The Woodlands Township was notified June 20 that conservation and reclamation districts will not be able to vote in this year’s Montgomery County appraisal district board election after the appraisal district determined that the submitting district did not qualify under the property tax code.

"The township was notified on June 20 by letter from the Appraisal District that conservation and reclamation districts will not be able to vote in this year's election," Colin Todd Stevens, Vice President of Intergovernmental Relations, told the board. He said state law places the burden on districts to timely submit qualifying letters but that the appraisal district will take an added step going forward to notify districts of deadlines.

Todd explained that because no qualifying taxing unit submitted the required letter, the conservation and reclamation districts could not participate in the nomination process for this year’s Montgomery County ballot. He also summarized a separate recount and terms resolution affecting a local public official; as explained at the meeting, that official’s current term will run through December and he may pursue nomination for a future term.

On the Harris County side of the election, Todd explained that conservation and reclamation districts are eligible to nominate a candidate and that eligibility rules include residency in Harris County for at least two years, being current on property taxes and not being an employee of an appraisal or taxing entity involved in appraisals. The board discussed whether to submit a nomination but chose not to nominate a candidate this evening to meet the appraisal district’s filing deadline.

The board accepted staff’s report on both the Montgomery County and Harris County appraisal district election matters (voice vote). Todd said the appraisal district will make procedural improvements in future cycles to notify qualifying districts about deadlines.