“Everybody who’s been working in this business has the dream to open your own restaurant and that was mine from the beginning,” explained Nafar.

He began cooking at the age of 15 and took to it immediately, as he enjoyed making food for others to enjoy. This rewarding feeling is the same reason he aimed to start his own business.

“[I] just wanted to have people eat good food, [like I cook] for my wife, my family,” said Nafar.

Despite knowing his goal in 1990, the process took time. He first began as a dishwasher, until he worked his way up to the chef position at several restaurants over time. From there, his wife was continuously on the lookout for the perfect spot, when she found a building on Main Street.  The family purchased the property in 2018 and with support from the city of Buda and the Buda Economic Development Corporation, were able to construct a new building for the restaurant. Now, nearly three decades later, the family-owned business finally opened its doors.

The food, explained the chef, is simple, but good, with options such as chicken tortilla soup, a BLT sandwich, hamburgers and more. Specifically, Chip’s Ruben is Nafar’s current favorite and honors the building’s architect, who helped the family tremendously: “We asked him what his favorite sandwich is [and implemented it]. We owe him a lot.”

Since its opening Sept. 26, Nafar shared that many customers have praised the sandwich shop, as there weren’t many options before. However, the type of food is not only what makes the restaurant stand out, he said, sharing that fresh ingredients enhance the flavor and are important to him and his wife.

Nafar has been working each day in the restaurant, cooking, while his wife runs the day-to-day operations. Although it’s difficult, he admits, it’s worth it after all these years.

"I’ve been dreaming [about this] for all these years and finally, I got it. And that feels good," said Nafar. "We built this place as a family, for families, and we can't wait to welcome our neighbors and share good food with everyone in Buda.”

Treze is located at 318 Main St. in downtown Buda. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.For more information, visit www.trezebuda.com.

The event provided residents an opportunity to meet local firefighters and tour the fire station, which was under construction for more than a year.

As previously reported by the Hays Free Press, Jason — who had been with the Buda Fire Department in various capacities since 2010 — was initially diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2022. After several rounds of chemotherapy, he was given a clean bill of health and ready to head back to work, when it was discovered in 2024 that the cancer had moved to his lungs and clavicle.

On Saturday, Oct. 3, Jason’s wife, Megan Eckstrom, shared an update on the Eckstrom’s Fight Facebook page that the decision had been made to bring him home on hospice.

“His body is tired. He is sleeping most of the time now, he isn’t really eating and our focus has shifted completely to keeping him comfortable, peaceful and surrounded by the people he loves,” the update read. “If you know Jason, you know how hard he has fought. And if you’ve followed Eckstrom’s Fight, you’ve fought right alongside us through surgeries, chemo, radiation, brain metastases, hospital stays, scary scans, good news, bad news and more ‘one more rounds’ than I can count. He has given this everything he has.”

Megan continued by asking for prayers of comfort for Jason, as well as prayers for their children and herself as they faced the unknown days ahead.

The following day, Oct. 4, the Buda Fire Department announced Jason’s death.

“Jason fought a long, tough and courageous battle with incredible strength and determination. His loss is deeply felt throughout our Buda Fire family and he will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him,” said the announcement.

While arrangements are pending, the department said it will release additional details once plans are finalized.

“Rest easy, brother. We’ll take it from here,” the fire department concluded.

According to a news release, the man believed that he was visiting the Buda car dealership to test-drive vehicles with his mentor, Patrick Froelich. Instead, he was surprised to learn that the car was his as he walked into the dealership.

He also learned that he was named Austin Angels’ 2026 Youth of the Year.

This marks the third consecutive year City Limits Subaru employees have personally contributed their own funds to provide a vehicle to a young person connected with Austin Angels. The employee-led initiative reflects the dealership team's commitment to removing barriers helping young adults aging out of foster care pursue education, work and independence, continued the release.

"Our employees chose to make this possible because they understand what reliable transportation can mean for a young adult building his future," said Rachelle Grossman, City Limits Subaru marketing director. "We are honored to stand beside Austin Angels and to celebrate this young man’s accomplishments and support him for every opportunity that lies ahead."

Despite not having the best education growing up, Garcia has always loved reading. She recalled the first time she received a library card in middle school and the hours she’d spend inside, reading books and escaping to other worlds. However, it wasn’t until she read “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger that she really fell in love with the act. From there, she had a dream of becoming an author.

Although she loved books, she explained that there were never many that showcased representation for the Latino community. This continued to be an issue, she said, even for her daughter decades later.

So, when crafting a story, Garcia knew that she wanted to create a character that other Latinas could see themselves in.

Ultimately, the inspiration came from her mother, who grew up in El Salvador and migrated to the United States during the Civil War. As a child, she faced difficult situations and wasn’t able to finish grade school.

This experience is reflected in “The Enchanted Notebook,” which follows a young girl named Maya who is gifted an enchanted notebook that allows her anything she writes to come true. But, ultimately, said Garcia, she learns that magic cannot erase life’s hardships and recognizes that love and her family is all that she needs.

The author shared that when she initially pitched the story, it was in the form of a novel, but that the publisher suggested shifting it toward a younger audience. Although hesitant, Garcia decided to move in this direction, due to her career as an educator and the continued lack of representation for her daughter, who is the visual representation and namesake of the character.

“My daughter is of mixed cultures. I’m Salvadorian; my husband’s Mexican and I feel that the Mexican culture, especially here in Texas, was very abundant, but as far as the other side of her heritage, not so much. So, I really wanted to highlight that because I feel that I was still very connected to El Salvador growing up because my mom would take me [there],” said Garcia. “But as generations grow, I feel like there’s a disconnect between El Salvador and my daughter, so I wanted to make this as a way to bridge that gap a bit and now, she’s asking, ‘When are we going to go visit?’”

Along with seeing themselves in the book, she hopes that other Latinos feel the element of hope through the story.

“I feel the Latino community and especially the community that I serve here in education, a lot of the kids are going through very, very hard things. So, I just hope to give them a little bit of that hope back to them,” she emphasized.

Garcia also noted that the political climate can sway the way the Latino culture is viewed, so she hopes that she can provide a different light on her community that is more representative of what it really is.

“I initially just did this to have a voice or reflection out there of a world that I find to be very important to myself,” said Garcia. “[But] if it can positively influence one kid, I would be so grateful. I don’t really expect anything in return. I just hope that it’s something that can go out there and just give hope to anybody, even if it’s one person.”

“The Enchanted Notebook” releases Thursday, Oct. 1. It can be ordered at bit.ly/4dWDOT4 or anywhere books are sold. There will be a celebration for the book launch at 1 p.m. Oct. 24 at Red Salmon Arts and Resistencia Book Store, located at 2000 Thrasher Lane, Austin.

To keep up to date with Garica, follow @authoriangelicag on Instagram.

Prior to adoption, Chief Financial Officer Deborah Ottmers presented the board with background information at its Sept. 21 meeting. She noted that the district budgeted for 25,400 students at 28 campuses, with 3,500 employees across the 221 mile area it covers.

In order to calculate the tax rate, the district has to wait until July for certified property tax values to be released from the Hays Central Appraisal District, she said.

“When we get those July certified values, we use those in the months of July through September to come to the point of adopting the tax rate. We do have to publish notices. We start the first one in June, when we’re about to adopt the budget, and if we have to we will have a second notice published in September. At this point, we did not have to do that because our tax rates are equal to or lower than our initial posting,” said Ottmers, adding that the initial proposed rate, prior to certified values, was the same as 2025 at $1.1546 per $100 valuation.

Despite the rate not changing, estimates in April assumed that an average homeowner with a value of $182,110, after the homestead reduction, would expect to pay $86 less than before, for a total of $2,103.

“We end up seeing now a different tax rate, now that we have more detailed information with the July [certified value] amounts,” Ottmers explained.

Because the home values actually increased, the district’s Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) calculated compressed maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate decreased from $0.6169 to $0.6023.

Based on these numbers, the new tax rate would be $1.1400, a $0.0546 decrease. This includes an M&O rate of $0.6523 — which includes $0.0500 of copper pennies, also known as enrichment funding — and an interest and sinking rate of $0.4877.

Now, an average homeowner with a value of $173,290 after homestead exemptions can expect to pay $1,976, for an estimated $210 savings from 2025 for the year.

“Because we are in that grey area, where we could potentially become a recapture district with excess local revenue and have to send money back to the state, they want to look at all of our information and agree that we’re in good shape and that we know what’s going on … and then, we have to wait for this letter to come back [from TEA] to approve for us to adopt the tax rate,” said Ottmers, adding that the letter was dated past their last meeting in August, so they had to wait, though TEA does not anticipate that the district will have to send money back.

“Thank you for you and your team for definitely doing all the work needed to make these things happen for our community. It’s so important. We’re all — most of us — are hurting financially right now, so every bit counts,” said trustee Esperanza Orosco.

The board of trustees approved the tax rate at $1.1400 unanimously at the Sept. 28 meeting.

