To protect the patient’s privacy and confidentiality, HCHD will not provide further details about the case.

The confirmation comes as West Nile Virus continues to be detected in mosquito populations throughout the county. The Hays County Development Services (HCDS) Mosquito Surveillance Program received confirmation that a mosquito trap sample collected Aug. 11 in the 78666 ZIP code in San Marcos tested positive for WNV, marking the sixth WNV-positive mosquito pool reported through the county’s surveillance program this season, with one positive trap in Buda. 

The city of San Marcos has reported two additional positive mosquito pools, bringing the total number of positive mosquito pools reported throughout Hays County to eight.

“West Nile Virus activity in both our mosquito population and now a confirmed human case underscores the importance of taking precautions against mosquito bites,” said Hays County Judge and Director of Emergency Management Ruben Becerra. “Our health department and mosquito surveillance teams will continue monitoring conditions throughout the county, but prevention begins at home. Taking a few simple steps to protect yourself and eliminate standing water can help reduce the risk for our entire community.”

The virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds and can then transmit the virus to humans and animals. WNV is not generally spread from person to person, except in extremely rare circumstances involving blood transfusions, organ transplants or transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding.

About 80% of people infected with WNV do not develop symptoms. Approximately 20% may experience fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rash or swollen lymph nodes. Less than 1% of people infected develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system, such as encephalitis or meningitis. People ages 50 and older, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing severe illness.

Symptoms of severe WNV disease can include high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness or paralysis. In rare cases, WNV can be fatal.

Anyone experiencing symptoms associated with West Nile Virus is encouraged to seek medical attention. There is no specific antiviral treatment for WNV. Over-the-counter medications may help relieve mild symptoms, while people with severe illness may require hospitalization and supportive care.

“The best action Hays County residents can take to protect themselves from West Nile Virus is to prevent mosquito bites by following the three Ds: Defend, Dress and Drain,” said HCHD Director Matthew Gonzales. “If someone knows they were recently bitten by mosquitoes and is experiencing flu-like symptoms or symptoms associated with West Nile Virus, they should contact a healthcare provider, especially if the patient is immunocompromised or over the age of 50.”

Gonzales emphasized that WNV is not considered contagious between people. Humans are considered “dead-end hosts,” meaning they generally do not develop high enough levels of the virus in their bloodstream to infect mosquitoes and continue the transmission cycle.

HCDS conducts mosquito surveillance from May through November to monitor mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitoes are collected using standardized traps, including CDC gravid traps and BG- Sentinel traps and sent to DSHS for identification and arboviral testing. Surveillance helps the county track mosquito activity, identify areas where disease-carrying mosquitoes are present and guide prevention and control efforts.

“It’s essential that everyone helps reduce mosquito populations by eliminating unnecessary standing water around their properties,” said Nick VandenBroek, environmental health specialist II. “Source reduction can go a long way to reduce localized populations of mosquitoes in and around your neighborhood.”

Mosquitoes can breed in very small amounts of standing water. Residents are encouraged to regularly inspect their homes, yards and workplaces and empty or treat water that may collect in flowerpots, buckets, birdbaths, gutters, pet dishes, tires and other containers.

HCHD and HCDS remind residents to follow the three Ds to reduce their risk of mosquito bites and WNV infection:

• DEFEND: Whenever outside, use an EPA-registered insect repellent and always follow label instructions.

• DRESS: Wear long, loose and light-colored clothing when outdoors.

• DRAIN: Drain or treat standing water in and around the home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs.

The departments will continue human health and mosquito surveillance efforts throughout the mosquito season to monitor WNV activity and help protect the health and safety of residents.

For more information about the virus in humans, contact the HCHD at 512-393-5520 or visit www.hayscountytx.gov/373/Current-Public-Health-Situations. 

Previously, there was a lump sum given across the board, where there have been increases of $4,000-$5,000 to all employees before council opted to change to a percentage. Staff was looking at having a 3% salary increase for city employees — something that was also implemented last year — in the fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 budget, presented during the July 16 meeting.

It was then that council member Anne Ulfelder requested that city administrator Tim Patek look at what the impact would be to change the cost-of-living adjustment to 4-5%, which was brought forward during the most recent workshop.

There are 16 regular full-time, nine regular part-time and 23 seasonal part-time employees with the city of Wimberley in various departments, said Patek. Administration and Public Works are in the general fund, parks and the community center are in the Blue Hole fund and tourism is in its own fund.

The proposed FY 2026-27 budget, as it was initially presented to council, already has a 3% increase calculated in at the following, which is noted under salaries and wages in the expenditures:

•   Administration (general fund): $322,000 full-time

•   Public Works: $6,000 part-time; $209,000 full-time

•   Community center: $21,000 part-time; $99,000 full-time

•   Parks: $144,000 part-time; $402,000 full-time

•   Administration (hotel occupancy tax): $2,500 part-time; $122,600 full-time

Patek presented that if council elected to change the adjustment to a different number, the impact would be an additional $5,595 for 3.5%, $11,190 for 4%, $16,785 for 4.5% and $22,380 for 5%.

“If you go to 5[%], the $22,380 would be added on into three budgets. Approximately $10,000 would be added to the general fund for salaries, $10,000 to Parks and around $2,000 to [Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT)], added on to the 3% that is already included,” Patek said.

Last month, Patek presented a balanced budget across the board, with, for example, the general fund’s revenue and expenditures both totaling $2,147,000, as previously reported by the News-Dispatch.

Ulfelder asked where the city administrator envisioned the new figures for the salaries coming from in the balanced budget and if it’s “really doable” to go up from the 3%.

Patek responded that it is possible because he always takes a conservative approach with the budget, so there is leeway for city spending: “It is doable. There will be tweaks here and there on the income that comes in, but it’s not an issue, in my opinion.”

Mayor pro tem Rebecca Minnick asked if the city of Wimberley’s pay scale is in line with the market of the immediate area.

“I do believe so. I remember I told you that in the past, we made some increases that I thought were very viable to get people up to where they need to be and to keep them,” Patek said. “We have a great staff. We have very little turnover and I think everyone is happy and I know they will be very appreciative if that is what you guys wanted to do.”

In response to Ulfelder’s question on if council could opt to do a lower increase after the next fiscal year, if needed, Patek shared that is a possibility, but hopefully, that would not be the case. He explained that there are some places, like the cities of San Marcos and Kyle, where they are having to eliminate positions or freeze pay raises.

“That’s happened to several cities throughout Texas, especially the ones that I’ve worked at. I’ve heard about that happening. One year, they don’t get a cost-of-living [adjustment], but then they come back the next year and then, they will be able to get one,” he said. “It just depends on that city and what they’ve got going on in their financial status.”

Trying to have a consistent baseline of a 3% increase is great, said council member Sam Werner, but as global conflicts and other issues that arise that put market pressures on a lot of people, it may not be possible to do something more every year.

Umfelder said that 5% is not scary, based on the numbers presented and knowing all of the work that city employees do.

“Just the amount that you all have on your shoulders and always perform flawlessly, that needs to be recognized in every way that we can,” she said.

Council member Chris Sheffield agreed, stating that the city has a fairly small budget, leaning him to be more inclined to do a 4% increase for a cost-saving measure, while still increasing the employees’ salaries.

Looking at what direction to give Patek when moving forward with the budget process, Werner said that he would “split the difference” and say 4.5%, to which Minnick agreed. According to Minnick, the mayor, who was absent during the meeting, shared that he would be comfortable with 4%.

After more back and forth across the dais, council gave Patek direction to include a 5% salary increase in the proposed budget.

“Given the volatile nature of markets and the world, that [5%] should not be an expectation year after year,” Minnick stated.

Council meets next at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20.

Water is a precious resource, especially for the residents of Wimberley and Woodcreek. They have questioned if there will be anything coming out of the faucet or, in some cases, if they will be able to run the shower and washing machine at the same time, emphasized Louie Bond, executive chair of the newly-created “Say No to Aqua Texas” coalition, which is comprised of neighbors, well owners, scientists, business owners and local leaders.

This has been since the onset of Aqua in the area.

“For so long, we have fought every challenge that comes to our valley to threaten our water supply and to try to control our wastewater situation and it's always reactive. There's a threat; we fight. Sometimes we win, sometimes we don't,” Bond said.

“I think, finally, we've been studying it long enough, working on it long enough, with the cooperation of Hays County elected officials present and past, with the groundwater districts and with all of the coalitions that have been formed,” she continued. “I think that we have finally found a pathway to have local control over our water and our wastewater, so that we can be proactive for the first time, so that we can be in control. The people who have a stake in this are the ones who should be deciding how it's governed and how it's distributed.”

The coalition — officially launched in July and funded by Our Water Our Texas — cites multiple problems with the way Aqua has been managing its water and wastewater services.

