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Wed
06
Jul

County taxes may decrease for second year in a row

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BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH/BURNET BULLETIN

Burnet County Commissioners will soon discuss the possibility of lowering the tax rate for the second year in a row.

In a recent court meeting, county commissioners said that due to increased property values, the effective taxing rate had decreased by .13 percent for the fiscal year. The effective tax rate is the rate that will produce roughly the same amount of revenue as the previous year.

“The effective rate went from .4025 (cents per $100) to .3974,” said Burnet County Judge James Oakley.

Burnet County Commissioners will soon discuss the possibility of lowering the tax rate for the second year in a row.

In a recent court meeting, county commissioners said that due to increased property values, the effective taxing rate had decreased by .13 percent for the fiscal year. The effective tax rate is the rate that will produce roughly the same amount of revenue as the previous year.

Tue
05
Jul

HSB begins budget process

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By Phil Reynolds

THE HIGHLANDER

Horseshoe Bay City Council members got their first look on Tuesday, June 28, at the city’s draft budget for next year. It includes an expected 20.94 percent increase in revenue and a 25.03 percent increase in expenditures, but the staff expects to hold the line on property taxes at 25 cents per $100 valuation, same as this year’s tax rate.

However, the council was asked to set the proposed 2016-17 tax rate at 26 cents as a hedge. While the council can later decrease the proposed rate, it cannot increase it, according to Texas law.

Tue
05
Jul

NRA Foundation grants GSPD $2,880

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CONTRIBUTED

New ballistic helmets for the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD) are displayed by Sgt. Christopher Decker, M.S., left, and Officer John Ortis. Helmets, such as the one that saved the life of an Orlando, Florida, officer June 12, have been purchased with a grant from the NRA Foundation.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

THE HIGHLANDER

The National Rifle Association (NRA) Foundation has awarded the City of Granite Shoals Police Department a grant of $2,880 for the purchase of ballistic helmets.

Interim Chief Gary Boshears said the grant would cover the cost of helmets for the department's full compliment of eight officers.

Tue
05
Jul

County intends $4.7 million debt service

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By Alexandria Randolph
HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS
Burnet County Commissioners unanimously made preliminary approval of $4.7 million in debt service for infrastructure improvement projects last week.
Commissioners initially began the discussion in early May after storms that brought to light the need for improved drainage at several low water crossings in the county.
Burnet County Judge James Oakley said in May that issuing the additional debt service on top of the 20 year bonds used to purchase the county jail would level the amount the county would pay semiannually on the debt by adding smaller, short-term payments to fill in gaps caused by fluctuations in the current debt service payments.
“This is the amount available without raising the debt service tax rate,” Oakley said in commissioners court Tuesday, June 28.
The debt, which totals $4,685,000, will be paid over a seven year term.
Tue
05
Jul

Coach Hale dead at 74 in Spicewood auto accident

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Courtesy of The University of Texas
Coach Clovis Hale has died at age 74.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

One of the greats in Texas coaching was killed Saturday, July 2, in a one-car accident on Texas 71 in Spicewood.

Clovis Hale, 74, who resided in Spicewood, was alone in his 2003 Tahoe left the unimproved shoulder of the road about 4:16 p.m. The report by Department of Public Safety Trooper Jose Colombo said the vehicle struck a power pole and continued through a fence into trees before his vehicle rolled one and a half times.

Wed
29
Jun

Highland Lakes about to 'Boom'

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GLYNIS CRAWFORD SMITH/THE HIGHLANDER
From Marble Falls upriver to Kingsland fireworks will light the sky on the 4th of July. You can see them going out on the town or just out on the porch.

By Alexandria Randolph/Highland Lakes Newspapers
For those going out on the town on Independence Day weekend, there are a number of local celebrations to visit for July 4th activities, some that take place day-of, and some that stretch across several days of fun, family festivities.
 
ALL WEEKEND
 
Going on all Independence Day weekend is the annual Kingsland Aqua Boom from Friday, July 1 to Monday, July 4. The festivities kickoff with the Friday Night Steak Cook-off at 7 p.m. On Saturday morning, the Flights of Fancy remote control plane air show and golf tournament both begin at 9 a.m. At 11 a.m., the BBQ Championship Cook-Off begins. The first annual Aqua Boom Music Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., including performances by Clayton Jones, Brooks Crossing, William Michael Morgan, and others.
 
Wed
29
Jun

Llano Commissioners approve $12.8 million bond issue, look to budget

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By Phil Reynolds
The Highlander
Llano County Commissioners approved a $12.8 million bond issue Monday, June 27, but the bonds won’t cost taxpayers a nickel.
That’s because the bonds are actually being issued by a private company, not by the county. But the money will be used to add to health care facilities in Llano and Gillespie counties, so by law the company must get approval from commissioners in both counties before the bonds can be sold.
Crawford Health Facilities Development Corp., of Crawford, Texas, will add to two senior care facilities in Llano County and one near Fredericksburg, said Chris Sayers, representing the company.
 “There is no liability whatsoever to the county,” Sayers said. He said the bonds are classed as “taxable” because income from the bonds is subject to income tax.
Wed
29
Jun

Horseshoe Bay reviews urban deer control

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PHIL REYNOLDS/THE HIGHLANDER
Joe Morris, chief of the Horseshoe Bay Fire Department, left, and Valerie Black, assistant chief, right, recognize Capt. Bradley Casey, center, on his graduation from the National Fire Academy. Morris told the June 21 meeting of the Horseshoe Bay City Council that the academy provides leadership training to senior fire officials.

By Phil Reynolds
The Highlander
Horseshoe Bay will continue handling its white-tailed deer overpopulation the way it has been, since a study group appointed to look at the matter couldn’t come up with a better alternative.
City council members heard on June 21 that the study group, chaired by City Manager Stan Farmer, met four times beginning in February, to examine ways to reduce the number of deer in the city. The group included Ravelle Kundinger, John Davis and Rick Prekup, though Mayor Steve Jordan also met with them, as did Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. representatives Dale Schmidt and Kevin Schwausch, Lower Colorado River Authority wildlife managers Bill Bergquist and Brandon Smith, veterinarian Dr. Garret Craig, and deer trapper James Bonds, who has the deer removal contract with the city.
Wed
29
Jun

Time to enter Marble Falls Rodeo Parade

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By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The 60th Annual Marble Falls Open/Pro Rodeo is on the horizon and rodeo events will be going on July 13-16. But the highlight for many families is the Marble Falls Rodeo Parade that will take place on Main Street July 16.

“We invite all kinds of entries,” said Jacque Horn of the Marble Falls Rodeo Association Board of Directors. “Kids love to catch candy and see all the floats and it is a great way to advertise.”

Tue
28
Jun

Miss Aqua Boom Crowned, 4th of July fireworks ahead on the Highland Lakes

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ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH/HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS
A joyful Kelsie Tackett of Marble Falls is crowned Miss Aqua Boom 2016 at the pageant held at Kingsland Community Center Saturday, June 25.

By Alexandria Randolph

Highland Lakes Newspapers

 

For those going out on the town on Independence Day weekend, there are a number of local celebrations to visit for July 4th activities.

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