Attendees could visit vendor booths and eat local food, while listening to performers on two separate stages, including Dusty Miller and the Spurflowers, Clay Walker, Fastball and more.

SAN MARCOS — John Raymond Hatch III, former Democratic party chair and owner of Proof Liquor & Deli, was arrested and booked into the Hays County Jail Sept. 24 on warrants out of Johnson County for the sale of cigarettes and tobacco without a valid permit.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, a state police investigator conducted a retail cigarette and tobacco products inspection at the Burleson location of Proof Liquor & Deli Aug. 26.

“During this regulatory inspection/investigation, [Sergeant Daniel Doss] observed this business retail cigarette and tobacco products permit posted for public view to be expired 05/31/2026,” read the affidavit.

Upon inquiry by the investigator, the manager on duty stated that the business had applied for a renewal permit, but had not received it yet. The officer “found this to be suspicious,” as it does not take numerous months to receive a renewal permit.

Doss contacted a Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts criminal analyst, who explained that the permit issued was suspended/not valid, due to approximately $50,089.54 in sales tax owed.

“Due to this tax liability, all permits held by Crystal Springs Beer Liquor Wine LLC/Proof Liquor & Deli were suspended and not valid, including, but not limited to, all tobacco permits,” the warrant said.

The officer seized 19 packs of cigarettes and 327 individual cigars displayed for sale in the store.

Furthermore, the affidavit alleges that Hatch confirmed he was aware of the outstanding tax liability, but did not realize his permits were suspended as a result.

Hatch was taken into custody Thursday, Sept. 24, for the following charges: 

• SELLS CIGARETTES W/OUT VALID PERMIT-A (JOHNSON CO)

• SELLS TOBACCO PRODUCTS W/OUT VALID PERMIT-A (JOHNSON CO)

He was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond the same day.

Hatch did not provide a comment as of the time of publication. 

Attorney disputes allegations

Charles Soechting, attorney for Hatch and Proof Liquor & Deli, provided a written statement Monday, Sept. 28, disputing portions of the arrest warrant affidavit.

Soechting said the charges are misdemeanors stemming from the display of an expired certificate and said the business had timely renewed its permit, paid the required fees and received a receipt. According to Soechting, the Comptroller's office failed to issue the renewed permit, and Hatch later received a new certificate retroactively dated to when it should have been issued. 

Soechting also disputed the affidavit's assertion that approximately $50,089.54 in sales tax was owed.

“The Agent never informed the Court that there was no arrearage on any monies owed to the State of Texas,” Soechting wrote. 

The warrant affidavit, however, states that a Texas Comptroller criminal analyst told the investigating officer that the business's permit was suspended and invalid because of approximately $50,089.54 in sales tax owed.

Soechting also disputed the characterization of Hatch as having been arrested. He said a local judge magistrated Hatch and that Hatch and Soechting then drove to the Hays County Jail, where Hatch was processed. Soechting said Hatch chose to be processed in Hays County because he lives there rather than traveling to Johnson County. 

Soechting said Hatch and his representatives are working with Johnson County officials regarding the charges.

Located at 395 County Road 202, Building 4, Kyle, the new location will provide food pantry services and connect local residents with resources, relationships and opportunities that support long-term stability and transformation, according to a press release.
 

For more than 90 years, The Community Mission has served individuals and families facing poverty, food insecurity and crisis. As community needs continue to grow, the organization is developing new Community Mission Hubs to bring support directly into neighborhoods where it is needed most. 
 

Unlike traditional models focused primarily on emergency assistance, Community Mission Hubs are built around the philosophy of “a hand up, not a handout.” The goal, the release stated, is not only to meet immediate needs, but also to help people build a stronger future through encouragement, accountability, education and community partnerships. 
 

“Our vision is to bring hope directly into neighborhoods that need it most,” said Chris King, executive director of The Community Mission. “Every Community Mission Hub will become a place where churches, businesses, volunteers and local organizations work together to help people move from crisis to stability. We believe lasting change happens when we invest in people, not just their immediate needs.” 
 

The Kyle location is currently focused on food pantry services for area residents. Pantry appointments are available by appointment only on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.
 

The Community Mission plans to expand services at the Kyle location in the new year as partnerships and community resources continue to grow. Potential Community Mission Hub services may include: 
• Food assistance paired with personal goal setting 
• Resource navigation and community referrals 
• Financial literacy and life-skills education 
• Employment and workforce connections 
• Family support and mentoring 
• Volunteer engagement opportunities 
• Church and community partnership initiatives 
 

Additionally, The Community Mission is also introducing its Virtual Pantry, which gives community members an online way to support specific food and household needs. Supporters can browse available pantry items, select what they would like to provide and help make essential resources available to Kyle and Buda families. 
Community members interested in supporting the Kyle location can do so by: hosting a food drive through a church, school, business, neighborhood or community group; donating food, household essentials or financial support; purchasing items through the Virtual Pantry; volunteering with The Community Mission; sharing pantry information with neighbors who may need assistance; or Helping build partnerships among churches, businesses, civic groups and local organizations 
 

The Community Mission will host two ribbon cuttings for the Kyle location. The Greater Buda Chamber of Commerce will be Tuesday, Sept. 29, while the Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce will be Oct. 1. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations and join either ribbon cutting. 
 

“Our communities don’t just need more programs,” King said. “They need places where relationships are built, dignity is restored and people are equipped to thrive. That’s what a Community Mission Hub is all about.” 

To schedule a pantry appointment, call 512-472-7592. 

The Virtual Pantry is available at https://communitycentermission.org/give.

For more information, visit www.bccmission.org or contact Tamie Danks at tamie.sanchez-danks@bccmission.org.

At $57.3 million, the FY27 budget is approximately $22.3 million lower than the city’s $79.6 million adopted FY26 budget, a 28.05% decrease. The budget includes the city’s capital improvements plan, updated fee schedule and employee compensation plans. The city has cited changing capital project expenditures as a significant factor in the year over year budget difference, following continued economic pressures. 

City documents estimate the tax rate will generate approximately $12.5 million in property tax revenue. The budget documents also called for an 8% water-rate increase and projected 4% sales-tax growth.

The city estimated that for a home with a median taxable value of $383,500, the annual municipal property tax bill will increase from $1,378.12 in 2026 to $1,474.45 in 2027. This is an increase of $96.33 or approximately $8.03 per month.

“We’ve had more than five meetings. Council has met about this, discussed it five different times,” said Mayor Lee Urbanovsky. “I wanted to take one step back and say we don't take this lightly. This is tax dollars; this is money that they have entrusted to us. Everyone is paying their share and we are doing everything we can to stretch it as far as we can.”

The Sept. 15 meeting was the culmination of several discussions on the budget and tax-rate. Council had previously set the maximum proposed property tax rate at $0.03895 Aug. 13. Public hearings for both the tax rate and budget were held Sept. 1 and Sept. 15, with council adopting both the FY27 budget and tax rate unanimously on first and final reading Sept. 15. 

Hotel proposed near Goforth, Rylander
Council also held a public hearing on a proposed limited-service hotel at the northeast corner of W. Goforth Road and Rylander Street. The proposed development would be a four-story, dual-brand hotel featuring SpringHill Suites and TownePlace Suites and would require a Specific Use Permit (SUP), due to its location.

The project previously received city approval for a hotel on the property in February 2025. The revised proposal modifies the site plan and increases the number of rooms, while incorporating parking and exceptions approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustments. The SUP was recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission at its Aug. 25 meeting.

The proposal comes as the city continues to address development along the IH-35 corridor and other areas experiencing growth. While council members raised concerns regarding increasing the occupancy and the hotel’s potential traffic impact, city documents indicated that the business does not trigger a traffic impact analysis. 

Following discussion, council approved the SUP 5-2 on first and final reading, with council members, LaVonia Horne-Williams and Kimberly Goodman dissenting. 

Capital projects and city business
Council members also received a quarterly update on the city’s capital improvement and bond programs. The agenda included discussion and possible direction on an Old Black Colony Road screening wall, a combined dumpster relocation plan on Austin Street and work associated with W. Goforth Road east of Bonita Vista/Arikara.

Following deliberation, council directed staff to halt work on the Old Black Colony Road screening wall. Council also approved relocating the Austin Street dumpsters to private property. Work on finalizing the design, acquiring land and relocating utilities along W. Goforth Road was tabled by council.

Council also considered a previously proposed public security camera policy. Requested revisions included the addition of language prohibiting the positioning of cameras in private residences, prohibiting facial recognition technology, changing audits to quarterly, revision of policy reviews to yearly and prohibiting certain language in vendor agreements. Following discussion of the proposed revisions, council voted to adopt the resolution and updated policy 7-0. 

The meeting concluded with 7-0 approval on first and final reading of an ordinance declaring Lee Urbanovsky and Monica Davidson unopposed and elected to their respective positions and canceling the Nov. 3 general election for Mayor and At-Large Position 2. Other council positions remain contested. 

Buda City Council will meet next Oct. 6.