Pumping and permits

A major issue is that Aqua has overpumped 238 million gallons per year in excess of permits from 2022 to 2024, allegedly contributing to the diminishing flow at Jacob’s Well, according to the coalition.

In response, however, the provider shared that while production exceeded permitted amounts in 2023, it has made significant progress in reducing groundwater production through investing in the system and implementing conservation measures.

“In the Woodcreek area alone, Aqua has replaced nearly 16,000 feet of aging water main to reduce water loss and we have worked with customers to promote water conservation, including the addition of technology to let customers see their water usage hourly,” said regional communications specialist Jennifer Tuminelli. “These efforts have reduced the amount of water needed to serve our customers, while helping to preserve local water resources.”

Litigation

Accountability on Aqua’s part has also been questioned, as it elected to sue the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District in 2023 and there have been “years of undocumented overpumping,” Bond stated.

“When we try to get them to be accountable for these things, instead of working with us to create a better system and to secure our water supply, they sue the groundwater conservation district on which we rely to protect our natural resource,” the executive chair said.

The litigation, which remains pending in federal court, was due to the district applying regulatory standards against Aqua “in a manner that is not consistent with its treatment of other utilities and permittees. Regulated entities should be treated fairly and consistently under the law,” Tuminelli stated.

She added that the provider’s employees have remained committed to improving the system, reducing water loss, promoting conservation and providing reliable service to its customers.

There were also penalties issued by the Barton Springs Edwards-Aquifer Conservation District in February 2026, as previously reported by the News-Dispatch, for multiple violations. According to Tuminelli, those were related to groundwater production resulting from several system leaks, but Aqua has repaired the leaks, reduced water loss and remained in compliance with its groundwater production limits.

Rate increases

With the challenges that customers have had to face, another would be an increase in their rates. In 2023, Aqua filed for a system improvement charge to cover capital spent on the infrastructure improvements in specific areas; however, that was denied by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC), as previously reported by the News-Dispatch.

Then, in 2025, Aqua filed for another rate increase, but until the proceeding by the PUC has reached a final decision, interim rates are currently in effect. Individual customer impacts will vary based on the system they are served by and their water usage, Tuminelli explained, as, in Hays County, the increase is “lower than the statewide average for both water and wastewater service.”

“We understand customers’ concerns whenever rates change. However, maintaining safe and reliable water service requires continual investment in infrastructure,” she emphasized. “Across Texas, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars replacing aging infrastructure, improving water quality and strengthening system resilience. Those investments help ensure reliable service for customers today and in the future.”

Local control

Aqua was founded in Pennsylvania and is a subsidiary of Essential Utilities, which is a large water, wastewater and natural gas company in the U.S. — this leaves residents in Wimberley and Woodcreek concerned about lack of local control.

“[In the] Wimberley Valley, the constituents are more informed about water than just about anywhere because it's so near and dear to us. We enjoy the creek and river, but we also know that the water's not always going to come out every time we turn on the tap and so, that really motivates us to use the very powers that we're given in this country to speak up for ourselves, to do our own control of the things that are important and not just let big corporations make decisions for us,” Bond said. “They don't live here. They don't care about us. They're clearly in business to make a profit and that's not what we are looking for as local residents.”

On the other hand, Tuminelli confirmed that Aqua Texas is a state corporation subject to regulation by Texas agencies with purview over it and operations are managed by those who work and live in the communities it serves. Being part of a larger regulated utility also allows Aqua to make significant long-term investments, said Tuminelli.

“We understand that community members care deeply about protecting local water resources and so do we. That’s why Aqua Texas has focused on tangible improvements, like replacing aging water mains, reducing groundwater production and implementing technology to aid in water conservation right at the customer’s home,” the regional communications specialist said. “We remain committed to working with regulators, customers and community stakeholders to ensure the long-term sustainability of the region’s water supply.”

Future goals of coalition

Every person in the Wimberley Valley should have a fresh supply of drinking water that is secure and sustainable, Bond said, as well as wastewater that is disposed of in a way that does not threaten the local creeks and rivers or back up into homes.

Because of this, there are three main goals that the coalition has, Bond explained:

•   Give communities a pathway to local control and create real change in how the valley’s water is run

•   Document the “failures” of Aqua Texas

•   Engage policymakers and regulators to work toward change

The executive chair urged people to understand the power of their voice and use it to bring their own cases forward on how Aqua has been serving them or not.

“We want clean water and enough of it for everyone,” Bond said. “I know that the people of this valley have raised their voices before and it's time to do it again.”

Learn more about the Say No to Aqua Texas coalition at www.saynotoaquatexas.com and Aqua Texas at www.aquawater.com.

From the very beginning, the business has been built on relationships. Friends, family, loyal customers, local schools, businesses and organizations believed in it long before there was a storefront, according to a news release.

“Through word of mouth, repeat customers and incredible community support, we've been able to grow into a space where creativity and personalization come together,” stated Walker. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has helped make this dream a reality.”

Drip Swag Shop offers a unique mix of boutique gifts, local spirit wear, custom apparel, embroidery, hats, bags and personalized products. Whether shopping for game day, looking for the perfect gift or creating something custom for the family, business or team, its goal is to provide high-quality products with exceptional customer service. More than anything, the shop is geared to be a place that reflects the spirit of Dripping Springs — a community that values supporting local businesses and celebrating one another.

“We are honored to be a part of the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce and appreciate the warm welcome from the chamber and the community during our ribbon cutting celebration. Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout this journey,” Walker said. “We look forward to continuing to serve our neighbors, building lasting relationships and being a small part of what makes Dripping Springs such a special place to call home.”

Drip Swag Shop is located at 11601 US 290, Suite B106, Austin.

Series 2013

Series 2013 is more of a private placement debt that the city of Dripping Springs took out, utilizing Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds for the payoff of the Dripping Springs Ranch Park addition, explained deputy city administrator Shawn Cox.

The city is projecting Series 2013 to end fiscal year (FY) 2026 with $202,353 in revenue and $90,375 in expenditures and then, the proposed numbers for FY 2027 are $203,506 in revenue and $92,055 in expenditures.

The initial debt was for approximately $1 million and is anticipated to be paid off in September of FY 2028, Cox said.

Series 2015

The initial debt for Series 2015 — wastewater impact fees — was $7,410,000 and was paid off in June 2026: “I was very happy to pay that one off, as we were getting a third one coming up,” Cox said.

Series 2019

Series 2019 was a Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) grant for $23,500,000 — with a rate of 0.3516% — that the city is paying through impact fees.

The series is projected to end FY 2026 with $2,222,999 in revenues and $1,073,553 in expenditures. Proposed numbers for FY 2027 include $2,193,799 in revenues and $1,103,553, according to Cox’s presentation.

“It is callable in 2040, so we'll be going back through the arbitrage with that in the next few years to see if there's any savings we can have on that, but it is the first big one that we had from the water development board,” the deputy city administrator said.

Series 2022

The second large grant from TWDB was issued in 2022 for $19,895,000 and is expected to close out in September 2042. The grant’s rate is 1.8137426%.

According to the presentation, similar to 2019, the city is projected to end FY 2026 with $2,222,999 in revenues and $1,073,553 in expenditures. Proposed numbers for FY 2027 include $2,193,799 in revenues and $1,103,553.

Series 2024 and 2025

Debt service for series 2024 and 2025 are tax-funded, Cox explained.

So, for series 2024, that is for the purchase of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative building and the property located behind it. The issuance amount for the property acquisition was $2,500,000 at a 4.44% rate; the expected close out is September 2030.

“We debt-funded the back portion [and] we cash-funded the front so that we could utilize our ad valorem to pay that off,” Cox said.

Series 2025 is for the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone projects, such as the Stephenson Building and parking, Old Fitzhugh Road, maintenance facility, street improvements, etc. That is issued at $13,345,000 with a 1.8137426% rate and close out date of September 2043 and is callable in 2034.

Council will meet next at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Director Cassandra Behr developed the idea from the already-established “Ride and Drive” events that the department does as a weekend job fair to recruit drivers, knowing that it can be intimidating to step into a job that involves a 40-foot vehicle. This allows them to practice turning, slowing down, using red lights, etc. to see what it’s like to drive a bus, while also being in the confines of a parking lot.

Through doing these events, Behr shared that they also tried doing on-the-spot, mobile interviews at locations, like in the parking lot at Hays High School near Bob Shelton Stadium, where they don’t necessarily have access to the building.

“We were like, ‘Hey, you know what? What if we were able to take a bus that we're getting ready to auction off and change it into kind of like a mobile office?’ There are other districts that have them for mobile libraries [and] mobile food items,” she said. “But, what if we were able to change this into something where we could sit down with individuals and have that interview with them? Then, they have a place to do an application because we found our laptops were dying because they're sitting out in the heat and the sun's bearing down on them for several hours.”

It took two years for the department to retrofit the school bus — which was already identified to go to auction — from breaking down the seats, taking the metal to a local business to get some funds back and sourcing materials. The total cost, Behr said, was approximately $2,000 for the items on the inside of the bus, as the majority of them were donated or found on sale.

“I have an amazing shop team out there, so they kind of worked it in a little bit here and a little bit there, which is why it took us two years to do the retrofit because we didn't want to impact our normal daily operations,” she said. “From our upholstery tech who redid the seats that we have in there, because those are bus seats from other buses that we were able to utilize, to the mechanics that worked on taking all the seats out and then, redoing the floor in there to getting it all installed. [Also], the mechanic who did all of the welding for the generator on the front, so that we could run it without having bus fumes in that using that diesel because a generator is better able to run any electricity on the inside versus the bus actually running because that can actually hurt the engine because it's not moving.”

School districts nationwide have been seeing a shortage in bus drivers, Behr said, which is another reason why Hays CISD is looking at alternative ways to recruit individuals to join the team.

There are several barriers that come with looking for individuals to drive a bus, from managing 50-70 students, being responsible for the routes to and from school and understanding the split shift schedule, she continued.

“We have individuals who joined us because their own kids were riding the bus and they wanted to make sure that they were safely getting to and from school, but then we have some people who don't have students, they just want to be able to give back to the community,” the Transportation director said.

Currently, Hays CISD is fully staffed with enough bus drivers to start the school year for the nearly 100 routes that are on the map. However, Behr said that they are still looking to hire drivers because they have have seen an increase in enrollment already this year and “we are already in the plans of what routes we're going to need to add in and so, we want to make sure that we are ready to fill those positions as those bus routes get added on.”

The interview bus started as one idea and it has continued to grow, Behr noted. The director shared that they are looking at utilizing it beyond just interviews, rather for the following, as well: parent events — helping them sign up for Secured Mobility Authorized Ridership Technology tag or answer questions about bus routes; helping students get registered; and other ways to benefit the community.

Following the first week of school, the Hays CISD Transportation Department plans to begin rolling out the bus on the weekends and get out in the community, with the possibility of partnering with local businesses to do so.

Those who have questions about the bus or the department, email transportation@hayscisd.net.

Located on the Buda-Kyle border, the new location allows TCOB to remain rooted in the community it has served for nearly two decades, while making its services more accessible to families in Kyle and other rapidly growing areas of northern Hays County, according to a news release. The new location provides a more central option for families traveling from both communities and gives the practice room to continue serving a growing population of clients who need individualized speech, language and occupational therapy services.

TCOB provides speech-language therapy and occupational therapy, with a special clinical focus on supporting autistic and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) clients. The practice also supports clients with communication differences, AAC needs, executive functioning differences, sensory processing differences and other developmental and communication needs.

A central part of the practice's approach is neurodiversity-affirming care, the release continued. Rather than focusing on making a client appear more “typical,” therapy is individualized around each person's communication, sensory needs, autonomy, strengths and quality of life.

For families seeking an alternative to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) or other behavior-focused approaches, TCOB offers a different model of support. The practice does not use compliance, normalization or the suppression of autistic traits as measures of progress. Instead, therapy focuses on communication, self-advocacy, autonomy, regulation, meaningful participation and skills that matter to the individual client.

“Families are sometimes told that ABA is simply what you do after an autism diagnosis and many don't realize there are other options,” said Amy Grant, MS, CCC-SLP, owner and clinical director of TCOB. “We want families to know that support doesn't have to be about changing who their child is. You can build communication, independence and quality of life, while respecting the person in front of you.”

For Grant, this approach is closely connected to the disability rights principle: “Nothing about us without us.”

As an autistic and ADHD (AuDHD) clinician herself, she brings both professional training and lived experience to the philosophy behind the practice, the release stated.

“Neurodivergent people deserve to have a voice in what good support looks like,” Grant said. “Being AuDHD doesn't replace my clinical training, but it absolutely informs the way I listen to our clients, the things I notice and the kind of practice I wanted to create.”

“We want therapy to be a place where clients don't have to hide who they are in order to be considered successful,” Grant continued. “For our autistic and ADHD clients especially, our goal isn't to teach them to look less autistic or less ADHD. It's to help them communicate, advocate for themselves, access the support they need and feel understood.”

The new location was also chosen with the client experience in mind. Rather than a traditional medical-office environment, the space offers a more comfortable, home-like setting designed to help clients and families feel at ease.

“Therapy Center of Buda has been part of this community since 2008 and remaining connected to Buda was incredibly important to us,” Grant said. “At the same time, Kyle is growing incredibly quickly, and we know many families are traveling farther than they should have to for affirming therapy. Being right at the edge of these two communities puts us in a really unique position to serve both.”

“It's a new address, but we're still the same practice, the same team and the same commitment to our clients and families,” Grant said. “We're excited to make this space our home and, hopefully, a place our families feel at home, too.”

The proposed budget outlines service priorities and community investments for the coming year, while addressing financial constraints driven by rising costs and limited revenue growth.

According to a news release, the proposed budget totals $56.7 million, including approximately $53.9 million for operating expenses and $2.8 million for capital projects.

The budget is balanced with a proposed tax rate of $0.3681 per $100 of valuation, compared to the current rate of $0.3576. The average home with a taxable value of $376,811 will pay $1,387 in property taxes to the city, an increase of $7 over the previous year.

Additionally, the proposed budget includes an increase to water and wastewater rates. Beginning with October meter readings, water rates would increase 6% and wastewater rates would increase 4%. For the average customer, this means a monthly bill increase of approximately $7.20, or 5%. The increase is necessary, according to the release, to pay the rising costs of operations, including water supplies, rising costs of materials and services and debt service associated with system improvements.

"The city’s budget and the services provided are foundational to the success of the community,” said Grau. “Without reliable infrastructure, safety created by the Buda Police Department and community gathering places and events that draw us together, we would not be a thriving community. The city, through its budget, ensures that basics needed for our residents and businesses to thrive are met. The proposed budget addresses these items and advances the priorities identified by the city council.”

The city developed the FY 2027 budget under continued economic pressures. Expenses are outpacing revenues amid low assessed-value growth and rising operating costs, including an increase in insurance premiums, higher fuel costs and general inflation. To present a balanced budget, the city manager and the Finance department reduced department requests by $3.7 million.

Reserves are available for one-time expenses and the city continues to hold one of the lowest property tax rates in the region and state.

Key budget items for FY 2027 include:

• A 6% water rate increase and a 4% wastewater rate increase, averaging approximately $7.20 a month or 5% for the average household customer to offset increased operating costs, expanded water supply costs and investment in infrastructure.

• Residential solid waste will increase slightly from $22.82 to $23.03 per month, with expanded service options to let customers select additional carts including a new optional green waste cart.

• A proposed tax rate of $0.3681 per $100 of valuation continues Buda’s tradition of a low property tax rate.

• Two new Public Works utility positions; no new positions in the general fund.

• Salary and stipend adjustments to keep police officer pay competitive with surrounding jurisdictions.

• New and replacement equipment for Street Maintenance, Parks and police.

• Construction contribution as a partner of the proposed Kyle Regional Animal Shelter.

• A study to explore future water supply options.

Policy priorities for FY 2027:

• Water supply and infrastructure

• Public safety

• Street maintenance and completion of bond projects

• Parks, including playground replacements at Cullen Country and Green Meadows, the opening of Buda Championship Park and the completion of Garison Park

The public is invited to attend and participate in the upcoming city council meetings and hearings on the proposed budget and tax rate:

• Thursday, Aug. 13 – City manager’s budget presentation to city council and record vote on the proposed tax rate

• Tuesday, Sept. 1 – Public hearing on the budget and courtesy hearing on the tax rate

• Tuesday, Sept.15 – Public hearing on the tax rate, courtesy hearing on the budget and first and final reading of the ordinance to adopt the budget and tax rate

To review the proposed FY 2027 budget and the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan, visit the Budget tab of the Finance department page at www.budatx.gov/budget.

The final, adopted budget will be added to the website after council adopts the document and final edits are complete.

The city’s fiscal year begins Oct.1.

First, the court discussed several efforts for the upcoming budget, which was brought forward by Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra.

“The reason I created this agenda item … [is because I have] elected officials and department heads asking for direction, asking for support. They’re running their entire departments and they’re waiting to anticipate projects and everything else. So, what I hope to accomplish with this agenda item is to give public, open roadmapping as a compass for not only our budget office, but for also the viewing public to understand what our goals are and what our aim is,” said Becerra.

The item read that these efforts could include freezing the hiring of full-time employees, reducing inmate relocation to less than 50, school resource officer (SRO) costs, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) positions, a pause of studies and masterplanning, housing out of county juvenile inmates and postponing data conversions and software updates.

Commissioner Walt Smith said they made a commitment when creating the ARPA positions, so they need to carry those forward. Additionally, he shared that when they created the Parks and Open Spaces Department last year, they made a strong commitment with how the department should expand. Because of this, he does not want to remove personnel from current park projects, such as Sentinel Peak, resulting in the inability to open these experiences up to the public.

Scott Woodland, budget officer, noted that he was able to find interest earnings in ARPA to keep the employees, but that next year, they will have to be moved out.

He also stated that he’s discussed SROs with Hays CISD, where he learned that the district is planning on supporting additional officers at each campus in its budget.

“It is something we always wanted to step up and assist with in the past and I think I would be supportive of that,” said Smith, noting that the county originally asked to aid with SROs, but the school district denied the offer.

“I know it is a very tight budget year and my direction has been, ‘Let’s look at a tax rate increase and see what that looks like,’ but I also believe we need to ensure we are still giving the resources that our departments need to function well,” said commissioners Debbie Ingalsbe. “I think it’s going to be a lean year and we need to look at that as we move on into the budget.”

Regarding a freeze, commissioner Morgan Hammer stated that there “is a time and a place for it,” but that the court has set a precedent that there needs to be data and justification when asking for a new position and many departments do not achieve this.

According to Becerra, he discussed the Haskell inmate outsource with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and discovered that the number of outsourcing is decreasing, so limiting it to less than 50 inmates is possible. Ingalsbe shared that she would like to start back up contracts with neighboring counties to house inmates, since it would be easier for representation and families, if they were closer. However, Smith said that these counties have also had exponential growth, so they may not be able to take in extra inmates from Hays County.

Becerra is looking to do the opposite of what the county’s partnership with Haskell is, with the juvenile center.

“The conversation behind that is to have the opportunity for all the empty space, in reverse of the adult portion that we deal with, but in the juvenile side [by] help[ing] neighboring counties and, ultimately, I’m hearing, make some money out of it,” said the judge.

“Everybody hold your breath, this is something we’re going to actually really agree on. I’m not joking,” stressed Smith. “We are currently housing juvenile inmates from all the surrounding counties. The daily rate on those is actually pretty good; I want to say it’s $350-370 a month, something like that, as opposed to $102 that we’re paying in Haskell. There are different standardizations and those types of things that we have to have, but given the growth of our county. I thought we missed something in our Capital Improvement Plan whenever we didn’t look at the juvenile facility that we have.”

The facility will probably need an expansion in five to 10 years, he continued, so bringing in additional inmates from other counties would likely pay for the expansion over the years.

Joel Ware, juvenile facility administrator, was opposed to this idea, as he stated that it would change the morale for staff: “You have to be built to handle more behavioral problems. You have to be built to handle more health problems. So, taking in more out-of-county kids [than we already have] — unless there is an investment made to the facility — when you’re talking about operations, appliances, you have to be able to deal with those everyday problems. It is tough.”

As for pausing studies and master plans, the court opted to have a list of ongoing projects brought before them, prior to deciding.

Woodland also noted that he asked the Information Technology Department what data and software updates were needed and only included those in the budget. So, no unnecessary updates will be done.

Moving on to the budget presentation, Woodland stated that he chose to work without an increase in property tax — so it would stay at $0.3999 to determine what the county could “get by with,” though this resulted in a lot of denials to requests, such as new positions, forklifts, camera drone, freezer equipment and more. He did note that with a tax increase, all of the requests could be fulfilled.

Some capital assets that Woodland felt were important and, therefore, included were high mileage vehicle replacements, air conditioning unit replacement at the Hays County Jail and Juvenile Detention Center, fire investigator equipment, ADA compliant contraction and remodels and property enclosures around a cave that has been deemed a danger. He stated that he focused on giving equipment that promoted safety and reduced potential liabilities.

Expenditures are increasing, he said, with insurance rising 8.5%, more vertical debt payments and increased contract costs.

“In order to make the general fund work [without a tax rate increase], we pulled a half penny from the road and bridge maintenance and operation (M&O) rate to move over to the general M&O. That is a bandaid. That is not something that will be sustainable,” he emphasized, adding that he built in $2 million for the road and bridge budget, which he hopes does not have to be used. “What I wanted to do is lay a couple million dollars into the road and bridge fund. If it is needed, I want to use it there and that way, we know it’s covered and it’s not something I’m going to have to find down the road.”

The county held another budget workshop Aug. 11 — which will be covered in the Aug. 19 edition of the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch — and will hold a public hearing Aug. 18, prior to adopting the budget in September.

“It is going to be tough and we are going to have to make some decisions that may not be popular, but we know we are in a tough year. We tried the best we can to have that balance and provide the services that we need,” said Ingalsbe. “I look forward to more in-depth discussion with our colleagues and to seeing what the best route is to take with all of this.”

To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/4g44lyf.

The current makeup of BPD varies, as community affairs officer Matt Schima explained that he was one of five who were hired all at once approximately a year ago; that group ranged from having experience elsewhere to being brand new out of the academy. BPD’s chief and captain have a few decades under their belts, as well as the first-line supervisors with at least 15 years.

Now, with two officers in training, the final vacancies within the department have been filled to be a full staff.

While the numbers are not reported, seeing fully-staffed police departments is not common across the state of Texas or nation, Schima said. This is due to challenges, such as the culture that currently stands between the community and law enforcement, as well as what all it takes to do the job.

“Part of it is the culture today. We've seen in the past maybe 20 [to] 25 years a swing in public support and when officers look at opportunities for a career, it's not really enticing to go into a career where you could be sued for doing your job. You could be indicted for a criminal offense when you did the right thing,” he said. “I think young people and those looking into the career see those, as well. Maybe it's not really worth it. I think that's the tough part … There's a lot of small, but loud groups that are anti-law enforcement and so, especially younger officers coming into the profession that are on social media nowadays, they're seeing that a lot. I think that is a deterrent to getting into a career in law enforcement.”

Remaining competitive with neighboring departments, especially the larger ones that are along the IH-35 corridor, is important. Schima explained that he believes the advantage BPD has is the culture, emphasizing opportunity for officers to try different teams and promotions, such as field training officer, corporal, detective, drone, peer assistance, etc.

He added that they also stress the value of promoting teamwork, noting the most recent charity flag football game against the Buda Fire Department, as well as recognizing officers’ accomplishments with the annual awards banquet, which was started last year.

Having a full staff paves the way for more opportunities and addresses the concerns of the community from outreach to traffic complaints and reducing crimes, Schima said.

“We're able to concentrate more effort on reducing those criminal statistics to better serve our community. It also allows us to better serve at our events,” he said. “We are an event city; we have a lot of large events where people come from all over and so, that allows us to have adequate security for those events and we hope to continue growing, so that we can better serve in those capacities.”

The officer continued to highlight BPD’s connection with being community-oriented. When departments are short on officers, it can be difficult for them to slow down in the middle of responding to calls, get out of the patrol car and speak to kids on the street who are playing basketball, for example, Schima shared.

“That community mindset allows us to have the trust that we need in order to do our jobs, to have extra eyes and ears on the street, to be able to not only prevent crime, but solve crime,” he concluded. “We're really proud of the relationship that we have with our community partners from businesses to neighborhoods to individuals, through our community programs and just the everyday mindset of the patrol officer of, ‘Hey, we're going to treat you right, whether it's a traffic stop or domestic violence. We're going to continue to build those relationships and treat people right, so that we keep you safe.’”

Learn more about BPD at www.budatx.gov/111/Police.

Council members Courtney Goza and Melisa Medina and Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale brought forward the item to name the facility after Adell Hurst.

“I’m so proud to present this item,” said Goza, prior to diving into the history of the honoree.

Hurst was a community member who aided the creation of the nonprofit Kyle Area Senior Zone (KASZ) in the early 2000s. She also worked to preserve the Krug Activity Center, formerly Kyle’s city hall, which later became the home of the organization.

Council has acknowledged Hurst’s work throughout the years, even naming the main ballroom at the Krug Activity Center after her.

“The Krug Activity Center became a symbol of community partnership and the importance of preserving Kyle’s history, while creating opportunities for residents,” said Goza. “Through KASZ, seniors were provided access to programs, activities, educational opportunities, social events, health and wellness resources and other services that strengthened the community.”

“Naming the facility the Adell Hurst Senior Activity Center recognizes the individual whose vision and dedication helped create senior programming opportunities in Kyle and honor the history of partnership between the city, Kyle Area Senior Zone and the community,” said Medina.

The rest of council shared the sentiment that Hurst earned the dedication, but council member Marc McKinney hesitated on the word “senior” in the title, fearing that it may deter youth organizations from using the building, since it was designed to be a community center.

Suggesting “Adell Hurst Senior and Community Center,” was offered as a suggestion by council member Lauralee Harris.

Flores-Cale stated that she was concerned that this would lead to community members stopping by for what they assume is a recreation center, when in reality, the space is available for rent by the community, but it is first and foremost for the older adults.

Additionally, Goza noted that leaving “senior” in the name overall was important to receive grant opportunities.

Harris’ suggested name was praised by KASZ communication and grants director Ellen Ermis, who felt there would be no issue in the adjustment.

After Ermis’ comments, council designated the building as the Adell Hurst Senior and Community Center in a 6-1 vote, with Goza dissenting.

The facility is aiming for a September opening, said Ermis, and will include a commercial kitchen, a designated front desk with two part-time Parks and Recreation staff members, space to begin intergenerational programming and more.

Kyle City Council will meet next at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, for a special meeting.

Four grandmothers from Alexis Pointe Senior Living sat behind a small table with a big purpose: sharing the kind of advice that only comes from decades of raising children, loving grandchildren and learning that the most important lessons in life never really change.

Customers wandered over, some smiling, others curious. Before long, conversations replaced transactions, as the women dispensed gentle reminders, practical parenting tips and a healthy dose of grandmotherly common sense.

"Tell your kids don't get into any trouble and concentrate on school," Shirley Aromando said with the confidence of someone who has seen enough first days of school to know what matters.

Beside her, Sharline Alvord encouraged parents to invest in relationships, not just school supplies.

"Meet with the teachers and get to know the teachers and the principal," she said.

Jane Gunn, whose family now includes 15 grandchildren, didn't hesitate when asked about classroom discipline.

"When the teacher says, ‘no,’" she said, smiling, "they mean no and that's final."

The advice wasn't complicated. It didn't come from parenting books or social media experts. It came from women whose experience spans generations; women who have celebrated report cards, soothed first-day tears, packed countless lunches and watched nervous children become confident adults.

Their memories of school still bring smiles.

Peggy Bateman, who spent her career as a teacher, said it was always the children who made every day worthwhile.

"Your kids made you smile," she said simply.

Alvord still laughs when she thinks about riding the school bus for all 12 years.

"We had fun on the bus," she recalled.

Aromando remembered a different challenge.

"It was hard getting my son to go to school because he didn't like it," she said, drawing laughs from those listening.

For Gunn, one lesson has remained constant through the years.

"Know what your kids are participating in," she said. "Participate with them."

As they talked of those first day jitters of school, the women revealed the routines that helped calm anxious children and sometimes their parents.

"Just have everything ready to go," Bateman advised.

Alvord remembered walking each of her children into school, holding their hand before they stepped into the classroom.

"That kind of calmed them down a little bit," she said.

Gunn believes perspective matters just as much.

"Manage your expectations of the school and the kids," she said. "It always works out."

Then came the lighter questions, what was the one school lunch or after-school snack their children loved?

Bateman's answer was immediate: "Cookies."

Alvord said peanut butter and jelly sandwiches disappeared quickly from lunch boxes, while Gunn laughed remembering how much her children loved French fries after school.

But perhaps the sweetest moment came when Alvord reflected on the legacy she hopes she has left her family.

"All my grandchildren remember that they were loved by their grandmother," she said. "They're all adults now and they still say that."

Asked what single sentence they would write on a classroom chalkboard for every family to read, their answers reflected a lifetime of parenting.

"Participate in every activity your children are in," Alvord said.

"If you obey the rules, we'll have more fun doing the good stuff instead of spending all our time disciplining," Gunn added.

Aromando offered a simple reminder : "Do what you're supposed to do. Be good to your family. And have fun."

For the Alexis Pointe staff members who joined the residents, the afternoon was a reminder that their community is filled with living history.

"They carry so much wisdom and so much knowledge," said Victoria Whitley, LVN and area director of business development. "One of the things you heard over and over was, 'Have fun. Live life. Be happy.' That's something every generation needs to remember."

Community Relations director Katy Starr said the residents continue to teach her every day.

"They've lived so many years and what better source to learn from than our elders?" Starr said. "Whenever I have a question or something weighing on me, I can ask them. They'll give it to me straight and they're always uplifting."

Activities director Lili Kiel said the relationships she has built with residents shape both her work and her life.

"They teach me the importance of community and being there for your neighbors," Kiel said. "They inspire the work I do and the way I move through life with my friends and my family."

As customers paused to chat before heading down the aisles, it became clear the women weren't simply handing out advice. They were offering reassurance.

In a time filled with hurried shopping trips, nervous children and anxious parents, four grandmothers reminded everyone that success isn't measured only by grades or test scores.

It's found in showing up, holding a child's hand, knowing the teacher's name, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, baking cookies and saying "I love you" often enough that your grandchildren still remember it decades later.

Those lessons don't come pre-packaged or in a backpack. But they may be the most valuable things children carry into a new school year.

In a joint announcement last week, Space X and Tesla unveiled an initial $16.8 billion investment in a plant called Terafab. It is expected to employ at least 3,000 people. Many of those jobs are expected to go to residents of Grimes and neighboring Brazos counties.

“We’re now embarking on the most epic chip-building effort,” Musk, CEO of both companies, said in a statement. “The Terafab is bringing cutting-edge manufacturing to America, creating thousands of high-paying jobs in the Lone Star State and enabling us to produce AI chips at scale for use on Earth and in space.”

Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed last week that the project is receiving a $30 million Texas Enterprise Fund grant from the state. Grimes County has previously approved a property tax waiver in exchange for annual payments of $20 million.

The plant would eventually span 100 million square feet.

State Fair of Texas’ gun ban upheld by appeals court

A Texas appeals court upheld a handgun ban at the State Fair of Texas, rejecting the state’s claim that the city of Dallas unlawfully allowed a private operator to prohibit guns on city-owned property, according to The Dallas Morning News.

The 15th Court of Appeals affirmed a Dallas County judge’s dismissal of a case originally filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and three gun owners. It rejected the state’s argument that the restriction on cities banning guns doesn’t automatically apply to private tenants operating on public property. The ban will remain in place unless the Texas Supreme Court intervenes.

“The decision to prohibit firearms on the fairgrounds is the correct decision to protect the safety of our patrons," Karissa Condoianis, a State Fair of Texas spokesperson, said. This will be the third year the ban will be in place.

Talarico voted using parents’ address, report says

Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico voted in five elections using his parents’ address after buying a nearby home for himself, according to The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, a practice that may have violated state voting laws. The revelation comes weeks after Talarico accused Paxton, his GOP opponent, of voting from his estranged wife’s address despite not having lived there for two years.

Talarico has taken advantage of a state law that allows some public officials to redact personal information, such as home addresses. The news organizations pieced together the information from unredacted records provided by the Talarico campaign.

Texas law requires that residents register to vote where they live. The Talarico campaign declined to answer questions about his residency and voting history, saying “right-wing actors” have made threats about trying to locate the candidate and his family.

Talarico’s house is in the same county as his parents’ home. Both residences are  located in the same state House district he represents, but in different jurisdictions for some local elections, according to The Tribune.

Wildfire danger increasing as conditions turn dry

August is typically the peak month for wildfires in Texas. The Texas A&M Forest Service expects wildfire potential to increase due to dry vegetation, particularly in the Panhandle and North Texas.

The state is deploying numerous wildfire response resources as a result, including the state’s mutual aid system and assistance from a number of state agencies.

There were two active wildfires as of Sunday. The 200-acre Round Up fire west of Amarillo was zero-percent contained at that time.

The service recently acquired three multi-mission aircraft, adding to its first dedicated, state-managed wildfire aviation fleet. It previously had acquired two wildfire suppression helicopters.

“Every wildfire is different, which is why a diverse aviation fleet is so important,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief Jared Karns. “Having multiple aircraft types available, including multi-mission aircraft platforms that can serve a variety of roles, allows us to respond effectively to the unique demands of each incident.”

Salmonella cases linked to jalapeños

The popular jalapeño pepper has been linked to 345 cases of salmonella illness in 27 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The San Antonio Express-News reported three cases in Texas, stemming from peppers imported from Sinaloa, Mexico.

No deaths have been reported nationwide, but 36 people have been hospitalized, according to the CDC. Nearly all of the cases were reported by people after eating at a Mexican-style chain restaurant.

Two affected chains, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba, said they had taken steps to remove potentially contaminated peppers.

Talarico unveils his ‘affordability agenda’

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico last week unveiled an "affordability agenda" that would help Texans buy homes, cancel medical debt, raise the minimum wage and expand the child tax credit, according to The News.

“The top 1% put the American Dream behind a paywall,” Talarico told about 1,300 people at an Arlington rally. “For too many of our neighbors, for too many Texans, the American Dream has become an American Nightmare.”

Talarico also touted the endorsements of former Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, a Republican, and Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, a self-described independent.

“He’s the most corrupt politician that Texas has ever seen,” Whitley said of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee. 

Paxton has faced numerous ethical and legal challenges during his time in office. He has denied wrongdoing and was acquitted by the Texas Senate in his impeachment trial.

At the Arlington rally, Talarico blamed both parties for economic policies that he said benefit the wealthy at the expense of working families.

“Republicans and some Democrats sold the false Gospel of trickle-down economics,” he said. “Trickle-down economics isn’t a theory. It’s a theft.”

Distracted driving puts school children at risk

As the school year begins, the Texas Department of Transportation is urging drivers to pay special attention in school zones. More than 3,200 traffic crashes in school zones involved school buses last year. Distracted driving and speeding were the most common contributing factors in these crashes.

“School zones can be chaotic places, with people in a rush and children not always watching for cars while they hop on and off buses or in and out of cars. Drivers can become impatient or distracted, which leads to mistakes,” TxDOT said in a news release.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

   Thank you —- all of you — for the Books, Opinions, Newspapers, Poems, letters to Representatives and Senators in Congress and State legislators, letters to local city representatives, and most important, letters to friends and family.

   Every Letter makes a difference —- whether you think so or not. Every Book makes a difference. Every Published Opinion makes a difference. Every Poem makes a difference.

   Letters to friends and family are either cherished or destroyed. But they still make a difference. They make the recipient stop and think and, even if he or she is not pleased with the content, they will still think about the message.

   The same goes for letters to US Senators and Reps, State Senators and reps, and city reps.

   Books will influence many —- for enjoyment and new knowledge. And, if the book is put on CD, it will entertain and perhaps even enlighten the listener as he or she listens.

   So, my dear reader, keep writing —- even if it is only to your grandchildren. And try a poem if you feel inspired. Oh, and about poems. Well that is a very special activity. A good poem can turn into a good song or even be read at a public gathering, like the inauguration of a President,

Comment always welcome

Victoria Taylor, Dripping Springs

The library was assessing its local history section and came across a collection of Hays Free Press archives. In need of additional space, the representative wanted to know if we wanted any of the papers or microfilms for our collection.

Knowing that I didn’t want the archives to end up in a dumpster somewhere, I made an appointment to review what they had and decide if we had the space to store it ourselves.

Despite knowing I didn’t really have room for it, I left that day with a car full of physical papers and a couple boxes of various microfilms.

“What do I do with all of this now,” I asked myself.

You see, when a newspaper has been in business as long as we have, it ends up with a lot of paper. Our archive storage area includes 10 to 15 floor-to-ceiling cabinets that were beginning to overflow.

Knowing they would not do anyone any good stored in a cabinet, I started to research and found the Texas Digital Newspaper Program. This organization, housed at the University of North Texas (UNT), utilizes grants to digitize historic newspapers, which it makes freely available on The Portal to Texas History.

After reaching out, the team applied for a grant on our behalf and just shy of one year ago, someone from UNT visited the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch office and loaded up a van full of history.

Within that van went nearly every single archive available in our office  — upwards of 100 years worth of publications — along with a couple of rolls of microfilm borrowed from the San Marcos Public Library to fill in the gaps, all of which was transported to UNT for digitization.

Over the last year, the team has worked tirelessly to organize and digitize more than a lifetime of local history, as published in the Hays Free Press and various other titles that came before it. And, they are nowhere near done yet.

Since August 2025, the team at UNT has digitized approximately seven decades worth of editions, with more still to come.

Additionally, I am in discussion with the founder of the News-Dispatch to obtain archives prior to 2014, in hopes of having them digitized in the future.

It’s a huge undertaking, but it’s something I truly believe is vital to the communities we serve.

Very recently, I learned that other newspaper archive collections in the local community have been discarded entirely and truly, it hurt my heart to hear.

Before the dawn of the internet, physical newspapers were one of the only records of a community’s history. If we, the creators and holders of those newspapers, don’t preserve them for future generations, who will?

If you’ve never seen it, I encourage you to visit The Portal to Texas History for yourself. It is a treasure trove for anyone interested in local history.

Our collections can be found at:

•   texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/HFP/

•   texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/HCC/

Driving away from the Kyle Public Library that day, I laughed to myself, thinking, “What have I done?”

Now I know that, with the help of a dedicated team of archival specialists, I ensured that the history recorded by my predecessors will still be here a century from now.

Week after week, year after year, we record milestones, celebrations, controversies and heartbreaks. From elections to high school sports, new businesses to deaths and everything in between, our papers are filled each week with what one day becomes the collective memory of our communities.

Someday, long after those overflowing filing cabinets are gone — and long after all of us who filled them are gone, too — someone may search for the name of a great-grandparent, the history of their home or the story of the town they call home.

And maybe, because somebody decided an old stack of newspapers was worth saving, they'll find it.

Turns out, I didn't bring home a car full of old newspapers that day.

I brought home a piece of our history.

A history that deserves a future.

Kontnier is the publisher of the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch. She can be reached at publisher@bartonpublicationsinc.com.

The pair are entrepreneurs and business owners in Austin, with Sarah working in events and hospitality and Dallas being a director of operations. After living in Dripping Springs for three years, they were looking for a chance to open their own company in the city when Oakwood Public Market, a venue they visited often, announced its closure at the beginning of July.

They reached out to the owners to bid on the project, won and received the keys last week, said Sarah.

“There’s a coffee shop in it that we would stop at in the morning, after we dropped the kids off at school. They had a market that we could get our essentials and buy milk and grab wine on our way home for the evening and then, there was a soda shop, [where] the kids could get ice cream and milkshakes. Then, obviously, a bar and restaurant where we frequented to let the kids run around and play and look out over the hill country,” said Dallas. “We were here all the time for multiple different reasons and that’s why it just spoke to us.”

The 10-year lease on the building will keep the structure, name and concept the same, but with added additions the new owners hope will serve as a one-stop shop for families.

Sarah explained that with Wildwood Elementary School that recently opened up in the Headwaters subdivision last year, a space for children to have fun at was needed. So, an arcade will be added to the building.

Returning to Oakwood will be a menu featuring American and Southern Tex-Mex dishes created by chef Charles Dowd, who previously ran kitchens at North Italia, Haymaker and Black Sheep Lodge, said Dallas.

“We [also] have plans in the coffee shop on Friday and Saturday night to stay open late and make it a little bit more moody and then, that offers our chef the opportunity to explore even further on what he can do with a supper club, while we make craft cocktails and do draft beer and just have a place that’s 21 and up out here because that’s kind of lacking,” he continued, adding that this can be a date night for couples in the area.

Sarah and Dallas shared that they hope families can visit together and find something for everyone — additional televisions and drinks for dad, nice wine and food for mom and an arcade for the kids.

Although the previous vendors will not be staying in Oakwood, there will be an opportunity to have feature shelves for local business owners to sell their products in the future.

There is currently not a set date for opening, Sarah said, but the coffee shop is aiming to begin services at the end of the month, with the other amenities coming in September.

“We live here in Headwaters, so we are part of the community and we really just want to make this a place where families can gather and … the community can make memories. The best part is we’re one of them, as well,” said Sarah. “We’re not these outsider people trying to run a business in a place that we don’t know and love and that’s why we want to take on this project because our roots are here and we’re not leaving anytime soon. So, we want to grow with the community.”

To learn more, visit www.exploreoakwood.com.

The pre-kindergarten and childcare learning center was built for love from the beginning. Terrell shared that the idea sparked after both her daughters were pregnant and she wanted an opportunity to see her grandchildren everyday, while still being a working woman. So, she retired from a career of teaching in Austin ISD to build, design and open Rocking Horse Academy in 2002.

“I built this school for my grandchildren, [but] Emily and Nicholas are now 26; both have graduated from college. Caitlin is 22; she’s graduated from college,” said Terrell. “I’ve literally got to be with my family, my grandchildren and now, I have two great-grandchildren here that are now 1 year old. I get to see them everyday and I am a very vital part of their lives and that’s what I wanted.”

This endeavor has been such an important part of her life, she said, so it was easy to ignore the various emails over the years inquiring about purchasing the company, until last year when, at age 77, Terrell simply asked, “What would that look like?”

From there, she sent the requested documentation to KinderCare, a childcare and early childhood education company operating throughout the nation, and received an offer that, for the first time in 24 years, made Terrell pause and ask herself what she wanted.

“I’m [now] 78 years old and I’m not dying, but reality is, when you look at the calendar, 78’s kind of up there. I just don’t want to spend the rest of my life working,” she said.

But the choice wasn’t easy. Tearing up, Terrell emphasized that choosing to be “selfish” for the first time was difficult.

“It’s been extremely hard. My family works here. My four grandchildren grew up here; that’s all they’ve ever known is the family owning Rocking Horse Academy. Sydney was 2 weeks old [and] Emily and Nicholas were only 2 years old when they started here. They all got their first job here and I now have two great-grandchildren … [that] have four more years of childcare that they need and I am taking all that away,” Terrell said. “I would sit at home at night going, ‘This is such a selfish decision,’ but I also have to say — I’ve worked 62 years. I deserve the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of my labor and to enjoy the freedom that I’ve earned by operating a business. I put a lot at risk and I put in a lot of time and a lot of hard work. So, I do want to reap those benefits and enjoy [life].”

Retirement for the business owner looks like art classes, international traveling — including a trip to Finland this fall — volunteering to stay involved in the community and having a glass of wine at lunch with her girlfriends.

Although excited for her new adventure, she recalled fond memories, like the days of her grandchildren stopping by for a snack from her famous snack drawer or the connections she’s formed with teachers, some of whom have been with her for 15 years.

The effort and care these teachers put into their students is why Terrell was assured that KinderCare has no intention to affect staff during the transition, which will happen over a weekend in September. The concept of Rocking Horse Academy will stay the same, with the age groups served, but some basics, such as procedures, menus and curriculum, may change, she explained.

“I’ve had so many people that have gone on Facebook, people who used to work here, but don't anymore or students who came here or parents have stopped me and said, ‘My kids came here’ and now their kids are coming here,” Terrell said. “I’m so proud of so many of my students that have graduated and who come back and remember Rocking Horse Academy. And for me, I feel fulfilled that I've been successful, but that we have played such an important role in the development of Kyle and all of these children that went to Rocking Horse Academy. There are thousands of them in the world and they, so many of them, have reached out kindly with support and you know how much they loved us and that just means the world to me.”

Rocking Horse Academy will continue to serve its families until Friday, Sept. 18, when KinderCare will begin the transition and reopen Monday, Sept. 21.

To learn more, visit Rocking Horse Academy at rockinghorseacademy.com or KinderCare at www.kindercare.com.

According to the presentation completed by Chief Financial Officer Michael Doyle, the district is currently estimating $37,062,253 of total operating revenues and $29,587,332 of total operating expenditures for the conclusion of its fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 budget. This difference is a fund balance of $7,353,413, which, when added to the beginning balance of $6,629,803, results in an ending fund balance of $13,983,216.

In an effort to understand funding, Doyle discussed estimated enrollment numbers, as this, along with attendance average, directly affects the district’s revenue available from the state legislature.

“School districts need to have students and then, they need to have the students attend class. When you look at roll-up numbers and anticipated students in our classes, you can see that in [20]27, we're anticipating an enrollment of about 2,612,” he said. “That ADA [or] average daily attendance rate is the driving factor in our revenue template … We’ve seen at our high school, a higher number of students graduating early, which is great and I’m glad that they’re able to finish their educational pathway, but once they finish, it affects our ADA rate. I wanted to build that projection now, so that way we’re not projecting higher and actually receiving lower [next school year].”

He then presented several payroll scenarios for potential approval in the compensation plan, including:

•   A 2% pay increase for all employees

•   Increasing the district’s health insurance contribution by $40, for a total of $390 per month

•   Market-based salary adjustments across the district

•   Increase bus driver pay to maintain compensation at 90% of the market

•   Increase the starting teacher salary to $50,000 from the current $48,500

Trustee Rob Campbell asked whether staff considered increasing the starting pay even higher, since only several new teachers are hired each year, but Doyle stated that this can’t be done because it would outpace the other teachers, if this was the case.

“We looked at all positions and we wanted to provide a package that shows that we’re investing in our employees, investing in their benefits. We’re remaining competitive. We’re supporting retention, attracting those high-quality teachers for our district, as well, and staff, not just teachers, but all of our staff,” said Doyle.

Because of these changes, next year’s payroll expenditures would increase by approximately $423,000. This, along with an approximate increase of $200,000 in non-payroll expenditures, leads to a total operating expenditures cost of $30,378,488 for FY 2027, with $31,040,870 in revenue.

“When you take that estimated ending fund balance for this current year of $13.9 million, you’ll see that we’re about breaking even,” he shared, adding that there would still be $28,000 added to the fund balance, totaling $14 million.

The compensation plan passed 4-0. Trustees Chad Canine, Will Conley and Andrea Justus were not in attendance.

The presentation also detailed that the anticipated tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year is $1.0076 per $100 tax valuation, comprising of $0.7065 for maintenance and operations and $0.3011 for interest and sinking, though this will come back to the board in August for approval.

The Wimberley Board of Trustees will meet next Aug. 7.

The team competed at the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) National Championship in July in Columbus, Ohio, taking part in 11 disciplines over six days, including pistol, revolver, rifle and pistol caliber carbine (PCC) events.

The team — which included the following students from DSISD — brought home 49 topthree finishes, highlighted by 13 individual national titles and four team national championships.

Dripping Springs Middle School

• Addison Gray

Sycamore Springs Middle School • Riley Cook

Dripping Springs High School • Westley Alison

• Shawn Aylstock

• Colin Beckley

• Andrew Cerna

• Thomas Cook

• Niklas Egli

• Brenden Filler

• Brayden Gray

• Quin Hollingshead

• Maddie Johanningsmeier

• Ashton Johnsey

• Trevor LeBas

• Collin McAfee

• Reid McAfee

• Paisley Rosas

• Xavier Sanchez

• Jacob Steffen

• Landon Treague

• Vaughn Vincent

During his 20 years leading the Tiger baseball program, Payne compiled 427 career victories — the third most wins by a coach in any sport in school history, according to a DSISD news release. He guided the Tigers to 17 playoff appearances, five district championships and two state tournament appearances. Under his leadership, 88 student-athletes also committed to continue their careers at the collegiate level.

He was a four-time district coach of the year and earned Texas High School Coaches Association Region 8 Coach of the Year honors in 2025.

Payne led one of the most successful stretches in program history during his final two seasons as head coach, the release continued. In 2025, he led the team to its first state semifinal appearance in 27 years and its first district championship as a Class 6A program. The Tigers followed that success with another state semifinal appearance in 2026, setting school records for wins at 32, hits at 356 and shutouts at 13.

Before becoming head baseball coach at DSHS, Payne served for five years as athletic coordinator at Dripping Springs Middle School. In that role, he was the head football coach, an assistant high school baseball coach and taught special education and physical education.

He is a graduate of then-Southwest Texas State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science.

Payne and his wife, Kristin, have three children, Colton, Coy and Janessa, a daughter-in-law, Macy, and two grandchildren, Callie and Carter.

He will begin his new role immediately.

Annen joins Dripping Springs ISD after serving five years as the head swimming and water polo coach for Lehman High School (LHS) in Kyle. During his tenure, he doubled the size of the Lobos' swim program, while leading athletes to set eight new school records and qualify for the regional meet in each of his five seasons, according to a DSISD news release. His success earned him District Coach of the Year honors in 2023.

In 2022, Annen launched the LHS water polo program and guided the Lobos to a bi-district championship in the team’s inaugural season.

In addition to coaching, Annen will teach social studies at DSHS.

Annen is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice.

The public utility serves an approximate 225 square-mile area that includes 260 miles of pipeline, 10 pump stations, 11 pressure planes and two elevated storage facilities, according to its website. The agency itself was created through the adoption of concurrent ordinances by three participating agencies, including Hays County.

An item to reappoint Roberts, who currently serves on the WTCPUA board as the president and a representative of Hays County, was brought before the commissioners court July 28.

However, several members of the public, including Rick Brown, general manager of the Dripping Springs Water Supply Corporation (DSWSC), took to the stand or submitted written comments to share their disagreement of the reappointment.

“I think the people of Dripping Springs, for the lack of a better word, are thirsty and they have been in drought stage four for about four years now. I'm hoping to get some new representation on the [WTCPUA] board,” Brown said. “The people want to irrigate. The people want to fill their pools. The people want to live their lives without such a restriction that we've been facing. We've been doing an excellent job keeping it under the limitations placed upon us, but … the people need help.”

According to resident Charles Busby, Roberts has been in the position for “far too long” and has shown hostility toward the water corporation “stating that one of our board members at DSWSC should just sell to the WTCPUA, while ensuring more than adequate water be made available to development in Driftwood using both WTCPUA water to the city of Dripping Springs and possibly illegal abuse of groundwater. He's shown little if any concern for neighboring water users.”

Driftwood resident Susan Cook agreed that Roberts, who has been serving on the board since its inception in 2012, should not be reappointed. The WTCPUA controls the water supply for tens of thousands of Hays County residents, Cook continued, and it’s a major decision maker for where water pipelines are built.

“The WTCPUA puts its customers under frequent water restrictions, due to their infrastructure being insufficient and not well-maintained. Their customers are restricted to indoor water use only. The water leakage is a serious concern, as are who they choose to supply water to, like the Driftwood Golf Course by way of the city of [Dripping Springs], for whom they are sole provider,” she said.

