Montgomery Co. OKs $28.5M Consolidation Bldg

CONROE, Texas – The Montgomery County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, officially approved a $28.5 million plan for a new County Administration Building, a move intended to consolidate numerous county departments into a single, centralized facility in downtown Conroe. The significant project will be funded entirely with existing county cash reserves, marking a strategic pivot after voters rejected a similar bond proposal last year.

The new facility is slated for construction at 400 North San Jacinto Street, the current site of the Montgomery County Tax Office. The existing building will be demolished to make way for the modern structure. The primary objective is to bring together key county offices, including the County Judge, Commissioners, County Clerk, Treasurer, Tax Assessor, Elections Administrator, Human Resources, Purchasing, Auditor, IT, and the Public Defender. These departments are presently dispersed across 14 separate buildings throughout downtown Conroe.

County officials anticipate that consolidating these operations will dramatically enhance efficiency, improve public access to services, and bolster overall security. Navigating multiple locations for different county services can be a frustrating experience for residents. A unified building aims to streamline public interactions, reduce wait times, and foster better inter-departmental collaboration, which is currently hampered by the logistical challenges of disparate locations. Enhanced security measures will also be a key feature of the new, centralized facility.

Crucially, the $28.5 million cost will not necessitate new bonds or a tax increase for residents. Instead, the county plans to fund the project using “cash on hand,” drawing from accumulated county reserves and prior year surpluses. This approach comes after Montgomery County voters rejected a $30 million bond proposal for a comparable administrative project during the November 2023 elections. Following that outcome, the Commissioners Court opted to slightly scale down the project’s scope and utilize existing funds, directly responding to voter sentiment by avoiding new debt.

Construction for the new administration building is projected to commence in early 2025, with an estimated completion target of early 2027. During the demolition and construction phases, the Montgomery County Tax Office, currently occupying the site, will temporarily relocate to a modular building. This temporary facility will be situated at the east end of the existing parking lot, ensuring continuity of services for residents. Once the new administration building is completed, the Tax Office will move into a permanent, dedicated space within the new facility.

This administrative building is one of several significant infrastructure projects underway or planned across Montgomery County, reflecting a broader investment in public services and facilities. Other ongoing developments include:

* **County Courthouse Renovation:** Modernizing the historic County Courthouse on Main Street to update courtrooms and justice administration facilities.
* **Alan B. Sadler Administration Building Overhaul:** Renovating this building to create a dedicated and modern space for the District Attorney’s office.
* **Old Sheriff’s Office Conversion:** Transforming the former Sheriff’s Office into a comprehensive Juvenile Probation facility.
* **New Elections Facility:** A $20 million project already underway, aimed at enhancing election security and efficiency through a dedicated new facility.
* **Planned Public Safety Facility:** A $16.5 million facility designed to house the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management, and 911 services, improving coordination and response times for critical public safety operations.

The Commissioners Court’s decision underscores a commitment to updating county infrastructure to better serve a growing population while carefully managing public funds.