The event was organized with participation from the Hays County, San Marcos, Kyle and Buda law enforcement associations and drew a packed crowd in the Wimberley Community Center at the start of the evening, with candidates representing races in Buda, San Marcos, Kyle, Hays County and the State of Texas, among those in attendance. However, not every individual on the ballot was present.

The format gave candidates a limited amount of time to introduce themselves and answer questions, many of them focused specifically on law enforcement and public safety.

Across the different races, several themes repeatedly surfaced: how rapidly growing communities should pay for additional police officers and equipment, how cities can recruit and retain officers, the role of police associations and meet-and-confer agreements, how elected officials should react to controversial police incidents before investigations are complete and the increasingly contentious debate over automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology.
 

Buda City Council
George Torres, a Buda business owner seeking the At-Large Position 1 seat on Buda City Council, pointed repeatedly to the city's growth and the need to make public safety part of planning for that growth.

Torres said large housing and commercial projects should be evaluated for the demands they will place on city services, including police. He described law enforcement as a top budget priority, while arguing that those needs must be balanced with what he called "smart growth."

On ALPRs, Torres supported law enforcement having access to investigative technology, but expressed concern about private companies controlling or having access to surveillance data. His preference, he said, would be for law enforcement agencies themselves to maintain greater control over technology and information.

Torres also emphasized the importance of communication between elected officials, officers and the broader business community, stating that council members need to understand what officers are experiencing before making decisions about resources and working conditions.
 

San Marcos City Council Place 3
Current San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson told the audience that she is ending her tenure as mayor, but wants to continue in city government by seeking the Place 3 council seat.

Hughson leaned heavily on her years of experience in San Marcos government and argued that institutional knowledge can help the council understand how previous decisions shaped current conditions.

Public-safety staffing, she said, has already been the subject of a comprehensive review.

Hughson pointed to a 2022 police staffing analysis and said the council subsequently directed staff to develop a plan to increase staffing. Even after positions were added, she said, San Marcos' continued growth has kept pressure on the department.

She also highlighted the city's use of public safety liaisons to handle certain calls that do not require sworn officers, freeing police personnel for other duties.

When asked how city leaders should respond to a controversial police incident before all the facts are available, Hughson described the situation as a difficult balance between the public's demand for information and the need to avoid reaching conclusions before an investigation is complete. Her approach, she said, would be to complete the investigation as quickly as possible and make the facts available when they are established.
 

San Marcos City Council Place 4
Heather Hunter and Shane Scott presented voters with different backgrounds in the race for San Marcos City Council Place 4.

Hunter said she has worked in politics and campaigns and currently works in grants management, experience she said could be applied to budgeting, compliance and assessing city needs.

On police staffing, Hunter advocated using data and needs assessments, including response times, to determine whether more officers or resources are necessary.

She also emphasized performance standards, communication between the city and police officers and transparency when controversial incidents occur. Hunter said city officials should acknowledge publicly that an incident is under review, without getting ahead of an investigation before the facts are known.

Hunter also spoke about alternatives for calls involving mental health and homelessness, arguing that partnerships with mental health professionals and nonprofit organizations could allow police officers to focus on calls requiring law enforcement.

Scott emphasized his longtime ties to San Marcos, his small-business background and his criminal justice education.
He described himself as a strong supporter of police and said he supports continued growth in San Marcos accompanied by the public-safety resources necessary to serve that growth.

Scott also pointed to the city's meet-and-confer process as an important mechanism for addressing police compensation and employment issues and said he has supported the Police Officers Association during his time in city government.
 

San Marcos City Council Place 6
Bill Miller and Miguel Arredondo used the Place 6 discussion to offer two approaches to the pressures facing a growing San Marcos.

Miller, a Coast Guard veteran who said he performed law enforcement duties while serving, focused heavily on what he described as a shortage of officers.

He said public safety should be a funding priority and suggested that San Marcos explore whether Texas State University could contribute financially toward emergency services because of the demands the university population places on the city.

Miller also advocated an open-door relationship with police officers, saying officers at any level should be able to approach a council member with concerns.

Arredondo, a longtime San Marcos CISD trustee, framed public safety more broadly.

He argued that cities can support police not only by providing officers with staffing and equipment, but by addressing conditions that frequently result in police calls, including homelessness, housing insecurity and mental-health crises.
On recruitment and retention, Arredondo said San Marcos will have to look beyond salary alone. He pointed to ideas, such as workforce housing and public-private partnerships, as possible ways to make public employment more attractive in a city with limited financial resources.

Both candidates urged caution before elected officials made public judgments about controversial police encounters.
 

San Marcos Mayor
Ryan Thomason appeared without his opponent during the mayoral portion of the forum and used his extended opening to make public safety a central part of his campaign pitch.

Thomason argued that the protection of residents — particularly children and future generations — is one of the government's fundamental responsibilities.

He said San Marcos must prioritize police resources within its overall budget and argued that economic development can help generate revenue needed to support those services.

Thomason also identified officer recruitment, retention and morale as concerns, stating that compensation and workplace morale both influence whether officers remain with a department.

When addressing controversial police incidents, he said city officials should trust established investigative processes, while recognizing that those processes can be changed when the community and policymakers determine they are no longer adequate.

Kyle City Council District 2
Miguel Zuniga, seeking the District 2 seat on the Kyle City Council, focused much of his campaign pitch on growth, infrastructure and ensuring his district receives its share of city investment.

On ALPRs, Zuniga said his position has evolved.

While he previously supported technologies that could help police work more efficiently, he said concerns raised by residents about surveillance, data use and private companies have persuaded him that the issue deserves another look.

Rather than dismissing the technology entirely, Zuniga called for examining databases, contracts, privacy safeguards and the companies operating the systems.

He also supported meet-and-confer rights for police officers and said public safety depends heavily on trust between residents and law enforcement.

Beyond policing, Zuniga identified completing voter-approved road projects, improving infrastructure, conserving water and strengthening Kyle's commercial base as priorities for District 2.
 

Kyle City Council District 4
Leah Kaufman and Kenneth Rocha both brought public-safety experience into their discussion of the District 4 race.
Kaufman described herself as a former emergency medical technician who now works in the nonprofit sector on policy involving addiction and emerging drugs.

Rocha pointed to experience as a fire investigator and park ranger and said he has worked alongside law enforcement agencies in Hays County.

Rocha argued that ALPR technology itself should not automatically be characterized as harmful and said its value depends in large part on how trained professionals use it. At the same time, he said contracts, costs and policies governing technology deserve scrutiny.

Kaufman expressed reservations about private companies involved in ALPR technology, but stopped short of rejecting the systems outright. Instead, she called for guardrails, including restrictions on who can access data, auditing of searches, limits on data retention, requirements to destroy information after a certain period, restrictions on selling or sharing information and stronger data-security provisions.

The two also agreed on the importance of meet-and-confer agreements for officers.

Their approaches to public safety extended beyond enforcement. Kaufman discussed prevention, mental-health and substance-use responses and community policing. Rocha emphasized relationships between officers and residents, training, dispatch operations and ensuring first responders have both the equipment and support they need.
 

Kyle Mayor
Robert Rizo and Donnie Wills continued many of the themes heard throughout the municipal races as they made their cases for mayor of Kyle.

Rizo, a former three-term council member and mayor pro tem, pointed to his record in city government and community organizations. Wills, a retired military combat veteran said he has lived in Kyle for about 13 years and described watching the Buda-Kyle-San Marcos corridor transform as its population surged.

Wills supported using ALPR systems as crime-fighting tools, but said safeguards are necessary to prevent misuse of information and protect constitutional rights. He said people or organizations that improperly access or use the information should be held accountable.

Rizo said his position on technology has become more cautious. While he had previously supported license plate readers, he said reports of misuse elsewhere raised concerns about privacy and outside access to information.
Rizo suggested Kyle explore operating its own camera system, rather than depending entirely on a private vendor, arguing that local control could allow the city to establish its own safeguards while retaining the investigative benefits of the technology.

Both candidates also supported meet-and-confer rights for police officers.

Rizo tied public safety closely to Kyle's infrastructure needs, saying road construction has failed to keep pace with population growth. He argued that economic development and additional sales-tax revenue can help the city pay for roads and public-safety services without depending heavily on property taxes.

Wills similarly connected traffic congestion to emergency response times. He also emphasized programs for young people, arguing that sports and other activities can play a role in keeping youth out of trouble.
 

Hays County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 1
The forum shifted from municipal government to county offices with the race for Hays County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 1, featuring Beth Smith and Janie Flores.

Smith pointed to 28 years of experience as a justice of the peace and emphasized around-the-clock availability for law enforcement, death investigations and warrants.

Flores highlighted nearly two decades of experience working in the court system and said her focus would be on courtroom professionalism, efficient case management and treating those who come before the court with dignity and respect.

Youth vaping, including nicotine and THC products, became a major topic in the race.

Smith discussed the diversion process used for certain Class C citations involving students and said the goal should be to connect young people with resources and address the underlying cause of repeated behavior when cases ultimately reach the court.

Flores also emphasized connecting children and parents with community resources when those cases come before the justice court.