Cook also claimed a conflict of interest, in which Roberts is allegedly a “major landholder and business associate” in several enterprises in the area that are served by the WTCPUA.

Resident Laurel Trevino-Murphy echoed Cook’s claims that appointing a commercial property developer to oversee public utility infrastructure, especially that pertaining to water, is a conflict of interest.

“Appointing a property developer to oversee the public utility agency that potentially could import water from Travis County to serve various commercial enterprises in Hays County could favor his private business interests over the public good,” Trevino-Murphy emphasized.

Beginning the discussion was commissioner Walt Smith, who also serves on the WTCPUA Board of Directors and is in support of the reappointment of Roberts. He explained that appointments of all members of the board are not solely approved by the commissioners court, rather all parties — Hays County, city of Bee Cave and Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 5 — have to support and approve it.

He went on to clarify some sentiments that were said in public comments, noting the following:

•  He has seen Roberts recuse himself at least 20-30 times on discussions related to the Driftwood development.

•  Roberts is not an owner in the golf course — later clarifying that Roberts sold it as raw property

•  WTCPUA does not directly sell water to the golf course — the business has a living unit equivalent contract with the city of Dripping Springs, which then sells water to it

•  Every customer, whether residential or commercial, has to abide by the same curtailments in a drought

“I think it's absolutely egregious to attack a citizen of our county who is a multigenerational citizen of this county and has truly brought success and economic development to our area, who employs hundreds of people in our area, pays literally tens of thousands of dollars in property taxes because they live here and they chose to build their business here,” Smith said. “I think we should encourage people to do that here. They should want to build that business here. They should want to be property owners here and they should want to raise their families here and be successful here and to try to degrade or speak down to them because of that … I think it's just sad.”

Commissioners Debbie Ingalsbe and Michelle Cohen stated that there could be a conversation held regarding term limits for all boards.

“... I've heard of other concerns throughout the county with other appointments that this body makes and so, I just feel that if we are going to do that then we need to look at every entity that we appoint people to and see if that is what this court wants to do and maybe it is the right thing to do to give other people an opportunity,” Ingalsbe said. “But until we do, I think that I am supportive of the appointment and then, we look at this holistically and go from there.”

After hearing disdain from some members of the public that the item was placed on the consent agenda during multiple meetings, the court also questioned that decision.

County administrator Kandice Boutté explained that typically, those appointments are put on the consent agenda, unless the commissioners court explicitly states that it wants to pull the item or give direction on having it in the miscellaneous section.

The reappointment was approved 3-2, with Becerra and Cohen dissenting, however, it is not final until all entities vote to approve.

To listen to the full discussion, visit www.hayscountytx.gov/189/Court-Meetings-Livestream.

The natural area was initially closed to swimmers June 29, 2022, after flow dipped down to zero cubic feet per second (CFS), along with stagnation and algae development in the water, according to Hays County Parks and Natural Resources Department director Karl Flocke. That closure has continued to be in effect since.

Levels are measured using a gauge that is installed within Jacob’s Well by the United States Geological Survey. This measures outflow, height and other metrics, such as temperature of and nitrates in the water, to give a constant reading on what the conditions are.

These water levels are starting to increase, as there has been some return in flow after the area received heavy rainfall throughout the spring and summer this year, Flocke said.

“Typically, a rapid spike in the flow of water from the well has also had a rapid decline afterwards, but in general, what we've seen is after every single rainfall, it seems to be taking longer and longer for the flow to return to zero [CFS],” he explained.

A week after heavy rainfall in July, flow has not reached zero CFS, rather it is holding “pretty steady,” between approximately 1-1.5 CFS. However, average flow at Jacob’s Well is typically between 4-6 CFS, so the current flow is about a quarter of what staff would normally like to see, Flocke said.

“This is really the best flow we have had since 2022. In that four-year period, there have been a couple of rainstorms [and] good rainfalls where we have seen very short-term flow, but the flow we're seeing right now during the summer of 2026 is certainly the best flow we've seen since 2022,” he said. “It is still nowhere near where we would like to be, though.”

While the flow outlook is beginning to improve, the likelihood that Jacob’s Well will reopen to swimmers this summer is extremely low. Flocke said that there would need to be about four times the water flow for a long period of time — an additional 12-16 inches of rain within a month — to get to that point.

In the long term, however, that could change, the director continued.

“We are looking at having a persisting or even strengthening El Niño and that typically leads to an above average rainfall over the winter and so, if we do continue to see that above average rainfall through the fall, winter and spring, next summer, it could be a possibility,” Flocke said. “It really will just depend on how much rainfall we get within the next six to eight months.”

Jacob’s Well Natural Area is located at 1699 Mt. Sharp Road, Wimberley. Though swimming is cancelled until further notice, hiking is still available.

Learn more at www.hayscountytx.gov/444/Jacobs-Well-Natural-Area.

County Court at Law No. 3 has been awarded a $165,000 grant from the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health to implement the Court Liaison Pilot Program for the period of Sept. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2028. This funding includes $102,877 for personnel, $52,075 for fringe benefits, $3,995 for travel, $2,553 for equipment and $3,500 for other program expenses.

It also creates a Behavioral Health Court Liaison position, in which the individual would do the following, according to agenda documents: coordinate behavioral health services across the criminal justice system; improve case processing; support statutory compliance; and enhance continuity of care for justice-involved individuals with behavioral health needs.

“We believe that this Behavioral Health Court Liaison is going to play an important role in helping to divert individuals from our criminal justice system who have mental health and other behavioral health issues,” said Judge Elaine Brown, who oversees the MHC, Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program and County Court At Law No. 3.

Commissioners also pulled two other items together along with the grant-funded position. These are related to amendments to multiple County Court at Law Mental Health Specialty Court Program contracts, as well as an Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program memorandum of understanding (MOU).

The County Court at Law Mental Health Specialty Court Program requested amendments to adjust the not-to-exceed amounts of the following contracts:

•   A Better Boat, LLC: $25,500 to $30,200

•   Axis of Mental Healthcare, PLLC: $98,750 to $114,420

•   C. Nichole Mueller-McMorris, LCSW: $9,500 to $8,400

•   Texas Helps (Evoke Wellness): $10,000 to $5,815

•   Moonstone Counseling, PLLC: $9,500 to $5,200

•   Nova Recovery Center: $37,750 to $33,500

•   Revive Recovery Sober Living: $13,980 to $8,610

•   Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.: $15,200 to $14,035

As for the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program, the only change in cost that was requested in the amendments was for the contract with Philip Carolina from $10,000 to $12,500. However, the program did request the termination of the MOU with Dr. Vikram Mehra, as those services are covered under the MOU with Axis of Mental Healthcare, PLLC — which is at $64,800.

Commissioner Walt Smith said, looking at the numbers, there are some cuts of 35-40% to individual programs, leading him to question if Brown anticipates seeing them fluctuate based on the needs of specific cases or as a guide for the following year because specific types of services are not being used.

“We kind of look at where the need is and which programs and opportunities that we have are best utilized and that is why we move money around. We have been taking in a lot more high-need individuals lately into the court and so, because of that, we really need to make sure we have intensive services for those individuals to get them the help that they need to keep them out of our criminal justice system again,” the MHC judge responded. “With assistant outpatient treatment, some of those changes were actually because of the way that the MOUs were drafted and the fact that we are now using access to mental health care and they will use their own psychiatrist. They will pay the psychiatrist versus the county paying the psychiatrist directly, which is a better use, I think, of the funds that we have and I think it will actually benefit the county financially a lot more.”

There was a consensus across the dais on the importance of being able to offer these services to the individuals in the county who need it.

“I am really excited about this also because it provides or enhances that continuity of care for those individuals,” said commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe. “I like that we are [now] providing more specialized treatment and care for these individuals, which is needed. A lot of times, we don't get that specialty care that, even in our health department and other areas, individuals need and so, I support it.”

“Thank you for the diligent contract management of these services and thank you for keeping an eye on that and having to adjust when necessary and y’all have been great on staying on top of that so, I fully support your initiatives,” said commissioner Michelle Cohen.

In the future, Smith said that he would like to see more information presented on what each provider offers, as well as the MHC having the health department “looped in” on what those contracts are.

“... There are a number of these contractors, as well as our regional authority, that work with both y'all and our health department and having them involved in that process somehow to even just know that it's coming. I sit on the regional mental health board and I know if there is something coming through the health department, a contract with them or there is something that is pursuant to that, I'm aware of it,” he said.

The commissioner then recalled a couple of months ago, there was an item — unbeknownst to him — that had come from the court with the regional authority and he tried to defend what Hays County was doing, or at least try to understand, but was left with zero background on the matter.

Ultimately, the commissioners court unanimously approved the grant-funded Behavioral Health Court Liaison position, along with the requested contractual amendments.