MontCo approves $552.7M budget; adds 120 jobs

CONROE, Texas – Montgomery County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a $552.7 million biennial budget on April 23, signaling a significant expansion in county services and infrastructure heading into the 2026-2027 fiscal cycle.

The approved plan marks a $70 million increase over the current $482.2 million budget. The new spending plan, which covers the period from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, follows an intensive series of budget workshops conducted in April. County departments submitted their initial funding requests on March 1, triggering a month of vetting by the Commissioners Court to balance growing service demands with taxpayer resources.

The budgetary growth is primarily driven by a focus on public safety and workforce expansion, with the court authorizing 120 new full-time positions across the county.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office represents one of the largest beneficiaries of the new spending. Officials secured funding for 35 new deputy positions to be divided between patrol duties and jail operations. Beyond personnel, the court approved $1.6 million for the procurement of new patrol vehicles and an additional $2.5 million to modernize the department’s aging radio communications infrastructure.

The District Attorney’s Office also received a major infusion of resources, gaining approval for 23 new positions. These roles include additional prosecutors, investigators, and support personnel required to handle an increasing caseload as the county continues to experience rapid population growth.

Infrastructure remains a top priority, with the budget allocating $15 million specifically for the Road and Bridge Department to acquire heavy machinery. This investment aims to expedite road maintenance and repair projects across the county’s four precincts.

Other departments seeing personnel increases include:

- Constable Precinct 1: 5 new deputies - County Clerk’s Office: 5 new positions - County Attorney’s Office: 4 new positions - Tax Assessor-Collector: 4 new positions - District Clerk: 4 new positions - Justices of the Peace: 1 new position for each of the four precincts - County Treasurer: 1 new position

The approved budget is a reflection of the county’s efforts to keep pace with the ongoing residential and commercial development in the region, which has placed increased strain on the existing justice system and road networks.

While the framework of the budget has been set, the formal, legally binding adoption of the FY 2026-27 budget is scheduled to take place during a meeting in August. At that time, the court will also set the property tax rate, which determines how much revenue will be raised to support the increased expenditures.

Residents can view the full departmental request documentation and official meeting minutes through the Montgomery County Commissioners Court portal at https://www.mctx.org. The public is encouraged to attend the August hearings, where final adjustments and the tax rate vote will occur.