Both candidates said availability outside normal business hours is part of the responsibility of serving as a justice of the peace.

Smith pointed to her existing record of answering warrant requests and attending death inquests, while Flores said law enforcement would have direct contact information and could reach her at any hour when judicial action is required.
 

Hays County Court at Law No. 2
Incumbent judge Chris Johnson and challenger Charmaine Wilde focused heavily on the day-to-day responsibilities of a criminal court, including victims' rights, bond decisions, jail dockets and the availability of judges when officers need search warrants outside normal business hours.

Wilde, a former prosecutor now in private practice, said she has practiced criminal law in numerous Texas counties and argued that those experiences have exposed her to different approaches that could potentially be applied in Hays County.

Johnson emphasized his eight years serving in the position and his existing relationships within the county's criminal justice system.

Asked about victims of crime, both candidates said prosecutors and victim-services personnel have primary responsibility for keeping victims informed, while judges have an obligation to ensure victims' legal rights are respected during court proceedings.

Their answers on bond decisions also shared common ground: individual cases should be evaluated on their own facts, rather than through predetermined assumptions.

On the county's jail docket, Wilde advocated closely tracking caseloads and trends to identify delays and adjust court availability when necessary.

Johnson said regular jail dockets have already helped address much of the backlog and argued that in-person proceedings generally work better than remote proceedings, while adding that judges should remain open to changing procedures if evidence shows another approach would be more effective.

Both also stressed availability to law enforcement after hours.

Johnson cited his record of taking warrant calls at night, on weekends and even while traveling. Wilde said her work as an attorney and professional guardian has similarly accustomed her to receiving urgent calls outside traditional working hours.
 

Hays County Commissioner Precinct 2
Abby Gibson and Johnny Flores offered different approaches to the Precinct 2 seat on the Hays County Commissioners Court, but both identified public safety and infrastructure as central responsibilities of county government.

Gibson said commissioners should ensure the sheriff, constables and other public-safety departments receive the resources they need, while allowing those elected officials to manage their own operations.

She advocated regular meetings with department heads, rather than waiting until the annual budget process to identify staffing, equipment and funding problems.

Gibson also said Hays County needs to remain competitive on salaries and benefits, describing retention and compensation as significant challenges for local law enforcement.

Flores, who formerly served on the Hays CISD Board of Trustees, pointed to his experience dealing with campus security and school-safety spending. He said recruiting and retaining officers will become increasingly important as Hays County continues to grow.

Flores also argued for addressing factors that contribute to repeated contact with the criminal justice system, including mental health, housing and poverty, as another way to reduce pressure on law enforcement.

Technology produced a clearer distinction between their approaches.

Flores proposed creating a citizens committee that could include residents and retired law enforcement officers to examine emerging technologies and recommend safeguards for privacy and appropriate use.

Gibson cautioned against rejecting technology that could assist officers, while arguing that users should be properly vetted, policies enforced and outside audits used to make sure systems are operating as intended.

When asked to identify their top funding priorities, Gibson named roads and infrastructure, public safety and water.
Flores identified emergency response, mental-health services and roads and infrastructure.
 

Hays County Commissioner Precinct 4
By the time the Precinct 4 race was called, the length of the evening itself had become part of the discussion.
Rob McClelland joked that the gathering might be approaching a record for the longest forum, noting that candidates and attendees had already been there for roughly two hours and 45 minutes.

McClelland appeared without his opponent during his portion of the forum.

An Army veteran and Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustee, McClelland emphasized his military experience, work with federal law enforcement during an assignment connected to the White House and his involvement with school safety.

He pointed to the Dripping Springs school marshal program as an example of prioritizing public-safety spending when resources are limited.

McClelland said commissioners should work directly with the sheriff and constables to determine what technology their departments need, rather than having commissioners dictate operational decisions.

He identified public safety, transportation and critical infrastructure — including water — as his top three funding priorities.

McClelland also placed significant emphasis on officer recruitment and retention, arguing that compensation matters, but that department policies and the relationship between elected officials and law enforcement also affect whether officers want to work and remain in a community.
 

428th Judicial District Court
Paul Still and Cassie Benoist-Templeton presented themselves as two candidates whose legal careers have been closely connected to criminal law.

Still described himself as a board-certified criminal appellate attorney working for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and a former Harris County prosecutor.

Benoist-Templeton described herself as a career prosecutor with roughly 15 years of courtroom experience, including years handling felony cases and crimes involving women and children.

Both said victims' rights must be respected, while judges maintain their distinct role as neutral arbiters of the law.
Still emphasized deciding cases based on evidence and law, rather than political considerations.

Benoist-Templeton stressed that criminal cases cannot be handled through a one-size-fits-all approach. She said rehabilitation can work for appropriate defendants, while other cases require different consequences based on their individual facts.

Both candidates also promised to be accessible to law enforcement when time-sensitive search warrants arise at night, on weekends or during holidays.

Benoist-Templeton pointed to her experience as an on-call felony prosecutor, saying she is already accustomed to receiving calls from officers at all hours.

Still described similar experiences from his time as a Harris County prosecutor handling vehicle-related felony cases and said officers would have a direct way to reach him.

The candidates also addressed jail cases.

Still said defendants being held in jail should receive priority on court calendars and argued that judges need to monitor cases closely and set them for trial when necessary to prevent unnecessary delays.

Benoist-Templeton, likewise, said judges are responsible for keeping their dockets moving, while recognizing that complicated cases, such as capital murder or child sexual abuse cases, naturally require more time than less complex criminal matters. She suggested additional jail-only dockets could be used when necessary to clear lingering cases.
 

Texas House District 45
The House District 45 contest brought some of the evening’s clearest policy differences into view, particularly on the role of state government in local law enforcement, prosecutorial discretion, firearms policy and immigration enforcement.

State Rep. Erin Zwiener, who has represented the district since 2019, emphasized local control and state financial support for local agencies. She pointed to state grant funding for rural law enforcement and said she worked to ensure Hays County remained eligible for funding based on census population figures.

On prosecutorial discretion, Zwiener argued that locally elected prosecutors should retain authority to determine how their offices prioritize cases and resources. Her opponent, Tennyson Moreno, took a different position, arguing that criminal laws should be enforced consistently across jurisdictions and expressing support for greater accountability when local officials decline to enforce state law.

The candidates also differed sharply on firearms policy.

Zwiener said she would prioritize gun-safety legislation, including permitting requirements for certain semiautomatic rifles, expanded background checks and red-flag laws. She framed those proposals in part around reducing risks faced by law enforcement officers responding to potentially armed individuals.

Moreno, instead emphasized infrastructure and support for law enforcement agencies, arguing that safer roads, bridges and intersections could reduce demands on first responders. He also said public rhetoric toward police affects both officer morale and community attitudes toward law enforcement.

Both candidates repeatedly returned to the rapid growth of Hays County and the strain it places on public-safety resources.
 

Texas House District 73
State Rep. Carrie Isaac and challenger Mary Fox followed in the House District 73 race, which includes western Hays County and Comal County.

Isaac highlighted her legislative record, including support for state funding for law-enforcement equipment and rural law-enforcement grants. She said she would continue pursuing policies aimed at retaining officers and strengthening public safety.

Fox, a retired school principal, drew on her experience working with school resource officers and law enforcement on campus emergency plans and safety procedures. She said the state should provide additional funding to help local agencies compete for officers, dispatchers and other personnel.

The candidates differed on prosecutorial oversight. Isaac discussed state efforts to impose additional requirements on prosecutors and courts, while Fox emphasized local control and said voters should generally be trusted to hold locally elected officials accountable.

Workers’ compensation for injured first responders also drew attention. Isaac suggested deadlines for insurance carriers to approve or deny claims and clearer explanations when claims are rejected. Fox said reforms should be developed in consultation with officers and agencies experiencing problems with the system.

Another difference emerged over red-flag laws, which can temporarily take guns away from individuals who may pose a threat. Fox said she would support such legislation, drawing partly on her experience as an emergency medical services (EMS) volunteer responding to domestic violence and mental-health calls. Isaac said she opposed red-flag laws and emphasized due-process concerns.
 

Hays County Judge
The race for Hays County judge brought Michelle Gutierrez Cohen, Geoffrey Tahuahua and former county judge Liz Sumter Gajdos to the stage.

Gutierrez Cohen, who presently serves in the Hays County Precinct 2 commissioner seat, emphasized collaboration, road infrastructure and emergency management. She described public safety as closely connected to transportation, noting that deputies, firefighters and EMS crews must be able to move through a rapidly growing county.

She also discussed development of a county strategic plan and called for stronger partnerships among Hays County, neighboring counties, cities, school districts and state agencies as the Austin-San Antonio corridor continues to grow.
Tahuahua, a Dripping Springs City Council member who previously led North Hays County EMS, focused on what he described as a need to return county government to core responsibilities, with public safety near the top.

He said the county judge should regularly communicate with the sheriff and constables about resources, continually review policies and technology and improve regional cooperation among county agencies and municipal police departments.

