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Old 12-27-2012, 02:25 PM
 
1,329 posts, read 3,533,488 times
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A consultant hired by Woodlands claims that making it a city would result in a 70% property tax hike for township residents:
Quote:
As the time draws near for The Woodlands to seize its opportunity to become a city in 2014, many residents of the Montgomery County community are having second thoughts.

A study showing what it would cost to incorporate has left them with sticker shock.

Creating a municipality would saddle residents with a 70 percent property tax increase, according to a consultant's analysis presented at recent community meetings.
And yet Sugar Land, with a slightly smaller population, has a median property tax that's only 18% higher than the Woodlands.
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Old 12-27-2012, 02:55 PM
 
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It's not surprising that incorporating would require a tax increase since a city would be taking over services that are now provided by the county (police, animal control, etc.). What is surprising is that despite not providing those services now, The Woodlands is already levying a 32 cent tax. That's pretty high considering that most services are being provided by the county or MUDs.

One thing to remember about Sugar Land though is that it has an abnormally low property tax rate compared to most comparable TX cities. SL has been able to keep that rate low primarily through their rapid growth. However, SL is just about built out and their current tax rate is not likely to provide the level of service SL residents have come to expect.
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Old 12-27-2012, 03:36 PM
 
18,055 posts, read 25,132,751 times
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Are you telling me that The Woodlands is subsidized by the city of Houston?
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Old 12-27-2012, 03:43 PM
 
8 posts, read 16,447 times
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Originally Posted by War Beagle View Post
One thing to remember about Sugar Land though is that it has an abnormally low property tax rate compared to most comparable TX cities. SL has been able to keep that rate low primarily through their rapid growth. However, SL is just about built out and their current tax rate is not likely to provide the level of service SL residents have come to expect.
Most Sugar Land residents mainly care about their schools which is FBISD. The roads, parks, levee system, drainage, water etc are already built and only needs to be maintained and occasionally upgraded...hardly expensive.

Actually once Sugar Land annexes New Territory, Riverstone, Greatwood, they'll have even more money and just need to upgrade the drainage system. Fort Bend County already built good roads etc.
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Old 12-27-2012, 03:53 PM
 
1,329 posts, read 3,533,488 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by War Beagle View Post
SL has been able to keep that rate low primarily through their rapid growth.
According to Wikipedia, the Woodlands's population has grown slightly faster than Sugar Land's since 1980.
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Old 12-27-2012, 03:58 PM
 
1,329 posts, read 3,533,488 times
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Originally Posted by War Beagle View Post
However, SL is just about built out and their current tax rate is not likely to provide the level of service SL residents have come to expect.
What kinds of services do you see being compromised?
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Old 12-27-2012, 03:58 PM
 
8 posts, read 16,447 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dopo View Post
Are you telling me that The Woodlands is subsidized by the city of Houston?
No The Woodlands isn't a city. They are serviced by Harris and Montgomery counties or maybe the city by contract or something like that. They are Houston ETJ for now and will eventually incorporate to become their own city someday.

Fortunately Texas state law changed to protect them from a hostile takeover which is what happened to Kingwood. Then again Meadows Place incorportaed into their own city back in the 80s to avoid a similar fate. Not sure how a tiny area like Meadows Place can become a city while The Woodlands cannot without a massive tax increase.
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Old 12-27-2012, 04:08 PM
 
Location: Houston
1,473 posts, read 2,142,263 times
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Like I said it may not all have to do with money .. a large chuk of people said they perfer the status qou and that means there was a chance of it being defeated .. any way it want be a issue again to 2053 which is the next time the ref will be addressed
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