Montgomery County Commissioners approved the $18 million budget for the Montgomery County Central Appraisal District, which includes new positions and drone technology.
Commissioners revisited the appraisal district's budget after tabling the issue in July over concerns the budget had increased almost $3 million.
Arthur Bredehoft, a member of the appraisal district's board of directors, said the budget increases are based on growth.
"As the county continues to grow, we had to bring on additional resources and people to achieve our mission of appraising," Bredehoft said of the budget that includes six new appraiser positions. "We have not increased staff since 2019."
Another factor in the budget is the technology for using drones and software, which Bredehoft said will help appraisers get more accurate data on structures in the county.
The district is funded by about 155 taxing jurisdictions, with Montgomery County's assessment for 2025 at $3.4 million. Conroe ISD has the largest proposed assessment for 2025 at $5 million.
As of July 1, 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 711,354. In 2022, the population was 679,554 and in 2021 it was 650,755.
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