Sumter Gajdos drew on her previous tenure as county judge, including work involving law-enforcement compensation and collective bargaining. She emphasized competitive salaries, regular market studies, community policing and rebuilding trust between residents, elected officials and law enforcement.

The candidates were asked how Hays County should compete with surrounding jurisdictions for experienced peace officers, jailers, dispatchers and other employees. All three supported using compensation data and market comparisons, though each placed different emphasis on pay, workplace conditions, leadership and employee support.

With Hays County positioned between Austin and San Antonio, candidates were asked about drug trafficking, human trafficking, organized crime and other offenses that cross jurisdictional lines.

Gutierrez Cohen stressed regional planning and shared initiatives. Tahuahua emphasized relationships among agencies and his experience coordinating with neighboring jurisdictions during emergencies. Sumter Gajdos pointed to regional alliances and interoperable communications, so agencies can communicate during disasters and other major incidents.

Their answers reflected one of the recurring themes of the night: Hays County’s growth is increasingly making public safety a regional issue rather than one that stops at city or county lines.

Hays County Criminal District Attorney
The final race of the evening featured Alfonso Salazar and Kirsta Melton for Hays County criminal district attorney.

Salazar described a career that has included military law enforcement, prosecution and criminal defense. He argued that those different perspectives would help him improve communication between prosecutors and law-enforcement agencies.

His priorities included mental-health intervention, juvenile justice and creating what he described as a civil-rights division within the district attorney’s office to improve transparency and public trust.

Melton emphasized her 26 years as a prosecutor, including work involving child abuse, family violence, sexual offenses, human trafficking and transnational organized crime. She also cited experience training prosecutors and law-enforcement officers and working on human-trafficking legislation.

She said one of her primary goals would be making the district attorney’s office more transparent, including providing the public with information about cases received, rejected and taken to trial. She also called for regular communication with law enforcement and a stronger “state’s ready” approach when courts call cases for trial.

The candidates were asked how they would balance punishment, rehabilitation and public safety.

Melton said specialty and diversion courts can play important roles, but drew a firm distinction for serious violent offenses, arguing that public safety must take priority in cases involving crimes such as murder, sexual abuse and serious family violence.

Salazar emphasized evaluating cases individually, rather than relying on broad categories. He said circumstances and severity matter, while also making clear that serious offenses, such as murder, sexual assault and major gun violence, require incarceration and accountability.

Juvenile justice produced more common ground.

Both candidates said the system should distinguish between relatively minor juvenile behavior and serious or repeated offenses. Salazar stressed addressing barriers, such as unstable homes, lack of transportation and food insecurity, that can prevent juveniles from completing diversion programs. Melton similarly argued that technical violations should not automatically result in detention, while maintaining that accountability remains important when conduct becomes serious, violent or repeatedly harmful.

After the last district attorney candidates finished, organizers thanked the candidates, timekeepers, event sponsors and the law-enforcement officers and families who remained through the long evening.

Then, came one final request from the moderator to those still in the room: Go vote — and take three people with you.

The general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3, with early voting beginning Oct. 19. For more information on the Hays County elections, visit www.hayscountytx.gov/172/Elections. 

Elected officials and business leaders throughout Buda and Hays County gathered in Driftwood Wednesday, Sept. 9, to hear about Buda’s latest achievements for the 2026 year.

“Henry Ford once said, ‘Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success.’ I think that quote significantly captures where we are as a community here in Buda,” said Mayor Lee Urbanovsky in his introduction.

City manager Micah Grau then took to the podium to discuss ongoing projects within the city. He shared that these projects wouldn’t be possible without both a council with direction and a united community vision amongst the various entities in the county.

“I’m going to share with you today some of the things that we are doing at the city to help build the infrastructure that supports the new growth, all the while clinging to the charm that defines the new development,” said Grau. “One of the ways that we expand infrastructure is through developer contributions. This is one of the most effective and lowest-cost ways for the city to add infrastructure. When a new, large development comes to the city, we use this opportunity to negotiate infrastructure contributions in exchange for the city-provided services, like water and wastewater.”

An example of this is the partnership with M/I Homes for the Colony at Cole Springs development. According to the city manager, in exchange for granting the developer zoning and utilities from the city, M/I Homes reconstructed approximately one-third of Old Black Colony Road, including a new traffic signal at RM 967. Additionally, a new bridge over Onion Creek was constructed, alongside rebuilding a section of Cole Springs Road.

These negotiations were strategic, continued Grau, as it was designed to alleviate traffic caused by the new development and to provide system improvements that were already planned and needed.

Another example is the Persimmon development, where Marathon Road, which has been in the transportation plans for years, is being developed by MileStone. The connector road is expected to be completed in 2027 and will provide an alternative to drivers traveling on FM 1626. There will also be direct access to SH 45.

“Along with privately constructed roads, the city continues to make progress on its 2021 bond program. [Currently], 58% of our transportation projects are either complete or under construction … The three largest transportation projects — West Goforth, Old Black Colony Road and Austin Street — comprise 71% of that funding. All three of thess projects are past the 60% design phase and the city is actively pursuing right-of-ways needed for the projects and is starting on utility relocation coordination,” said Grau. “Other projects, like the RM 967 turn lanes and the pedestrian crossing at Main [Street] and FM 2770 are in final design. We are patiently waiting for [the Texas Department of Transportation] to approve the plans and release us for construction, as these improvements are on state roadways.”

The city also recently learned that it was successful in obtaining a $10 million Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization grant to complete the full construction of East Main Street, which is expected to begin in 2028.

The other part of the bond projects were for quality of life improvements in parks, 100% of which are either complete or under construction, said Grau. More than two miles of trails along Onion Creek and Garlic Creek were added with this bond.

Garison Memorial Park is under construction and is expected to have swimming and kayaking opportunities, along with canopy walks, fishing and more.

“City council recently adopted a concept plan for the future East Side Park. Funding from the 2021 bond is helping lay the groundwork for the park’s major developments and the city is actively exploring funding and partnership opportunities to build upon that investment. These efforts could allow for a limited opening of the park in the future, providing the surrounding community access to the space, while we continued to explore the long-term vision of that space.”

Buda Championship Park, formerly known as the Buda Sportsplex, and the level of tourism it will bring was also a topic. Grau noted that the eight softball fields, 20 batting cages and four sports fields will bring upwards of 120 teams per weekend and approximately 3,000 visitors that will contribute to the local economy. It is expected to open in 2027.

Regarding utilities, the city is working on an elevated storage tank at the Colony at Cole Springs development, which will bring water storage for the Alliance Regional Water Authority water, as well as purple pipes, which can capture reclaimed water to use for services other than drinking water.

Next, the Buda Economic Development Corporation (EDC) CEO Jennifer Storm discussed the achievements of the organization.

“The city manager just showed you the foundation Buda is building for tomorrow — the roads, utilities, parks and infrastructure that make growth possible. My job is to talk about what we are building on that foundation,” said Storm. “We’re not simply trying to attract growth; we’re much more intentional about the kind of economy we want to build. We have the businesses already here growing and [ensure] those that are coming have a soft landing.”

So far in 2026, the EDC has had 49 requests for proposals, 74 businesses retention events, 35 new businesses open or relocate to Buda, six business expansions, awarded $350,000 in small business incentives to 65 businesses and more.

There are nine projects under construction that consist of business and retail opportunities for the city. One of which is the Roundabout in Buda — a retail development to be located off of RM 967 —the new H-E-B and the Onion Creek Trade Center, a 23-acre industrial development. Perseus Defense is also headed to the small town, said Storm. The company builds counter-uncrewed aircraft systems for the United States Department of War and Homeland Security.

She also shared that the historic train depot that arrived in Buda in late 2025 is being remodeled and will provide a space for entrepreneurs, visitors and residents. It is expected to open in the first quarter of 2027.

“No one in 2001 could have predicted every company, every building or every business we talked about today, but they built that foundation. Today, our responsibility is to do the same for the people who will be here 25 years from now,” concluded Storm.

At 6:30 p.m., officers with BPD were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Cabela’s Drive in Buda for a report of an aggravated robbery inside a residence.

The victim told responding officers she returned to her apartment and encountered six individuals inside who had entered her residence, read a news release. During a physical altercation, the victim was struck in the face before the suspects left with some of the victim’s property.

As the investigation progressed, arrest warrants were issued for 18-year-old Daniel Medrano Jr. of Buda. Medrano was arrested on Sept. 5 and booked into the Travis County Jail, continued the release. Arrest warrants for 18-year-old Mycha Moore and 17-year-old Christian Hodge-Tolbert have been issued on the below charges.

Initial charges for the suspects are as follows:

Daniel Medrano Jr., 18

• Burglary of habitation, a second-degree felony 
• Engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony
• Aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony

Mycha Moore, 18

• Burglary of habitation, a second-degree felony
• Engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony

Christian Hodge-Tolbert, 17

• Burglary of Habitation, a second-degree felony
• Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, a first-degree felony
• Aggravated Robbery, a first-degree felony

Three female individuals involved in the incident have not yet been identified. Investigators are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying these individuals and determining their whereabouts.

