Westwood Parkway Improvement District is seeking a 2-cent sales tax increase on all commercial transactions in its boundaries.

The district’s primary purpose for the increase in the sales tax is to fund the extension of Research Forest Drive to Egypt Lane. Other projects include additional roadway improvements, landscaping and beautification.

“According to emergency services, this project would also improve fire safety by reducing response time, particularly when assistance is to be provided by The Woodlands Fire Department,” Treasurer of Westwood District Tom Grayson said. “The project would also expand the commercial customer base, improve mobility and attract quality businesses to the area.”

Pictured, the area dividing Egypt Lane and Research Forest Dr.

Information was recently released by representatives of the Westwood subdivision regarding alleged misconceptions about the Public Improvement District (PID) and the surrounding neighborhood. Grayson explained why the votes were restricted to commercial properties.

“The board considered all of its options to fund the construction of Research Forest Drive such as property taxes, assessments and sales taxes,” Grayson said. “Property taxes or assessments would have had to be very high to fund the project and would have unfairly placed the full cost of this project on the residents and property owners in the district.”

It was then determined by the board that a sales tax was the best choice for funding the project. Grayson also explained that at the time of the boundary change, all of the board members were residents in the Westwood subdivision and realized that if the district were to build any improvements, the property taxes would be raised.

“The board concluded that the best way to eliminate that concern forever was to remove the residential homesteads from the District,” Grayson said.

Richard Werlein was one resident of Westwood who was removed from the voting boundaries. Werlein was confused as to why the board would impose a levy on the sales tax and not let the residents vote.

“Residents on Tamina can vote, but nobody else can vote,” Werlein said, “and they are holding the election at a private home.”

The election is being held at 32910 Oak Creek Dr., in Magnolia. According to the Montgomery County Appraisal District, the site is a single family residence owned by Grayson.

Grayson also has two companies listed that he operates from his home, Lltd. Corp., and Magnolia Circle Properties, Ltd.

The PID board also decided to leave any property that could have commercial use now or in the future inside the boundaries.

“Not all residents in the district were removed. Removing single family homes was done to assure those residents that the district could never impose a property tax or assessment on them,” Grayson said.

In addition, Grayson said residents typically do not get to vote on sales taxes they pay in other jurisdictions, such as The Woodlands Township.

“The board’s decision to call a sales tax election for this area was made by local residents so that this money could be used for local projects that help our local businesses,” Grayson said. “The sales taxes are paid by all the people who are going to the businesses in the district.”

The Westwood District is not a state election. According to Richard Muller, Attorney for the District, the Board of Directors consists of 11 members, four of which are elected and the rest are appointed.

“These types of districts are designed to create jobs and improvement in the area,” Muller said.

County voting precincts included in the jurisdictional boundaries are 30, 74, 76 and 81.

For more information about Westwood, visit www.westwoodmagnolia.com, or contact Jane Miller for election information at 713-860-6489

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