Across the nation, hardworking families are feeling the squeeze. From the grocery store checkout line to the gas pump, the cost of living has placed an enormous burden on the kitchen table.
As conservatives, we understand a fundamental truth: Your money belongs to you, not the government. When economic pressures rise, the last thing your local government should do is ask you for a bigger piece of your paycheck. That is why, here in Montgomery County, we have taken a radically different approach than the tax-and-spend politicians running cities across the country. We are proving that you can manage explosive population growth, build new roads, and fully fund law enforcement while actually lowering the tax rate.
Here is how we are fighting for the Montgomery County taxpayer.
The Truth About Appraisals vs. Tax Rates
When you open your property tax bill, it can be frustrating. Property values in Texas have skyrocketed as more people flee blue states to find freedom here in Montgomery County.
But it is crucial to understand how this system works. The county government does not set your home’s appraised value; that is done by the independent Central Appraisal District.
What the county Commissioners Court does control is the County Tax Rate. And while we cannot stop the free market from driving up the value of your home, we can absolutely control what we charge you.
When property values go up, a conservative government should drop its tax rate to offset the burden. And that is exactly what we have done.
A Record of Results: Cutting the Rate
Since I took office, we have fundamentally changed how Montgomery County handles your money. We don’t just pass the cost along to the taxpayer; we tighten our belts.
Through disciplined budgeting, we have successfully lowered the county property tax rate by approximately 20% during my tenure.
We achieved this historic tax relief by:
- Broadening the Commercial Tax Base: By keeping our county OPEN for business, we attracted massive commercial investments. These new businesses shoulder a huge portion of the tax burden, taking the weight off individual homeowners.
- Refinancing County Debt: Just like you might refinance a mortgage when rates are favorable, we aggressively refinanced existing county debt to save taxpayers millions of dollars in interest.
- Cutting Bureaucratic Waste: We rejected the idea that county departments should automatically get budget increases every year just because they ask for them.
Zero-Based Budgeting: Running Government Like a Business
In government, there is a dangerous habit of “baseline budgeting,” where bureaucrats take last year’s budget, add a percentage increase, and send the bill to the taxpayer.
I promised to run Montgomery County like a business, which is why we implemented conservative budget principles. Every department must justify its spending. If a dollar isn’t going toward public safety, critical infrastructure, or essential county services, it doesn’t get spent.
We fully funded our police. We prioritized road and mobility projects. We protected our emergency management reserves. And we did it all while keeping our tax rate one of the most competitive in the state.
The Conservative Fight Continues
Montgomery County is growing at a historic pace. With that growth comes new challenges, but our principles will not change.
We will never adopt the bloated, big-government mentalities that have ruined other counties. We will continue to run a lean, efficient, and transparent government that respects the men and women who fund it.
Thank you for trusting me to watch over your tax dollars. I will continue to hold the line for your family.
— Judge Mark Keough
