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NOTICE OF APP LICATI TO SUBDIVIDE ON
An applicatio filed with HAY n has been S create a 2-ac COUNTY to re lot along N utty Brown Roa d, 78737. Inform Austin, TX ation regarding the applic at obtained from ion may be Development Hays County Se 393-2150. Trac rvices 512king number: SUB-1255
State law to fast-track developments
DSISD population over 7,100 students
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Hays County native debuts film
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXIX No. 46
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
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75¢
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Census response affects future funding for Hays BY ANITA MILLER
More than one-third of Hays County residents are at risk for not participating in the 2020 Census, according to a presentation given to Hays County Commissioners Tuesday ahead of the constitutionally-mandated national head count. Non-participation on the part of one four-person
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Dividing the approximate $43 billion the state gets from the federal government each year by the state’s population works out to about $1,500 per person. “If a household of four people doesn’t answer, it’s not $6,000, it’s $60,000 – $6,000 a year for 10 years,” said Richard Castanon, Census Bureau Partnership Specialist.
household could result in the loss of tens of thousands of federal dollars over the course of the next decade, Census Bureau
people doesn’t answer, it’s not $6,000, it’s $60,000 – $6,000 a year for 10 years,” Castanon said. Castanon urged the court to either form a Complete Count Committee (CCC) of its own or to Partnership Specialist of the 15 largest federal pro- the federal government partner with the city of San Richard Castanon told the grams that benefit Texas, each year by the state’s pop- Marcos, which has already court. Castanon said simply divid- ulation works out to about established one. Castanon Citing a survey by George ing the approximate $43 $1,500 per person. Washington University billion the state gets from “If a household of four CENSUS 2020, 3
County officials seek diversity on elections committee
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BY ANITA MILLER
at which dozens of community members spoke. The proposed committee sioners stopped short of would operate yearnaming an “all-inclusive” round, and would have Community Elections a say in selecting some Commission on Tuesday, as-yet-undetermined opting instead for County locations for voting this Judge Ruben Becerra and Nov. 5, as well as other Precinct 4 Commissioner voting-related matters. Walt Smith to develop This November’s parameters intended to election is the first time insure diversity among Hays voters won’t have the group’s membership. to report to their specific An actual vote on the precinct ballot box on commission could come election day, but instead as early as next week. can vote at any voting The idea for such a group center county-wide. In grew out of a special called meeting on Aug. 19 ELECTIONS COMMITTEE, 6
ation 210-77 1-3147 w.brehmfaHays County Commisrms.co m.
air Veteran g grades owned and ion operated TX 1810 oofusa.com
Kyle supports pipeline regulation resolution eatmen ts
BY CHRISTOPHER GREEN
raperies & Shutter s Kyle city leaders have reatmentsnow joined the Texas prices! Municipal League (TML) Norman & min approving a resolution ore. that aims to regulate uarantees an pipeline routing through d tallation. the state of Texas. Approval of the resolu847-8970 tion, completed by a 7-0 on & price qu ote vote at the Aug. 20 Kyle . deofwimberle y.cCity om Council meeting, was the result of TML officials approaching Kyle in its attempt to ask for more transparency in the pipeline routing process, said Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell. The resolution was
passed during a regular Kyle City Council meeting on Aug. 20. TML seeks to advocate on behalf of all cities in regard to pipeline routing. Mitchell said the resolution won’t have any effect on existing pipelines, but will bring awareness to people who oppose the pipeline approval process. Per the resolution, TML and those who support its resolution are vying for more regulatory process for pipeline
PIPELINE REGULATION, 6
PHOTOS BY MOSES LEOS III Above, Dripping Springs Tiger Brant Melton (center) competes at the 2019 Dripping Springs Invitational. Right, Tiger Maddie Livingston outpaces an opponent at the finish line of the invitational.
Tiger cross country takes gold at DS Invitational STAFF REPORT Gold medals were aplenty for the Dripping Springs Tiger cross country team as the boys and girls varsity and junior varsity squads all took first place at the annual Dripping Springs invitational meet Saturday at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. On the varsity girls side, junior Maddie Livingston used a late push
to outlast New Braunfels Kennady Fontenot to win gold by roughly a second. Tiger sophomore Karsten Bobb took third place while Ellie Hovre and Caroline Russey took sixth and eighth place, respectively. Meanwhile, Tiger junior Caleb Lopez raced past the field and won the varsity boys run by 21 seconds, defeating Tiger Kyler Myers, who took second.
DRIPPING SPRINGS VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY TIMES AT THE DRIPPING SPRINGS INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT BOYS
Caleb Lopez – 13:01.20 Kyler Myers – 13:22.10 Mason Simmons – 13:54.70 Weston Kirk – 13:59.40 Brant Melton – 14:07.50 Christopher Cohen – 14:22.40 Luke D’allesendro – 14:31.90 Shane Bookbinder – 14:46.20 Gage Groce – 14:53.80
GIRLS
Maddie Livingston – 15:23.30 Karsten Bobb – 15:39.50 Ellie Hovre – 16:09.20 Caroline Russey – 16:41.80 Kora Meyers – 16:45.80 Madison Tafoya – 16:47.20
Wimberley ISD approves 8% teacher pay raises STAFF REPORT An eight percent pay increase is the amount Wimberley ISD educators will see after board trustees unanimously approved the measure Aug. 22. All staff, teachers and administrators will obtain the pay increase, which was included in the district’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget, per a boost in funding from the state as part of House Bill 3. Texas lawmakers voted unanimously during the 86th Legislature in 2019 to approve HB 3, which overhauled the Texas school funding system and provided additional money to school districts, including a portion for employee raises and benefits.
Initially, the legislature proposed a one-time $5,000 bonus for teachers. However, lawmakers instead approved a set of guidelines for salary increases that gave district leaders an opportunity to award more sustainable pay raises to their employees. Wimberley ISD’s teacher salary schedule is based on the revised mid-point of $54,930. Initially, the legislature proposed a one-time $5,000 bonus for teachers. However, lawmakers instead approved a set of guidelines for salary increases that gave district leaders an opportunity to award more sustainable pay raises to their employees. “Since the bonus initially proposed by the legislature was only a one-time increase, working closely with the
board of trustees, we remained committed to a competitive pay raise based on the state funding and to assure that this was not a one-time pay raise but rather something that is sustainable,” said WISD superintendent Dwain York. Wimberley ISD’s teacher salary schedule is based on the revised mid-point of $54,930. According to a WISD press release, a WISD
teacher or nurse with 14 years or less of experience will have an annual salary increase of $4,394.40. Those teachers or nurses who have 15 to 30 years of experience will receive an annual salary increase ranging from $4,408.64 to $5,173.36. Per the release, WISD Chief Financial Officer Moises Santiago worked through the summer to recalculate the budget based on the new
funding and to formulate teacher increases before presenting the budget to trustees. “The WISD administrative team and the board of trustees are excited to offer this significant pay increase to such an incredibly deserving team,” York said. Cade and Lori Pharis, a couple who both work for WISD, celebrated the pay raises. "We're both excited about the pay raise and thrilled to be part of a school district that takes care of its employees,” Cade Pharis said in a statement. “It allows us to continue to live and support the community of Wimberley and keep working in education which we love.”