that time."

Bailey said in a post-meeting statement that the township should not be penalized for being "good stewards of taxpayer money," noting other cities and municipalities use the township's model.

The vote came after four days of budget workshops that ran Monday, Aug. 17, through Thursday, Aug. 20, at the township offices on Technology Forest Boulevard. The scheduled Friday, Aug. 21, workshop was canceled because the board finished its work a day early.

The proposed FY 2027 budget also includes a 3% salary increase for all eligible township employees. Other items discussed at the Aug. 20 meeting included a new sergeant position for the Precinct 3 Constable's office, the IT budget, the reforestation budget and a potential collaboration with Conroe ISD on a multi-use sports complex.

The board will hold a special meeting and public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 3, to formally adopt the FY 2027 budget and approve the tax rate. Residents who want to weigh in can attend in person at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands.