SAN MARCOS, Texas – Following a final public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 16, the Hays County Commissioners Court voted, 4-1, to adopt a tax rate of $.3999 per $100 valuation and a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026. In the FY26 budget, funds were approved at a total of $373,849,226, comprising operating funds of $248,226,263, debt funds of $55,300,195, and construction funds of $70,322,768. The FY26 budget focuses on key initiatives to address capital infrastructure needs, including road improvements and county facilities, as well as funding to continue essential judicial services. Additionally, it allocates funds to partner with local municipalities and non-profits for enhanced animal welfare services. The budget is expected to raise more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by $16.9 million, representing an 11.27% increase. The property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $6.9 million. According to Vickie Dorsett, Hays County Budget Officer, the average home value is $460,169, representing an annual property tax increase of $225.87 for the Hays County tax portion only. “Property taxes are the primary source of revenue for counties in Texas, and our Commissioners Court is dedicated to maintaining a low tax rate while balancing the growing infrastructure needs and providing superior services to the citizens of Hays County,” Dorsett said. One of the key indicators of the tax rate is population, she said. Since 2010, the population in Hays County has grown by 93% while the tax rate has consistently decreased during that period. Since 2000, the population has increased by 210%. These are the drivers for the need for additional services. “While the tax rate has gone down consistently over the years, the recent [tax rate] increases, are directly attributed to the addition of services the County is now providing – additional Judicial Services related to pre-trial services, additional magistration, the Public Defender’s Office, animal welfare services and more – which alone account for a $.0125 increase on the tax rate,” Dorsett said. “The judicial aspect of this is essential in reducing recidivism in Hays County. These are programs for which we haven’t had to tax citizens in the past due to available American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.” “This budget reflects both the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly growing county,” said Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra. “We are delivering essential services — from judicial and public safety programs to public infrastructure and mental health support — while keeping the tax rate among the lowest in the region. Our responsibility is to balance fiscal accountability with the needs of our community, and I believe this budget strikes that balance for the people of Hays County.” Following the budget hearing, the court also voted unanimously, 5-0, to approve the FY26 salaries and allowances for elected officials. For more information or to view budget documents, visit www.hayscountytx.gov/budget-office.

KYLE, Texas – The Hays County Office of Emergency Services (OES), in partnership with the City of Kyle, hosted the 8th Annual Emergency Preparedness Fair on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at La Verde Park. Hundreds of residents joined local first responders, volunteers, and community partners. “The 8th Annual Preparedness Fair was a tremendous success thanks to the incredible engagement from our community and our dedicated partners,” said Hays County OES Director Mike Jones. “Together, we were able to educate and empower residents with the knowledge and resources they need to be prepared for any disaster.” The fair featured hands-on safety demonstrations, preparedness resources, interactive exhibits and live music entertainment. Guests explored emergency vehicles, participated in CPR and fire extinguisher training and learned how to create personalized emergency go-kits. A highlight of the day was the 3rd Annual Top Dawg Chili Cook-Off. Phillip Gilreath from Arkansas was the First Place Winner, Kent Cawley was second place (by 1 point), and Emergency Service District (ESD) 3 South Hays Fire was third place. They retained the Top Dawg traveling trophy between Hays County ESDs and also won the People’s Choice Award. Proceeds from the cook-off benefit the firefighters of Hays County, helping fund firefighter training and replace equipment lost during wildfire responses. The event was powered by community support, with 67 CERT members volunteering and 17 non-CERT volunteer partners participating, totaling 668.7 volunteer hours. Families enjoyed live performances by Two Tons of Steel and the Cody Sparks Band, participated in raffles and a silent auction, and engaged directly with local emergency personnel. The fair blended entertainment with education, ensuring attendees left better prepared for emergencies of all kinds. “Building resilience starts with awareness, and this event showed the strength of our community when we come together,” Jones added. For more information on preparedness resources and upcoming events, visit https://www.haysinformed.com .

