Montgomery Co. FY25 Budget: $394.3M, 94 New Positions

CONROE, Texas – Montgomery County officials are navigating a complex fiscal landscape as they finalize the proposed $394.3 million budget for the 2025 fiscal year, a plan dominated by expansive requests from public safety agencies and the ongoing challenge of managing the county’s rapid population growth.

During the second day of workshops held on August 20, the Commissioners Court examined a spending plan that represents a 3% increase over the current $382.9 million budget. While the county aims to hold the property tax rate steady at $0.3764 per $100 valuation, officials noted that rising property appraisals across the region will naturally result in higher tax bills for many residents.

County Judge Mark Keough has emphasized that maintaining the current tax rate, which has remained unchanged since 2022, is a priority. However, the pressure to fund departmental growth remains significant.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has emerged as the most significant driver of budget discussions. The agency is requesting a major expansion, seeking 44 new positions, an additional $11.8 million in salary adjustments aimed at retention and recruitment, and 40 new patrol vehicles. The request for vehicles is intended to both refresh the current aging fleet and expand the department’s reach to keep pace with the county’s expanding footprint.

The District Attorney’s Office is also pressing for increased resources, requesting 10 new staff members, including additional prosecutors and investigators. The request reflects the broader trend of increased caseloads in the county’s judicial system. Other requests include five new positions each for Constable Precincts 1 and 3, an additional investigator for the Fire Marshal’s office, and new staffing requests from the County Clerk and the Precinct 2 Road and Bridge department.

In total, department heads have requested 94 new full-time positions. For a county that has consistently ranked among the fastest-growing in the United States, these requests highlight the ongoing struggle to balance infrastructure and public safety needs with taxpayer sensitivity.

Commissioner James Noack, who represents Precinct 3, and his colleagues on the court, including Robert Walker of Precinct 1, Charlie Riley of Precinct 2, and Jim Clark of Precinct 4, face the task of winnowing down these requests before a final vote. The budget process is governed by the Texas Local Government Code, which requires the court to adopt a tax rate and a budget before the start of the fiscal year on October 1.

Beyond the immediate budget numbers, the county is also monitoring the potential impact of local economic shifts. As residential and commercial developments continue to break ground along the I-45 corridor and the Grand Parkway, the demand for county services, particularly road maintenance and law enforcement, shows no signs of slowing.

The Commissioners Court is expected to hold further discussions throughout August before moving toward a final budget adoption in September. Residents interested in reviewing the specific departmental proposals or the current budget documents can access them via the official Montgomery County website at www.mctx.org.

Public hearings are expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks, providing residents with an opportunity to voice their opinions on the tax rate and the proposed allocation of funds before the court takes formal action.