The Woodlands Township has added 162.75 full-time positions to its workforce since 2016, a rate of growth that at least one board member says has outpaced the community's population increase.
Township President and CEO Monique Sharp presented the staffing data Tuesday, Aug. 18, during the second day of fiscal year 2027 budget workshops. The numbers drew pointed questions from board member Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, who said the hiring trajectory over the past decade exceeded population growth in The Woodlands.
"I thought it would be worth discussing and letting people know that if we keep this trajectory going, we are going to really be heavy on staff," Sekula-Gibbs said at the workshop.
Township demographic data shows the community's population grew from about 97,000 in 2010 to an estimated 124,800 in 2025, roughly a 29% increase. No 2016 baseline staffing figure was presented, making a direct percentage comparison difficult.
Where the positions went
Sharp broke down the 162.75 new hires by category, according to Community Impact Newspaper:
- 38.75 recreation and aquatics positions, offset by revenue gains and driven by post-COVID demand for outdoor programs
- 35 streetscape positions that replaced previously contracted services
- 15 employees for the new 10th company of The Woodlands Fire Department
- 13 trolley drivers, also replacing contracted work
- 6 dispatch positions, offset by revenue
Park operations saw the largest single-department growth at 13.5 employees between 2016 and 2025, according to data Sharp cited from a prior year's budget presentation.
That is a lot of hiring. Sharp attributed the recreation and aquatics surge to increased participation in outdoor programs following COVID-19.
Big-dollar contracts
Sharp also outlined major service contracts funded by the township budget:
- $21.3 million for law enforcement
- $9.6 million annually for Waste Management trash and recycling pickup, covering 36,000 homes
- $1.5 million for mounted patrol
Board Vice Chair Craig Eissler said he believes the board is doing a good job fiscally managing the employee budget. Sekula-Gibbs offered the counterpoint, warning that continued growth at the current pace would leave the township "heavy on staff."
What's next
Budget workshops are scheduled to continue Thursday, Aug. 20, and Friday, Aug. 21, if needed, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at The Woodlands Township offices, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., according to the township's press release. A regular Board of Directors meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20. The 2027 preliminary budget is available for public review on the township's website.
