Once again I want to encourage people to read the report on annexation issues in The Woodlands. This report gives a different perspective on the whole annexation/incorporation debate. I also would like to point out an article on a recent decision of the Governance Steering Committee.

Apparently the Governance Steering Committee has narrowed its focus down to two options for future governance in The Woodlands. One option they are pursuing is to incorporate, forming an actual municipality. Initially, this seemed like the obvious solution, but after reading the following excerpt (p. 9)from the report, Municipal Annexation and Governance in the Woodlands, it now seems that incorporation is much less likely than originally thought:

The obvious political hurdle here is that incorporation would require consent from Houston, which is very unlikely. Even though the political situation seems to favor annexation much less that it did in former years, Houston has no reason to permit any MUD in its ETJ to incorporate and would fight vigorously against any proposed state legislation to allow the Woodlands to incorporate.

Anything is possible when politics are involved, but it seems that incorporation is a distant possibility, unless The Woodlands can offer Houston something it cannot resist in return for its freedom.

The other option chosen by the governance committee is to form a management district. The formation of this management district would be mandated by the Texas Legislature. A few questions need to be answered about this management district.

• Does the procedure to mandate a management district allow Houston to have any influence on the process?

• Are there any benefits to Houston if The Woodlands forms a management district?

• Would forming a management district influence Houston’s desire for annexation?(the article states that becoming a management district does not restrict Houston from annexing The Woodlands)

As it stands now there seems to be one glaring problem with forming a management district. As stated in this article:

…Montgomery County would have the authority to appoint a board to govern the district, unlike The Woodlands Community Association and The Woodlands Association, which are elected by residents.

With a management district, The Woodlands residents would not have any direct control in determining their individual leaders. Which Montgomery County officials would appoint the members of this governing board? A management district seems to give the residents less input without providing any protection from future annexation. However, a management district may be an improvement in respect to law enforcement coverage as well as other areas.

It appears that the more knowledge that one acquires about this topic, the more convoluted, complex and uncertain the outcome becomes. One thing remains apparent. Even with all the ideas, debates and committees, The Woodlands does not currently have the final word in its future governance.

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