THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Voters in The Woodlands appear to have voted down a pair of proposals to incorporate as a city by a 2-to-1 margin. That means the community will most likely remain a township.
- Between Montgomery County and Harris County, Prop A had 14,751 against and 7,486 for. Prop B had 15,625 against and 7,564 for. That's with all precincts reported in Montgomery County and 700 of 704 voting centers in Harris County reporting.
Ballot verbiage
The Woodlands Township Proposition A
Authorizing the Type-A City Incorporation of The Woodlands Township District and the adoption of an initial property tax rate of not more than $0.2231 per one hundred dollars ($100) valuation of taxable property
The Woodlands Township Proposition B
Upon incorporation of The Woodlands Township District into Type-A General Law City to be called The City of The Woodlands, the transfer of the rights, powers, privileges, duties, purposes, functions, responsibilities, the authority to issue bonds, and the authority to impose taxes from The Woodlands Township District to The City of The Woodlands
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Voting was contentious on Election Day. Some said that if The Woodlands were to become a city, it would have more control over its future. Others said they don't know what could happen.
Since 2010, The Woodlands has had a special status. It's the only township in the state without the full authority or structure of a city.
Some believe it has worked just fine while others felt it was time to change.
"Incorporation actually transfers the authority to our own residents who get to write their own Woodlands constitution, get their own home rule charter," Gordy Bunch said.
Public services in The Woodlands, such as the fire department, solid waste and the parks, are overseen by an elected board. Incorporation would mean it would need to establish its own police department and a department for public works.
"It's risky because we don't know all the facts. And if we vote yes, we can't go back," Maris Blair said.
Blair has lived in The Woodlands for 30 years. She said she feels like the decision shouldn't be made too fast.
"It's rushed. They put this on the ballot at the last minute and they don't give us all the facts," Blair said.