About the Incorporation Study

The Woodlands Township conducted an Incorporation Planning Study to allow the Township Board and community to engage in dialogue related to the future governance of The Woodlands, and to determine if the Township will incorporate as a city in the future. Below is a Q and A module and additional information about the study.


The Woodlands Township conducted an Incorporation Planning Study to allow the Township Board and community to engage in dialogue related to the future governance of The Woodlands, and to determine if the Township will incorporate as a city in the future. Below is a Q and A module and additional information about the study.


Q&A

Welcome to the Q&A tool! With this tool, you can:


Here's how the tool works:

  • Ask your question in the box below and click "Submit"
  • Answers are subject to review and approval by the Board of Directors.


Notice regarding questions related to the incorporation election:
On August 13, 2021, The Woodlands Township Board of Directors called an Incorporation Election to be held on November 2, 2021. Now that an election has been called, State law prohibits political subdivisions, such as The Woodlands Township, from spending public money or using public property for “political advertising,” which is advocacy for or against a proposition on the ballot of a called election. The Township may provide factual information about incorporation and the election, but it may be a criminal offense if such information urges persons to vote in a particular manner.  Accordingly, in answering any questions on the Q&A portal, the Township employees and officers may not engage in debate about the merits or demerits of incorporating as a city. Questions that are either critical or supportive of incorporation may only be answered with factual information.


 





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  • Is the Sep 23 meeting also available online?

    lsrosenb asked over 2 years ago

    The September 23 Incorporation Informational meeting will be live-streamed on the Township website and recorded for future viewing by the public. The Woodlands Township Board meeting videos can be found at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/MeetingVideos.

  • I currently live in May Valley - would there be be any changes to the current school district zones? Right now - we are zoned Magnolia. There was discussion on forums a while back from the development team on building a new elementary for residents of May Valley - but haven’t heard anything yet on future plans. The high school is pretty far away as well. Excellent schools, great admin and teachers - but feels like a community disconnect from churches, friends, etc residing in the Woodlands. Does incorporation change plans / districting / future elementary expansion for residents zoned Magnolia schools?

    WoodlandsResident2017 asked over 2 years ago

    No, Incorporation will not impact school districts.

  • Will the city incorporate a referendum & initiative system that forces voter approval on a disputed issue (say, requiring signatures of 10% of registered voters)?

    Peter asked over 2 years ago

    Statutorily, The Woodlands Township can only incorporate as a General Law City. As a general law city, the city council would not have the authority to enact a referendum and initiative system as suggested. 

    Once incorporated as a General Law City, The Woodlands would meet the requirements to become a Home Rule City, once a city charter is drafted and approved by voters. A Home Rule City could enact a referendum and initiative system, if it is included as a provision in the voter-approved Home Rule Charter. 

  • Well the sept 23 meeting be streamed for seniors

    kdbeal asked over 2 years ago

    The meeting will be livestreamed on The Woodlands Township website, www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov, for those who are unable to attend.

  • Is there a minimum voter turnout required to pass a vote on incorporation, and if not, why not? The Township board chose to schedule the vote during an odd numbered election year (2021) , and voter turnout in such years is typically very low. In 2019, for example, only 16.7% of Montgomery County voters cast ballots, whereas in 2018 and 2020, the turnout percentages were 59% and 73%, respectively. https://elections.mctx.org/results/2019_November_Precinct_Report.pdf https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/historical/montgomery.shtml

    djnock asked over 2 years ago

    When calling an Incorporation election, The Woodlands Township is statutorily required to hold the election on a uniform/general election date. In order to pass, a simple majority (50% +1) of voters voting in the election must vote “for” the proposition(s). There is no statutorily prescribed minimum voter turnout required to pass.

    The Woodlands Township holds an election each year in November for positions on its Board of Directors called the election (three positions in odd numbered years and four positions in even numbered years). The Incorporation election aligns with a Township Directors election. 

  • The Incorporation Study includes projections for costs and revenues for future years. However, the ballot only states the tax rate for the initial year after incorporation. Did the Township Board consider including a provision in the ballot that would prevent future tax rates from exceeding the lower of the effective tax rate or the rollback tax rate, at least for a period of five years?

    djnock asked over 2 years ago

    The wording used for the ballot language is based on statutory requirements. The Woodlands Township was required to include a maximum initial tax rate. 

    Based on the Incorporation Study and current conditions, the maximum initial tax rate for Incorporation as the City of The Woodlands was established at 22.31 cents per $100 valuation, which is what taxpayers are paying today for The Woodlands Township. This rate also represents the rate needed to fully fund Year 4 in the Incorporation Financial Model.

    By law, whether as a Township or a city, once a property tax rate is adopted, any property tax rate in subsequent years that would exceed 3.5% of the previous year’s maintenance and operations rate would require voter approval.

    For more information on the basis for the maximum initial tax rate, you can view the comprehensive presentation given at the August 13, 2021 Board of Directors meeting (https://woodlandstx.new.swagit.com/videos/130462?ts=2931). 

  • Will Harpers Landing be included as part of the city of the Woodlands if the township votes to incorporate?

    Brucejackson05 asked over 2 years ago

    Yes.

  • What will be the city boundaries if the township incorporates?

    Brucejackson05 asked over 2 years ago

    The boundaries of the new city would be those of The Woodlands Township.

  • Why now ???...Why not 10-20 years from now ???

    LindaHoskins asked over 2 years ago

    The Woodlands Township Board of Directors initiated an Incorporation Study in 2018, in response to community issues of concern that the current Township form of government could not address, including roadway expansion, and responding to major flooding events or disasters. The study was essentially complete in 2020, but was placed on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A final draft of the study was presented to the Board in June 2020, and the financial model was updated to reflect current conditions in August of this year.

    The Woodlands Township Board of Directors called the election, but only the voters of The Woodlands can decide whether this is the appropriate time to incorporate The Woodlands Township as the City of The Woodlands.

  • Are community presentations planned to describe incorporation and allow Q&A? If so, what is the schedule?

    rgevans14 asked over 2 years ago

    The Woodlands Township will host an Incorporation Informational Meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 23, 2021, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77380. 

    Consultants, Township Directors and Township staff members will be present to answer residents’ questions at the Incorporation Informational meeting. The meeting will be livestreamed on The Woodlands Township website, www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov, for those who are unable to attend.

Page last updated: 01 Oct 2021, 08:29 AM