Guest columnist March 28, 2025

Lake Conroe Area Republican Women held their February General Meeting at Walden Yacht Club.  As usual, Judge Tracy Gilbert greeted all of us at the door and presented us with a beautiful red rose!  

President Molly Adame called the meeting to order after which Justice Kent Chambers opened us in prayer.  Then County Attorney B.D. Griffin led us in the pledges to the United States and Texas flags.  The treasurer’s report and minutes of the previous meeting were approved.  Elected officials and candidates in attendance were recognized by Brandie Lopez.

VP of Membership Michelle Martin announced that last year we had 206 primary members, making us one of only six Super Jumbo Clubs in Texas!  Currently we have 142 primary members with a goal for this year of reaching 215.  Additionally, our new directory presents exciting advertising opportunities.  Please contact Michelle, at www.lcarw.org for more information.

VP of Ways and Means Linda Mock announced the Stars, Stripes and Sombrero fundraising gala will be held on Sunday, May 4th at 5:30 pm at the Lone Star Community Center, 2500 Lone Star, Pkwy., Montgomery, 77356.  Tickets are on sale now!  Contact Linda by text or call 936 524 7300 or email lmock105@yahoo.com with questions. 

VP of Programs Sharyn Link introduced our first Guest Speaker Commissioner Robert Walker.  Commissioner Walker has been a custom home builder and a business owner, owning a restaurant and several convenient stores,  since the early 1970’s.  In 1993, Robert and his wife, Janet, opened Walker’s Feed and Farm Supply in Willis.  Now, over 30 years and three locations later, Walker Feed has become a well-established business and is currently one of the largest feed stores in Montgomery County.  Over the years, Robert has played an important role in this community.  Because of his devotion to the community’s well-being, Robert ran for the position of Commissioner in 2020 and received 78.99 % of the General Election vote.  Robert considers it an honor to serve the community in his role as Commissioner.

Commissioner Walker gave us an informative look into the current state of Montgomery County and Precinct 1.  He explained that the population of Montgomery County has almost doubled in the last 15 years and is expected to exceed 1 million people by 2029.  And Precinct 1 alone encompasses 404 square miles which includes maintaining 485 miles of roads and 570 miles of ditches/drainage. Precinct 1 currently has 14,000 acres under development with 21,000 homes which translates into 42,000 projected vehicles (at two per household).  In conjunction with this projected growth, a new Community Center is 

In January 2024 a Service Center, located at 84 W. Montgomery Suite B., Willis, TX  77378, was opened. This center provides property tax services, boat and motor title transfers, boat registration, vehicle registration, disability placards, motor vehicle title transfers and property tax payments. Another new facility, Office of Livestock Housing Facility, opened to house abused, neglected, or abandoned livestock animals.  It includes 20 stalls & 7 acres of open pasture and is centrally located off Airport Road in Conroe for easier transport for animals.
Another new addition is a Mobile Command Trailer that was purchased with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.  This is a multi-agency, first response trailer that has 2 radio dispatch stations, 4 workstations and a 45-foot mast with a camera and a 150-foot drone with a tether.  This Command Trailer will be used for search and rescue, drownings, fires, or any mass casualty situation. 

Conroe/North Montgomery County also has a Recycle Center, located at 142 W. Wally Wilkerson Pkwy, Conroe, TX  77303.  The many items that are accepted include plastic, glass, aluminum cans, steel and tin cans, paper, broken down cardboard, electronics, oil, anti-freeze, batteries, household appliances and paint.  This recycling center is open from 8 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Fridays.  For more information, call 936 539 7911.
Lastly Robert talked about the Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport (CXO). What makes this airport so special for Houston?  Several things: It is a reliever airport for inclement weather in addition to humanitarian flights, hurricane relief, air-medical transport and military training.  IN 2017 CXO airport ranked 100th overall in the United States and 15th in the state of Texas.  But in 2023, it ranked 18th overall in the United States and 4th in the state of Texas making it the 3rd fastest growing airport in the country!

Then Sharyn introduced our second Guest Speaker, Montgomery County Tax Assessor/Collector Tammy McRae.  Tammy is certified by the Tax Assessor-Collectors Association of Texas and the Board of Tax Professionals & Examiners of Texas. She is also Vice-President-Internal of the Tax Assessor-Collectors Association of Texas and is a member of Texas Association of Assessing Officers, Texas School Assessors Association, Texas Association of Appraisal Districts and Government Finance Association.  In addition, Tammy is a member of the Rotary Club of The Woodlands, Montgomery County Area Business Women, The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce, Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce, Magnolia Chamber of Commerce and Greater East Montgomery Chamber of Commerce.  

Tammy explained that the Texas Property Tax System includes many different entities such as the Texas Legislature, Appraisal Districts, the Appraisal Review Board, the Governing Body, the Comptroller’s Office, the County Tax Assessor/Collector and the property owner. She then explained the property tax system timeline.

The cycle of property taxes begins during August and September when local taxing units adopt tax rates.  Then on October 1st, local taxing units (or county tax assessor/collector, acting on their behalf) begin sending out tax bills to property owners. The actual appraisal phase lasts from January 1 – May 15.  On January 1, appraisal districts are required to appraise property at its value and a lien attaches to each property to ensure payment.  Then from January 1 to April 30, appraisal districts complete appraisals and process applications for exemptions. Appraisal districts send notices of appraised values to property owners from the beginning of April until the end of May.  People can protest their property taxes but need to do it in time for Appraisal Review Boards to hear the protests, make determinations and approve appraisal records.  This occurs from May until July, completing the yearly cycle.  

Tammy concluded her presentation by explaining the path of your property tax dollars.  First you pay your property taxes to the local tax collector. The tax collector distributes funds to schools, cities and other local governments.  Local governments spend these funds on schools, roads, hospitals, fire departments and other programs.  Thank you, Tammy, for educating us on the ins and outs of our property taxes and where our monies go.

The next Lake Conroe Area Republican Women’s meeting featured the annual My American Hero Essay Contest Winners program. For more information, please go to www.lcarw.org. 

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