News

Burnet County continues to see strong gains in sales tax rebates, as almost every city has experienced an increase of more than eight percent above last year's rebate revenue, with one exception.

Marble Falls, Burnet, Granite Shoals, Cottonwood Shores and Horseshoe Bay all have seen a significant jump in sales tax allocations as the percentage exceeds that for cities in the state, as Texas cities received $439.8 million in July 2017, or eight percent more revenue than in July 2016, and are up 3.2 percent overall for the year.

Those allocations are based on sales made in May by businesses that report tax monthly, according to Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.

The National Weather Service (NWS) says more showers, less flooding for our area, but it did come down from late Sunday night to Monday morning, Aug. 6-7.

The storm cluster over north Texas moved south and produced widely varying rain totals, heaviest in portions of Llano and Burnet Counties, where as much as 5-8 inches fell. Some flash flooding was observed in this area but recent dry conditions have helped limit the overall flooding and flash flooding threat, according to the NWS. “LCRA opened one floodgate at Wirtz Dam and one floodgate at Starcke Dam to move floodwaters downstream early Monday morning. Both gates were closed by 11 a.m.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

In November Granite Shoals will be the first city in the 172-year history of the State of Texas to call an election to re-affirm a bond issue.

That is what citizens heard at the Town Hall Meeting for Road Improvement Bond Update held Saturday, July 29, in Granite Shoals.

“The city attorney (Brand Young) had to go all the way to the secretary of state to see if was allowed,” said Eric Tanner, chairman of the new Arterial Road Bond Committee. “But the city council decided to seek voter re-confirmation before issuing the $3 million in bonds approved last November.”

Tanner's committee was created just because of questions that were bound to arise when a city council hesitated before spending money essentially in hand.

The meeting on road improvements may have drawn only half the crowd that turned out for a recent urban deer update, but they were citizens with plenty of questions.

Horseshoe Bay is looking for someone to honor as its 2017 Citizen of the Year.

The Horsehose Bay Business Alliance, along with the Horseshoe Bay City Council, is now accepting nominations for Citizen of the Year through Aug. 31.

All citizens of Horseshoe Bay are eligible to submit nominations to receive the award. The Citizen of the Year may be an individual or couple and will be chose from the following criteria:

* Civic, community or church involvement: 50 percent of the criteria considered.

* Accomplishments and contributions to the economic growth and quality of life in Horseshoe Bay: 30 percent of the criteria considered.

* Additional outstanding characteristics the nominee has: 20 percent of criteria considered.

Nominees must demonstrate leadership, valor or exemplary service in thecommunity, go above and beyond normal community involvement and volunteerism, and their philanthropic efforts will also be considered.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Horseshoe Bay City Council has called for a general election in November to elect a mayor and two council members and a special election the same day to decide whether the city will continue to collect sales tax for municipal street repair and maintenance.

The election will be held Nov. 7 and the first official day to file for a spot on the ballot is July 22. However, since that day is a Saturday and City Secretary Kerri Craig's office will not be open, the first day applications will be accepted will be Monday, July 24. The last day to file for election is Aug. 21.

Mayor Steve Jordan and council members Cynthia Clinesmith and Reagan Lambert hold the positions that are up for election this year. If only one candidate files for mayor and two candidates file for council positions, the city can cancel the general election at its Aug. 29 council meeting.

Pet PALS is having two low-cost spay/neuter clinics in August — on Tuesday, Aug. 8, and Tuesday, Aug. 29 .

The clinics will be held at its facility at 2003 Ranch to Market Road 1431 West in Marble Falls.

They are not limited to Marble Falls residents, but animals are accepted by appointment only. For more information or to make an appointment, call 830-598-7729.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Rex Holloway was named Cottonwood Shores Citizen of the Year at the July 10 meeting of the  Cottonwood Shores City Council and he will be presented the award at the council's meeting Thursday, Aug. 3.

Holloway currently serves on the city's Board of Adjustment and is vice chairman of the Parks Committee.

“He has worked tirelessly for new playground equipment, and the addition of the splash pad and Memorial Day's grand opening with hotdogs and tee shirts for the kids,” said City Administrator Sheila Moore. “He also attends most city council meetings.”

Funeral services have been set for Jerrod Bradford Young, the pedestrian who died Saturday, July 30, when struck by a car as he walked on US 281 in Marble Falls.

The services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, in the Bates-Cooper Sloan Funeral Home chapel, 2805 South Jefferson Avenue in Mount Pleasant. Interment will follow at Nevills Chapel Cemetery in Titus County.

Young, a computer programmer who graduated from Mount Pleasant High School, was born in Mount Pleasant March 30, 1981, to Stephen Bradford and Jovanna Gail (Baze) Young.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

The Highlander

A proposal by Enterprise Fleet Management Inc. to manage Burnet County's fleet of patrol vehicles and light-duty trucks presents “an intriguing concept to reduce costs and update our fleet,” Burnet County Judge James Oakley said.

Kirby Watson, a senior fleet consultant with Enterprise Fleet Management, made the presentation to the Burnet County Commissioners Court at the regular meeting Tuesday, July 25. Watson said Enterprise, the largest vehicle operator in the world with nearly 1.9 million vehicles in use, can help the county achieve savings through leasing vehicles on a shorter term.

When the Marble Falls City Council meets at 6 p.m. tonight, Aug. 1, tax rate hearing is on the agenda.

As budget workshops have progressed and priorities have been set, the Burnet Central Appraisal District has reported a Marble Falls property market value of $1,089,763,048, with a taxable value of $815,061,90, adjusted to a certified tax roll of $726,407, 494--an eight percent increase over last year.

Finance Director Margie Cardenas and city staff are proposing the council adopt the effective tax rate for Fiscal Year 2017/2018. That is the rate that would  generate  the  same  amount  of  taxes  on  properties that were on the tax roll last year and on the current tax roll.

The tentative tax rates being considered are:

Effective tax of .6341 per $100 valuation
 Rollback tax rate of .6780 per $100 valuation     
 Current tax rate of .6483 per $100 valuation