Do not approach or attempt to confront these individuals, warned BPD.

Anyone who recognizes the individuals or has information that may assist investigators can contact detective Valdez at (512) 523-1045.

Anonymous tips may be submitted to Hays County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-324-TIPS, www.callcrimestoppers.com or through the P3Tips Mobile App.

"The investigation remains ongoing and the above preliminary information is subject to change. The suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty through the justice system," concluded BPD.

Patterson has always loved games, specifically, he recalled being drawn to them for the ability to escape reality. This began a childhood dream of his to create a game studio in grade school.

“I was already trying to figure out game ideas [and] taking notes on different video games to figure out how they could have done things better, where they just messed up,” he said.

His favorite was the Command & Conquer series, which is a real-time strategy game. So, after launching Dolphin Entertainment in 2012, he began fleshing out concepts for some of his own.

The one that stuck was Clockwork, a multiplayer steampunk word game, leading Patterson to put together a small team to bring his idea to fruition.

Players can create words out of a given set of letters in a four-minute game and — what makes Clockwork stand out, he explained — after each minute, the tiles shift off screen, where they reorder and are then brought back. Then, each tile previously used is worth more points than it was before.

The game can be played in various game modes, including an option to use power-ups. The founder is hoping to add more in the future on a rotating basis. For example, the game mode Wild adds a blank tile, allowing any letter to be used in its place. This will last for three days, until it switches out.

Although public response has been positive, Dolphin Entertainment aims to continue adding to the platform. Patterson and his team have been working on an update that will introduce the ability for players to taunt their opponents with customized avatars, a friend system and additional social features.

“This update represents a major step toward realizing the larger plans we have for Clockwork,” said Patterson. “Playing Clockwork has already become part of the daily routine for some, whether using it to pass the time or to help wake up their minds when first starting the day. We’re excited to see how these new changes will be received and how they can help to grow our overall player base with the ability to more easily connect with friends for matches.”

Clockwork is available as single- or multiplayer, with the option to play online or locally, and can be found in the iOS and Android app stores.

In the future, Patterson hopes to open up a storefront in Buda. He also has begun writing and hopes to turn his stories into games and vice versa.

To learn more about Clockwork or Dolphin Entertainment, visit lnk.at/DolphinEntLLC.

Buda city engineer Angela Kennedy presented a workshop analysis of Heep Run Pond, Garlic Creek Dr. Pond and Oyster Creek Pond for consideration to install fishing access. Currently, the only designated community fishing pond is Bradfield Park Fishing Pond; however, per the 2014 Parks Ordinance, community members are permitted to fish in any community pond, including retention ponds, with a valid fishing license.

According to Kennedy, both Heep Run Pond and Garlic Creek Dr. Pond are designed as detention and water quality facilities, with the primary purpose of stormwater management. Alternatively, Oyster Creek Pond is a natural pond with limited space and public access.

“It is less than ideal that we have fish in them,” Kennedy explained. “The design criteria recommends that if we end up with invasive species that are hampering the functioning of these ponds, they should be fenced off. ”

Kennedy further clarified that each pond resides within the flood hazard area, meaning any additional infrastructure would need to accommodate potential flood water several feet above the ponds’ normal water surface elevation.

Recommendations from Kennedy included the clearing and stabilization of the ponds’ banks to improve access for recreational purposes, the potential funding of a feasibility study for the expansion of Oyster Creek Pond and the consideration of the availability of parking following improved access.

“Bottom line, I think one of the cautions that I want to make is to ensure that we prioritize the infrastructure services that these ponds provide,” Kennedy concluded. “They are critical to us managing water quality, to managing those detention volumes and we want to clearly communicate that they are not intended for stocking fish.”

While no action was taken, the consensus of the dias was that the council does not wish to see any structural changes made that will affect the purpose of the ponds, but they intend to look at ways to increase access that are low cost and easy to accomplish.

Following the workshop, during the regular agenda, council deliberated the adoption of a resolution approving a policy regarding the use of public security cameras for governmental purposes.

Presented by assistant city manager Lindsay Baker and information technology manager Cameron Determeyer, the purpose of the policy is to establish guidelines governing the use of public security camera systems owned or operated by the city of Buda to enhance public safety, while protecting individual privacy rights.

According to the policy statement, the city will not use security cameras for general surveillance of lawful public activities or to monitor individuals based solely on race, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation or participation in constitutionally protected activities. Furthermore, the city shall not make recorded data available for any individual’s personal, private usage or commercial purposes, unless specifically required by law.

“The policy applies to city owned, city operated or city controlled cameras primarily installed to observe public areas, municipal facilities or other locations for security or public safety purposes,” Baker explained. “It does not govern law enforcement camera systems, or generally it does not, such as license plate readers or body and dash cams.”

Baker outlined further exclusions to the policy, including body worn cameras used by peace officers, cameras installed in police vehicles, cameras used solely for automated traffic-law enforcement, automated license plate readers like Flock, cameras used exclusively for employee videoconferencing, public meetings, television production or similar administrative purposes, unmanned aircraft systems, such as drones, and privately owned cameras viewed by city personnel during an investigation. Additionally, Baker presented a list of current public security camera locations around municipal buildings, public parks and city trails within Buda.

Initial discussion of the policy from council members regarded the management and access of stored data, with council member LaVonia Horne-Williams questioning whether they would prohibit the selling, monetizing, licensing or commercial exploitation of the footage and metadata associated with it.

“All of the data is stored locally within our video recording services here,” said Determeyer. “We have a retention policy set by the state which is 30 days. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. We are not archiving it to sell it later. The areas that are being monitored aren't for commercial gain or anything like that.”

Further discussion included clarification on the auditing of user access logs, annual reviews of the policy and how the cameras interact with the recently adopted artificial intelligence policy. Determeyer clarified that the city- owned cameras do not have AI built into them.

Public testimony following the outline and discussion of the policy brought up further questions regarding how the policy will be enforced for the companies providing the city’s camera equipment.

“While we as a city may have a policy about our behavior, we have some other people that we can’t necessarily control and we just want to make sure that when we enter into our agreements with them that we have exclusivity to our information and they have no rights to that information,” said Horne-Williams.

Following discussion, council member Horne-Williams made a motion to table the item pending additional information presented to council regarding vendor access security features. The motion passed unanimously.

Additional agenda items that were approved with no opposition included an ordinance amending and restating the 2026 Service Plan Update and 2026 Assessment Roll for the Persimmon Public Improvement District, an ordinance providing for legislative changes that add a zoning verification permit to identify nonconforming uses related to alcoholic beverage permits, proposed amendments to the city’s regulation and administration of peddler and solicitor permits and an ordinance amending the established boundaries of Single Member District A for the purpose of incorporating newly annexed areas into said district.

The next Buda City Council meeting is Sept. 15.

The investment includes two $1.5 million contributions, with the most recent approved by the Buda EDC Board May 11 to help offset construction costs, following an earlier contribution that supported design and pre-construction work. An eight-year performance agreement between the city and EDC establishes shared goals for attracting tournaments and generating economic activity in the community, stated a news release.

The redevelopment is designed to create a tournament-ready sports destination. Once complete, Buda Championship Park will be able to host up to 112 softball or baseball teams over a three-day tournament and will offer eight softball fields with adjustable base lines, 20 batting cages and NCAA Division I sand-draining surfaces, lighted for evening play. Built for high-level competition, the fields can accommodate softball through the collegiate level and baseball through 12U. Additional improvements include four re-sodded fields for soccer, flag football and other field sports, more than 800 parking spaces and controlled gate entry for event ticketing.

“We are incredibly thankful for the Buda EDC's continued investment and partnership in making Buda Championship Park the premier sports facility in Central Texas. This partnership elevates our athletic fields to be the finest in the region, adds four additional softball fields and positions Buda to host tournaments that will bring thousands of visitors to Buda, providing meaningful economic benefit to our local restaurants, shops, hotels and businesses” said Mayor Lee Urbanovsky.

The investment reflects a shared strategy by the city and Buda EDC to use sports tourism as an economic development tool, bringing regional and national tournaments to Buda, increasing overnight visitation and generating additional activity for the community’s hotels, restaurants, retailers and other businesses, the release continued.

“This $3 million investment is about much more than fields — it is an investment in Buda’s economy,” said Jim Niemie, Buda EDC board president. “Buda Championship Park gives us an opportunity to bring thousands of athletes, families and tournament organizers into our community, introduce them to our local businesses and create economic activity that extends well beyond the park itself. This is exactly the kind of strategic partnership that allows economic development dollars to generate broader benefits for Buda.”

Within five miles of the park, Buda boasts more 700 hotel rooms, 30 restaurants and food trucks and 260,000 square feet of retail, including Cabela’s, along with family-friendly activities, such as Inspired Minds Art Center, Pinballz Arcade and 16 parks.

The performance agreement recognizes the potential for the facility to generate economic development opportunities that directly benefit local commercial interests through tournament activity.