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Hays County community came together on Saturday, Sept. 6, for the Health Department’s inaugural Suicide Awareness Walk & Resource Fair: Together for Tomorrow. Approximately 88 participants joined to walk, connect and stand together for suicide prevention and mental health awareness. The event began with heartfelt opening words from Hays County Health Department Behavioral Health Coordinator Izzy Vigil, who reminded the community of the reason for their gathering and helped set the tone for a day of connection, healing, and hope. Following Vigil, David James of the Peyton Heart Project shared the story of his son Peyton and the mission to end the stigma surrounding suicide and bullying. His testimony deepened the meaning of the day and grounded participants in the importance of this work. Despite the rain, spirits remained high. The community embraced the weather and set off together on the 1-mile walk through San Marcos Plaza Park, guided by balloons in shades of teal and purple, the symbolic colors of suicide awareness. Along the way, community members forged new connections, shared stories and reminded one another of the importance of showing up and standing together. To keep energy levels up, participants were also provided with granola bars, cold water and goodie bags, generously donated by community partners, adding another touch of care and support to the day. The resource fair was a highlight of the event, as vendors and supporters provided attendees with valuable resources on mental health and suicide prevention, while also fostering meaningful connections. Their presence brought a strong sense of togetherness to the day. The Health Department is grateful to the following partners for sharing their time, knowledge, and care with the community: Hill Country MHDD Centers Greater San Marcos Youth Council Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC) Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas Austin Oaks Branches in San Marcos Prevention and Research in Suicide Mechanisms (PRISM) Lab DJ X-Ray (Gabriel Vasquez) “The inaugural event was a true success,” said Health Department Director Matthew Gonzales. “It brought nearly 90 people together in solidarity, opened conversations about mental health and connected individuals with the resources they need. The turnout demonstrated the strength of our community and its commitment to fostering awareness, breaking down stigma and supporting one another. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended, volunteered, or partnered with us to make this event possible. Together for tomorrow is more than a theme. It is a commitment we share as a community to keep showing up, raising awareness and supporting healing and hope.” ###

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HAYS COUNTY, Texas – Hays County has launched a comprehensive revision of its Development Regulations and is seeking public input to inform future development policies and practices. To kick off the project’s community engagement phase, several open-house meetings will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in locations across the county. These sessions will allow residents to hear directly from Hays County staff and consultants from Freese and Nichols, Inc., who have been tasked with reviewing, analyzing and recommending updates to the County’s existing development regulations. The upcoming revision will be the first comprehensive update to Hays County’s Development Regulations since they were initially created in 2010. The new regulations will impact a wide range of development-related issues, with an emphasis on water availability, water quality, and erosion control, as well as floodplain management, environmental protection, and transportation infrastructure. “This is a vital process in revision,” said Marcus Pacheco, Development Services Director. “We want the community involved not just during this initial stage, but throughout the project. This is a long-anticipated update over 15 years in the making, and hearing from our residents is essential in creating meaningful, effective policies that reflect the needs and priorities of our growing county.”  Community Open House Meeting Schedule – Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 · Dripping Springs Ranch Park 2 - 3:30 p.m. 1042 Event Center Drive, Dripping Springs, TX 78620 · Wimberley Community Center 2 - 3:30 p.m. 14068 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley, TX 78676 · City of Buda Multipurpose Room 7 - 8:30 p.m. 405 E. Loop Street, Bldg. 100, Buda, TX 78610 · San Marcos Library, Meeting Room A (104) 7 - 8:30 p.m. 625 E. Hopkins Street, San Marcos, TX 78666 Community members will hear an overview of the project’s goals, initial findings and the project’s expected timeline. Residents are encouraged to provide feedback, share concerns and suggest ideas to help guide the revision. For questions or to provide feedback about future meetings and progress updates, please contact the Hays County Development Services Department at 512-393-2150 or visit https://www.hayscountytx.gov/Development-Regulations-Re-Write.

To view the original notice, click here . Hays County Salary Grievance Hearing – September 3, 2025 NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE OF HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS This Notice is posted by the Hays County Judge pursuant to the Texas Open Meetings Act. (VERNONS TEXAS CODES ANN. GOV. CODE CH.551) and Chapter 152 of the Texas Local Government Code. The Hays County Salary Grievance Committee will hold a Public Hearing at 1:30 P.M. on the 3 rd day of September, 2025 , in the Hays County Courthouse, Room 301, San Marcos, Texas. A Public Hearing will be held concerning the following subjects: CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL 1. Presentation from counsel regarding Salary Grievance Committee procedures. 2. Hearing(s) regarding Grievances filed by elected officials in response the FY2026 budget. 3. Deliberation of Committee regarding Grievances filed. 4. Vote of Committee for each Grievance by paper ballot (or by other means, as determined by Committee). ADJOURNMENT Posted by or before three business days before the meeting SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE, HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS ______________________________________________ COUNTY CLERK Hays County encourages compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the conduct of all public meetings. To that end, persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need auxiliary aids such as an interpreter for a person who is hearing impaired are requested to contact the Hays County Judge’s Office at (512) 393-2205 as soon as the meeting is posted (Three (3) business days before the meeting) or as soon as practical so that appropriate arrangements can be made. While it would be helpful to receive as much advance notice as possible, Hays County will make every reasonable effort to accommodate any valid request regardless of when it is received. Braille is not available.

HAYS COUNTY, Texas – Hays County will host a series of public meetings to share updates about its Roads Improvements Program, including funding strategies and an overview of proposed projects. These public meetings are a part of the County’s continued effort to be transparent and collaborate with community members. https://www.hayscoroads.com/ Public Meeting Details Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, Precinct 1 Location: Price Center, Garden Room 222 W San Antonio St., San Marcos, TX 78666 ​ Time: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Commissioner Walt Smith, Precinct 4 Location: Dripping Springs Ranch Park and Event Center 1042 Event Center Dr., Dripping Springs, TX 78620 ​ Time: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 18, 2025 Commissioner Morgan Hammer, Precinct 3 Location: Wimberley Community Center 14068 Ranch Rd 12, Wimberley, TX 78676 ​ Time: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.  The open-house style meeting will allow attendees to speak with County Commissioners and the transportation team, learn about proposed projects, ask questions, and provide feedback. Public meeting materials and project information will be available online at HaysCoRoads.com starting at 5 p.m. on Aug. 27. Program Background In November 2024, Hays County voters approved the 2024 Road Bond package. In June 2025, a Travis County district judge ruled that the road bond package was void, claiming non-compliance with a public notice requirement. The County is currently appealing this ruling while working to keep these projects moving forward. To uphold the voters’ decision to move these projects forward, the Commissioners Court unanimously voted in a July Commissioners Court meeting to move forward with the issuance of Certificates of Obligation (CO). The COs would fund planning and design for all projects included initially in the bond, except the SH 45 Extension project, which is not funded. Additionally, it would allow construction for eight of the 14 projects included initially in the bond.

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SAN MARCOS , Texas – The office of Hays County District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced today that a 29-year-old Kyle man, Omar Galvan-Ochoa, was found guilty of murder this week by a Hays County jury and was sentenced, on August 19, by that same jury to life in prison along with a $10,000 fine, the maximum punishment allowed by law for the offense of murder. The evidence showed that on September 6, 2023, 46-year-old Aliaksandr Bushtser was filling his vehicle with gas at a Valero station in Buda when the defendant drove into the gas station and shot Bushtser three times in the back in an act of unprovoked, senseless violence. The Hays County Sheriff’s Office obtained surveillance video from the gas station, which showed the truck the defendant was driving when he shot and killed the victim. Due to the quality of the surveillance video, detectives could not make out a license plate for the vehicle, but they were able to ultimately identify the vehicle, owned by Galvan-Ochoa, by utilizing FLOCK camera images. The identity of the killer was further confirmed by a local resident, who saw the driver of the truck during a separate altercation minutes after the murder and called 911 to provide the license plate number of the truck. Galvan-Ochoa later tried to evade police before his capture. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Elizabeth Schmidt and Christopher Griffith. Following the verdict, ADA Schmidt said, “Bringing this killer to justice was truly a team effort. We’d like to thank the Hays County Sheriff’s investigators, officers from the Kyle Police Department who assisted in apprehending the defendant, officers from the Buda Police Department who responded to the scene of the murder, the victim assistance coordinators who went above and beyond, the legal assistants who helped with voluminous discovery in this case, the DA investigators who tracked down many witnesses, and all of the witnesses who testified in the trial. We also appreciate the time and attention of the jurors who reached a tremendous verdict. We offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Aliaksandr Bushtser and hope some measure of peace is found in bringing his killer to justice.” # # #