Montrose Management District plans to vote on tax assessment that will fund ‘safer & cleaner’ area

The Montrose Management District, inactive for nearly five years, is devising a plan to levy a tax assessment on commercial property proprietors in the Montrose vicinity to finance substantial area improvements.

The tax is integral to the Service and Assessment Plan (SAP), which proposes a maximum levy of nine cents per $100 in property value, a reduction from the previous rate of 12 cents as assessed by the Harris County Appraisal District.

This tax obligation falls solely on commercial landowners, who may opt to distribute the increased taxes among their tenants or absorb the burden themselves.

Approximately $2.2 million in estimated tax revenue is anticipated, with 60% earmarked for public safety initiatives.

However, some community members are advocating for greater community involvement in determining how the funds are allocated before finalizing the budget.

“I’m not opposed to the Montrose Management District or businesses paying taxes. However, decisions shouldn’t be made unilaterally. Community engagement is crucial,” remarked Ethan Michelle Ganz.

Presently, the board comprises only four of its 10 members, with a minimum majority of three needed to endorse the tax levy.

Andrea Duhon, the Executive Director of the Montrose Management District, emphasized that the plan remains under development.

The district’s website specifies that mid-rise and high-rise structures are assessed based on the value of only four levels, while multi-family residential complexes of 25 units or fewer are exempt. Mixed-use properties are subject to assessment only if the business segment comprises over 40% of the total valuation.

According to Alan Bernstein, the management district’s spokesperson, the board received numerous petitions from property owners subject to the assessment to implement the new SAP during the mid-December meeting, surpassing the 25 required by state law.

Bernstein indicated that nearly 1,000 properties would fall within the criteria for the tax imposition.