The agreement establishes measurable tournament and tourism objectives. Beginning in the third full calendar year of operation, the city is expected to host at least 11 qualifying tournaments annually, averaging at least 28 teams per tournament. Longer-term targets call for increased utilization, including at least 13 qualifying tournaments annually in later years and a minimum aggregate of 65 qualifying tournaments during years four through eight.

“This partnership demonstrates how the city and EDC can align investments in infrastructure, tourism and economic development around a common goal,” said Buda EDC CEO Jennifer Storm. “Our objective is not simply to host tournaments. It is to create an experience that encourages visitors to stay in Buda, spend time in our community and come back again.”

The event brought together teachers, facilitators and resources from Buda, Kyle and South Austin, according to BPL.

Council voted unanimously to set the maximum proposed ad valorem tax rate at $0.3895 per $100 valuation. The ad valorem tax rate is comprised of the maintenance and operations at $0.1081 and $0.2814 for debt service (I&S). The impact to the median residential property owner amounts to an increase of $8.03 per month.

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

The proposed budget totals $57.1 million, including approximately $54.2 million for operating expenses and $2.8 million for capital improvement projects.

The median home in Buda decreased in taxable value, thus, the median home with a taxable value of $383,550 will pay $1,474.45 in property taxes to the city in 2027, compared to $1,378.12 in 2026, if the ad valorem rate of $0.3895 is adopted.

Additionally, the proposed budget includes an increase to water and wastewater rates. Beginning with October meter readings, water rates would increase by 8% and wastewater rates would increase by 4%.

For the average customer, this means a monthly bill increase of approximately $8.75, or 6.1%. According to the city, the increase is necessary to pay the rising costs of operations, including the development of new water supplies, rising costs of materials and services and debt service associated with system improvements.

“The proposed tax rate reflects a broader, long-term discussion about how the city can responsibly support Buda’s continued growth,” said Grau. “The adjustment to the debt service portion of the rate helps the city meet its current debt obligations associated with the city’s capital improvements, like the community-approved 2021 General Obligation bond. The I&S portion of the tax rate will need to increase next year, as well, to support the nearly $90 million bond that was approved by voters in 2021. Adoption of this rate balances the budget, while continuing to maintain one of the lowest municipal property tax rates in the region.”

The city developed the FY 2027 budget under continued economic pressures, according to a news release. 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 Finance department reduced departmental requests by $3.7 million. Reserves are available for one-time expenses.

The public is invited to attend and participate in the upcoming city council meetings and hearings on the proposed budget and 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 www.budatx.gov/budget.

BUDA — The Whispering Hollow and Garlic Creek homeowners associations (HOA) in Buda worked with Goodwin Management for a combined total of more than 10 years before severing their contracts, due to what the respective board presidents claim were financial and communication failures that led to thousands of dollars lost.

HOA board members are volunteers that serve as a voice of the community, while Goodwin is a property management company that is entrusted with key items, explained Garlic Creek HOA board president Jeffrey Morales. According to Goodwin vice president Mark Kegley, Goodwin “acts at the direction of the board of directors, not independently of it. Under the management agreements with both of these communities, service contracts required association approval and routine maintenance spending was capped at a limit set in the agreement, with limited exceptions for emergencies. Our policy and practice is that contracts are executed only with board approval or under authority the board has granted through the management agreement.”

Whispering Hollow HOA board president Amanda Wallis has been president for three years, while Morales has been president for five. Although the pair began looking into their accounts with Goodwin at separate times, both found the same answer: their finances were being mismanaged, they claimed.

As a board president with extra time, Wallis shared that she initially wanted to learn more about the processes, in order to answer questions from residents, so she started looking into the finances and discovered balances that were declining. Because of this, Wallis began requesting everything from invoices to contracts and made several findings. Whispering Hollow had been paying vendors they never met, some of which she stated was money spent on “foolishness,” like paying someone $55 per month to change the batteries on the clock at the pool or lowering and raising the flag for $120.

These were contracts that were approved only by Goodwin, claimed Wallis. According to the board presidents, each contract required board approval, though the management company either proceeded without approval or without contracts entirely.

One example was when Morales was alerted at the beginning of the year when a landscaper reached out to ask for a missing payment: “I said, ‘I’m sorry, let me look into it.’ Then, we also found out that they hadn’t had a legitimate signed contract with us for three years because Goodwin didn’t do it … according to the landscapers, they kept telling them, ‘Oh, it’s okay. Don’t worry. We don’t need one.’ So, these guys hadn’t had a pay raise in three-plus years.”

A representative from the landscaping company noted that it would take multiple attempts of communication and months before they received payment.

“Timely payment depends on invoices being properly addressed and submitted and on new vendors completing required setup documentation. Paying vendors accurately and on time is a priority in every community we manage,” supplied Kegley.

Wallis had a similar experience when employees from a gutter company, an electrician and a landscaper reached out to her over the past year asking for payment.

In an email thread with the vice president of Goodwin, Wallis shared her frustration with multiple vendors not receiving payment on time: “We’ve been told that checks are cut 2–3 times per week, but that clearly isn’t aligning with what’s actually happening. Vendors are going 4–6 weeks at best before receiving payment and we are constantly being asked when they can expect it. This should not be happening. The board should not be in a position where we are having to chase down payments or provide updates to vendors on behalf of the management company. That responsibility should be handled internally and efficiently.”

The vice president stated that he would “dive in to see what is occurring,” though the payments continued to be delayed.

Other fees were also stacking up, said Morales. He claimed that the company was continuously placing “stupid violations” on residents. For example, he stated that Goodwin staff would drive around in the morning and see a piece of furniture on the lawn — which Morales stated a family was attempting to sell on Facebook — and they would mark them down to be mailed a violation. Oftentimes, the furniture would be gone by the end of the day, so no letter was needed to begin with.

These violations add up, stressed Wallis, who stated that the board was “noticing [that] the [HOA] pays the $25 up front and then, the homeowner reimburses that. Goodwin was keeping $17 of it and we only got back $8. So, we were [losing] money,” she explained. “We were always ending up short.”

Additionally, Goodwin was supposed to be paid $2,481 a month, said Wallis, but, with all the added fees, they were paying approximately $5,000 per month, revealed an invoice for Whispering Hollow.

“[All] policy and practice is that fees are disclosed before they apply and every charge billed to an association is itemized in the financial statement packages provided to the board each period. These charges are tied to services actually performed or costs actually incurred,” Kegley stated.

Goodwin’s actions also directly affected the livelihoods of residents at Garlic Creek, said Morales. He alleged that the company would add thousands of dollars in fees onto residents late on dues payments. Furthermore, they would write letters to credit agencies without HOA permission, sometimes even threatening to or actually placing liens on homeowners, he alleged. This resulted in a lawsuit settlement with one resident, who, although did have legitimate violations, was threatened with a lien without the proper procedures by Goodwin.

The HOA’s lawyer advised the association that “there [were] some areas of risk and potential weaknesses in the association’s position (primarily in relation to owner’s Breach of Contract claim in the drafted Petition) including, but not limited to the following: the association's failure to hold regular board meetings pursuant to the association's bylaws, and in accordance with Texas Property Code, Section 209.0051, particularly prior to levying fines for violations and suspending the owner’s common areas/facilities access/use privileges; the association's failure to post its Fine and Enforcement Policy on the association's website as is required under Texas Property Code, Section 209.0061; the general lack of board meeting minutes and, in particular, meeting minutes concerning violation enforcement — fine levying and suspension of the owner’s common areas/facilities access/use privileges; that the association applied a $275 charge for notice of lien to the assessment account on 7/11/25 when no such lien existed; and that the association does not have any copies of violation notices/letters that were mailed to the owner prior to 2022.”

Morales claimed that these were responsibilities held by Goodwin, though he tried several times to remedy the issues to no avail.

These liens have a long-lasting effect, said Garlic Creek resident Michael Stephens. He stated that a lien was placed on his house in 2024 for a reason he is still not privy to. The lien should have never been placed, said Morales, as it required board approval.

Two years later, Stephens noted that several credit card accounts have been shut down and his credit score has decreased, due to Goodwin not removing the lien, despite Morales reaching out and requesting them to do so.

The management company claimed in an email to Morales that filing liens on the HOA’s behalf was allowable. However, Kegley noted that, “As managing agent, Goodwin administers a delinquency management process on the association's behalf. That process is communicated to the board of directors and boards retain authority over how it applies in their community.”

These decisions, which were made without warning, also occurred at Whispering Hollow, as Wallis recalled a request for foreclosure over a few missed payments.

“[A resident] only owed $300, but by the time [Goodwin] added on all their late fees and everything, it came to an amount of where it was thousands, over a $300 bill. I was like, ‘Nope. Get rid of it all.’ They wanted me to sign off on foreclosing,” said Wallis. “I’m not doing that. That’s insane for $300.”

Morales stated that the final straw that led to leaving the management company in June was finding out that a $100,000 certificate of deposit (CD) had been transferred to their operating account by Goodwin without board approval.

