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Issue #3 | Sunday, August 2, 2026
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THE
MONTGOMERY
COUNTY BRIEF
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Local news. Real people. Stronger together.
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Good morning,
Montgomery County.
Inside this week's Brief
🏛️ Could this decision raise your property taxes?
⛳ A new golf complex for The Woodlands
🍽️ Two local places worth checking out
🏡 Jennifer's real estate insight
🕯️ Meet Montgomery: Keely Mahaffey
🚧 What we're watching next
⏱ 2-Minute Read
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Jennifer's Letter
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Good morning, Montgomery County.
This week I found myself asking one question over and over: how do we keep growing without losing what makes this place feel like home?
I sat with that question at the courthouse, at a groundbreaking, and at a downtown Conroe candle shop that has become one of the liveliest little gathering spots in the county. Different rooms, same question.
This week's Brief is built around one story I can't stop thinking about — a bond decision that could shape county debt and property taxes for years — plus the good stuff: a new golf complex breaking ground, a hometown business worth visiting, and a small business owner proving that community still gets built one conversation at a time.
Thank you for reading. I mean that every single week.
— Jennifer
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This Week's Cover Story
Could Your Property Taxes Go Up?
Here's what Montgomery County is considering.
Reporting
Montgomery County Commissioners are expected to decide on August 6 whether to move a proposed $300–400 million justice center bond toward the November ballot.
County Judge Mark Keough wants to move forward now; some commissioners have asked for more discussion and floated pairing it with a future jail bond. Separately, the court has already voted 4-0 to set a site for a new jail near the existing Hilbig Road facility, with early estimates of $750 million to $1.2 billion.
If approved by voters, the bond would affect future county debt-service tax rates. Estimates discussed so far range from $0.0137 to $0.0180 per $100 of valuation, though the final number depends on what commissioners put on the ballot.
Source: Montgomery County Commissioners Court; Houston Chronicle reporting.
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Jennifer's Take
As a homeowner, this is the meeting I'll be paying attention to — not because the outcome is decided, but because it isn't yet. Decisions like this are easier to influence before the vote than after.
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By the Numbers
$300–400M
Proposed justice center bond |
Up to $1.2B
Early future jail estimate |
$12M+
Golf complex investment |
17.5%
June home-sales increase |
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Community Conversations
Growth, Taxes and Trust
The real conversation this week isn't really about a courthouse — it's about trust. Residents are asking their commissioners to slow down and show the math before committing to what could be the county's biggest debt package ever.
At the same time, home sales rose in four of Conroe and Montgomery's eight ZIP codes in June, even as prices and time-on-market moved the other direction in several areas.
That tension — grow fast, or grow carefully — is the conversation I'll keep bringing back to this Brief.
Development Watch
A New Golf Complex for The Woodlands
The Woodlands Township approved a ground lease with Forest Capital Partners for a new public golf complex in Creekside/South Gosling.
The project represents a minimum $12 million private investment and is expected to include a lighted nine-hole short course, driving range, pickleball courts and a restaurant/bar. Opening is targeted for early 2029.
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★ Why It Matters
A major new public-private recreation investment — and a sign the township is still expanding amenities even as growth debates continue elsewhere in the county.
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Also Building
A new 8,000-square-foot senior center is coming to Precinct 3 off Pruitt Road, backed by Interfaith of The Woodlands and Meals on Wheels Montgomery County. It will seat up to 250 people for meals.
Eat. Sip. Support Local.
Worth Checking Out This Week
One new place to eat and one downtown Conroe business worth supporting.
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Restaurant Recommendation
Benny & Hash
15260 TX-105 #160 • Montgomery
Why this week: A new breakfast, brunch and lunch spot serving omelets, pancake dishes and breakfast tacos.
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Local Business to Support
Get Fictional
203 N. Main St. • Downtown Conroe
Why this week: A bookish soy-candle shop pairing handmade candles with a curated selection of local and independent authors.
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Know somewhere worth checking out?
Reply and send me your favorite Montgomery County discovery.
Local Housing Intelligence
Jennifer's Real Estate Insight
This Week's Market Insight
What the numbers show: Home sales rose in four of eight Conroe and Montgomery ZIP codes in June, producing a 17.5% year-over-year increase overall. Median prices fell in five of eight ZIP codes, and average time-on-market rose in five of eight.
Buyers: More homes sitting longer can mean more room to negotiate. Ask about rate buydowns and closing-cost assistance, not only the sticker price.
Sellers: Price against today's active competition, not last spring's numbers.
Jennifer's advice: If you're buying this fall, stop looking only at county averages and start looking at your ZIP code.
Real estate information provided by Jennifer Jelks, Texas REALTOR® with Epique Realty LLC. License #690020.
Meet Montgomery
Keely Mahaffey
Building community one candle — and one story — at a time.
Keely Mahaffey opened Get Fictional in downtown Conroe, pairing handmade soy candles with a genuine love of books, including a shelf dedicated to local and independent authors.
It's the kind of small, personal business that turns a downtown block into a place people actually want to linger.
Montgomery County is full of people quietly building something that matters. Each week, I want to highlight one of them here.
Know someone we should feature next?
Reply and tell me who they are, what they're doing and why their story matters.
Looking Ahead
What We're Watching
● August 6: Commissioners Court's expected decision on whether to move the justice center bond toward the November ballot.
● August 12: Budget workshop on proposed mobile emergency-response traffic barriers for I-45, Hwy. 249, FM 1488 and Hwy. 59/69.
● September: Conroe's FY2026–27 budget adoption.
● Ongoing: Road and infrastructure work across the Conroe/Montgomery corridor.
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Question of the Week
What's one thing Montgomery County needs more of?
Restaurants? Roads? Parks? Entertainment?
Reply to this email. I read every response.
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Jennifer Jelks
Publisher, The Montgomery County Brief
Texas REALTOR® | Epique Realty LLC
Helping Montgomery County stay informed, connected and moving forward.
Published every Sunday by Jennifer Jelks
The Montgomery County Brief
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