Llano County Commissioners Court

By Phil Reynolds
The Highlander

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

After nearly a week of more or less steady rain, Llano County has lifted its burn ban. The ban was imposed at the Sept. 25 meeting of the Commissioners Court, with the thought that County Judge Mary Cunningham could lift the ban before the next court meeting if conditions warrant.

That happened today, Friday, Sept. 20.

The Texas Forest Service shows Llano County averaged 430 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) on Thursday, Sept. 28. that number is on the low end of the danger area for wildfires. The KBDI is widely used as an index of wildfire vulnerability.

Editor's Note: There was incorrect information published about the Hill Country 100 Club in 'Commissioners honor responders' story, published in the Tuesday, June 13 edition of The Highlander. Membership is not limited to 100 people and yearly memberships have several levels of sponsorship available for businesses and individuals. The scholarship information was also incorrect. The corrected story follows.

By Phil Reynolds

BY PHIL REYNOLDS

THE HIGHLANDER

Llano County commissioners are struggling to put together a budget while faced with rising costs and hearing that some county employees are leaving for higher-paying jobs in neighboring counties.

Commissioners held the second of two budget workshops on Tuesday, Aug. 2. They’re looking at a draft budget of $14,466,433, an increase of $370,323, or about 2.6 percent, over this year’s budget.

But they also heard Llano County Sheriff Bill Blackburn say that in the past few weeks he’s lost several deputies to higher-paying jobs, including both investigators who handle child sexual abuse cases.

“In one case, they’re being offered $14,000 a year more than we’re paying,” Blackburn said. “I can’t blame them for moving.”

Blackburn told commissioners several county offices hinge on how well the sheriff’s office does its job.