According to an email thread with the bank, the CD was originally opened in 2018. When Garlic Creek attempted to close out the account in May 2026, they were told that the CD was closed Aug. 14, 2025, and a cashier’s check was issued for $101,889.99 to Goodwin.

In addition to this money, Morales stated that nearly all of the money from fiscal year 2025 was spent, despite having no major projects. Garlic Creek is estimated to bring in approximately $400,000 a year, if each resident pays the required dues, said the board president.

Although Goodwin no longer manages the Garlic Creek association, thus being limited in its ability to comment on specific matters, Kegley shared information about typical operations, including that movements between bank accounts are routine and part of managing an association's finances.

Kegley added that, “common examples include ensuring the operating account can cover vendor and utility obligations on time and funding reserve accounts from operating funds as provided in the board-approved annual budget.”

Shortly after Garlic Creek’s departure, Whispering Hollow followed suit, effective July 1. However, the surprises didn’t stop, said Wallis.

The board discovered that, along with mismanaging finances, Goodwin wasn’t even complying with its basic requirements, such as inspecting the property. Wallis stated that she found out that the red box to reach out to first responders in emergencies and the Knox Box that allows them access to the property were not working property, after contacting the Buda Police Department.

“[We] find out it’s not even working, but we’re paying for it every month, which was $200-something for something that doesn’t work that [they] should be testing. The property manager is supposed to come out every month and inspect the property. That’s part of their contract,” said Wallis. “They should have known a long time ago that this wasn't working.”

Months after ending their contracts, both HOAs are still experiencing the effects of Goodwin. Garlic Creek has less than 50% of what is supposed to be in their reserves, forcing them to instead rely on HOA due payments from residents. This has resulted in the community struggling to pay bills.

Whispering Hollow is in a similar situation, said Wallis, who noted that the association is now operating at a $12,000 deficit each month.

“That’s over $100,000 that we’re going to now be negative in our next budget. So, it’s like we will have no choice now [but] to raise our dues, which pisses me off because if [Goodwin] would have been budgeting, doing our budget correctly, this wouldn’t be happening. This is not fair to our members,” Wallis emphasized.

Furthermore, during the transition to a new management company, the community association manager from Goodwin contacted the Whispering Hollow board to note that there were “$60,000 in vendor invoices pending payment that cannot be processed until additional funds are made available. The current operating account balance is [negative] $426.”

The board members were confused, as none of the numbers aligned with statements they had previously received. Some of the dates for past due payments were listed as far back as April 2025, said Wallis.

As a result, she shared that the board members are now completing tasks that were previously fulfilled by vendors, such as pest control and taking out trashcans, because of the financial situation that Goodwin has left the association in.

“I should be a full-blown alcoholic by now [with] just the stress they caused,” said Wallis, encouraging others to be more involved in their management company. “The stuff that they do without your knowledge is crazy. I feel like boards should be more proactive … after learning everything, I feel like it’s great for boards to be knowledgeable and to know the ins and outs of things and ask questions [to] make sure that the management company is doing what they should be doing.”

Morales shared that Garlic Creek is now looking into an audit of expenditures over the last four years to find out if there were any other discrepancies. Wallis stated that Whispering Hollow is planning to do the same in the coming months.

SunScout was founded in New Zealand, with existing operations in New Zealand, Asia and Massachusetts. The Buda facility will mark the company's newest manufacturing operation, expanding its United States footprint and supporting growing demand for its solar-powered, wire-free robotic mowing technology.

The company is projected to create approximately 50 jobs spanning technical, management and production roles, reinforcing the region's ability to attract advanced manufacturing companies, while strengthening the local economy, stated a news release. SunScout's arrival adds another innovative manufacturer to Central Texas, further establishing the region's growing profile in advanced and clean-technology manufacturing.

The project is supported through the Buda EDC RISE Workforce Incentive, a performance-based program that rewards job creation, competitive wage levels and employee retention. If all program benchmarks and retention milestones are achieved, the project could qualify for up to approximately $312,500 in total incentives, including additional incentives tied to hiring Buda-based employees.

"Buda offers the space, the workforce and the pro-business environment we need to grow our U.S. manufacturing footprint," said Edwin Cywinski, CEO and chairman of SunScout Holding Limited. "We're excited to bring SunScout's manufacturing to Central Texas and to grow alongside this community."

"SunScout's arrival adds an innovative clean-technology manufacturer to Buda's growing roster of advanced manufacturing companies, further establishing the region as a hub for forward-looking, sustainable industries,” said Brian Dyer, Buda EDC assistant director of recruitment and development. “Through tools like the RISE Workforce Incentive, we're able to support quality job creation, while welcoming companies that share our commitment to innovation and community growth."

According to JHS principal Robert Hensarling, the school has been on a waiting list for the program since opening, with the initial construction including a range and a classroom made for the curriculum. While Lehman and Hays high schools house the Navy and Marine Corps programs, respectively, Johnson will host the Air Force branch.

“You don’t want too many of the same branch. The military has some guidelines in terms of the distance between different programs and my understanding is you can’t have two of the same program in the same district,” explained Hensarling. “Air Force made great sense because of the aerospace engineering program that the campus [has] … We’re the only campus that offers that program study, with the intent that it would coexist with the Air Force JROTC once we had it approved because there’s some carryover between things, like learning to fly aeronautics.”

The school had to be inspected prior to approval, where they were told that the “facilities were top notch,” said Hensarling.

When the first email was sent out gauging interest, 48 responses were received of the required 50 students needed, so the school knew that students were “chomping at the bit to get started,” many of whom are in the aerospace engineering career and technology education track.

Prior to the 2026-27 school year, students interested in JROTC were required to transfer schools to either Lehman or Hays to participate.

The curriculum will be led by aerospace science instructor Senior Master Sergeant Jacequlyn Rider and senior aerospace science instructor Colonel Shelly Mendieta.

Rider served for 22 years in the Air Force and retired in March 2026. She held positions at the tactical, operational and strategic levels of leadership.

Mendieta is retired from the Air Force and also served as a F-15E Weapon Systems Officer. She accumulated more than 2,400 flying hours as an instructor and flew more than 100 combat missions.

In the class, students will learn several basic fundamentals as the other branches, said the principal, but also teach Air Force specific lessons.

“We’ll do a seven-year curriculum planning, but the core components of the curriculum are the aerospace science, which is going to cover aviation history, science of flights, basic exploration, astronomy, cybersecurity, unmanned aircraft systems, but also … we have leadership education. So, it’s a lot of citizenship, traditions, personal growth, financial management, career paths, college preparation and, of course, military drill and ceremonies,” described Rider. “They’ll [also] get [physical education] credit for it. So, we focus on building active, healthy lifestyles through targeted exercise and national fitness standards. It’s not a military recruitment tool, but we have curriculum components that the Air Force dictates that we’ll make sure we’re meeting.”

Because this is the first year, there are currently no outside extracurricular options, but as the program grows and student interest increases, outside opportunities like drill teams will be added.

It’s Rider’s first time teaching and although she’s nervous, she explained that she wants to create a precedent of a great program.

“I went to Hays [High School] and I was in the Marine Corps Junior ROTC all four years of high school and then, I joined [the military] about two years after I graduated and I realized the impact that my Marine Corps Junior ROTC instructors had on me. In fact, when I was promoted to senior master sergeant in 2023, I asked my former instructor to come back and preside over my promotion ceremony and when I think about it, that's the kind of impact I want to have,” said the sergeant. “I want somebody to come back to me 20 years later or 25 years later or whatever and say, ‘Hey, this is the impact you made on me when I was a high school student and I would like for you to be part of this significant event in my life.’”

Both Hensarling and Rider shared that all students should consider joining the program, not just those interested in a military career.

“We want any student that’s interested in learning how to better themselves [or] push themselves. The ultimate goal is not to have all the cadets join the military. I’m sure some are interested in that field and we absolutely want to cultivate that, but we understand that the vast majority won’t go into a career in the military. We want them to be leaders in whatever field they pursue next. Learn some self discipline, learn some leadership skills, learn to take care of your mind and body and be a good citizen — that’s the ultimate goal of the program,” emphasized Hensarling.

Those who participate in all four years can qualify for an industry-based certification, which lets industry professionals know that they’re college, career or military ready. Students can also opt to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, if interested in the military.

When asked what it means for Johnson to have this program, Rider simply said: “Everything.”

As the Air Force JROTC program is in its first year, JHS will allow students to sign up for the class for the first few weeks of school, said the principal. Students in any grade level can join and there are no prerequisites. Additionally, there will be an informational session available for families in the coming weeks.

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.

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.

Although the fire department was ahead most of the game, the police department pulled away in the end for a 32-28 victory.

The real winner, however, was the community. The event generated food donations and helped raise awareness for families across Hays County, who rely on the food bank’s services.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5 Judge Sandra Bryant conducted the coin toss and Buda City Council member Kimberly Goodman presented the trophy.

After tallying on Monday, the food bank shared that a total of 829 pounds was collected from the drive.