New wellpumping rules in the zone
Tigers top Coogs in wild shootout
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Texans take down Hawks 45-7
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXIX No. 49
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
page 4
75¢
Thursday, September 19, 2019
County passes $383M budget, adopts tax rate BY ANITA MILLER
The Hays County Commissioners Court passed its FY 2020 budget on Tuesday after making several changes including adding $95,000 in funding for social service agencies. But the most conten-
tious change was moving the position of Chief of Staff currently held by Alex Villalobos. By a vote of 3 to 2, the position from the office of the county judge to countywide. Villalobos, who was not present in court, was challenged by Pct. 4
Commissioner Walt Smith and Pct. 3 Commissioner Lon Shell, both Republicans, as answering only to County Judge Ruben Becerra, a Democrat. They also expressed concerns over perceived conflicts of interest because he also serves as a Kyle City
Council member. Becerra and Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, also a Democrat, both voiced concerns the decision was being made without input from Villalobos.
COUNTY BUDGET, 4
This budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by an amount of $4,698,033, which is a 5.90% increase from last year’s budget.
Hays Co. officials getting pay boost of 5%
Cite and Divert
Policy targets low-level offenders BY ANITA MILLER Hays County’s consideration of “cite and divert” policies governing low-level criminal offenses will bring together the Commissioners Court and the San Marcos City Council on Sept. 30 for a presentation by an advocate of Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (L.E.A.D.). The presentation will be given by a former police chief from Albany. It is expected to last about 30 minutes, and will be at 3 p.m. The presentation will be streamed and archived for those who are interested but unable to attend. L.E.A.D. was instituted as a pilot program in Seattle in 2011, and promotes a diversion strategy for low-level offenders that gives them an opportunity to have the offense not appear on their criminal record. Those who do not successfully complete the program would still face arrest and trial. According to Jordan Buckley of the Mano Amigo organization – which has pushed for such a policy to be implemented in Hays County – the presentation should “dovetail well” with the outline of a program presented recently to the Hays County Criminal Justice Commission. In addition to low-level possession of marijuana (four ounces or less) qualifying offenses would include criminal mischief $100 to $749; graffiti $100 to $2,449; theft, $100 to $749;
CITE AND DIVERT, 2
Wings Over Wimberley
BY ANITA MILLER
PHOTOS BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
In what is sure to become an annual event, Wimberley residents and visitors celebrated bats over the weekend with Wings Over Wimberley. Music, vendors and educational booths attracted the interest of attendees.
Speed limit reduction proposed for a safer Old Kyle Road BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
In an attempt to plan for the next 20 years, Wimberley community planners have recommended new sidewalks
and pedestrian walkways for Old Kyle Road. The current comprehensive plan is set to expire in 2022, which is the reason the Wimberley Downtown District
LAGNIAPPE
Fifty Year Reflections on Apollo at LBJ Museum
The public is invited to meet the man responsible for first moon landings on at 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum of San Marcos, 131 N. Guadalupe Street. Dr. George W.S. Abbey, former director of the Johnson Space Center and a key figure in the first flight to the Moon, will be the distinguished speaker on “Fifty Year Reflections on Apollo” at the Fall Lecture for the Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum. A reception will be held at 6 p.m. and Abbey’s talk will begin at 7 p.m. on how the United States achieved the first moon landing in history, 50 years ago on July 16, 1969.
Committee and the Wimberley Comprehensive Committee met to make recommendations to outline downtown Wimberley. Theresa Shell, of the
Downtown Wimberley District Committee, said her committee’s goal is pedestrian safety, adequate parking
Chapel in the Hills 70th Anniversary
OLD KYLE ROAD, 6
On Sept. 22, Chapel in the Hills will celebrate 70 years of ministry to residents of the Wimberley Valley. The first service was held on the Wimberley Square on Sept. 25, 1949. Activities will begin at 10:30 a.m. on the church lawn and will include opening of the cornerstone. This will be followed by a celebration service at 11 a.m. and by a covered dish luncheon. Members, former members and the community are invited to join in and learn about the rich history of the Chapel and its members over the years. For more information call the church office at (512) 847-9762.
With the exception of the county judge and commissioners, Hays County’s elected officials will be getting a pay raise of five percent according to the FY 2020 budget approved Tuesday by the commissioners court. The budget also brings the salaries of constables in precincts 2 and 5 into line with those of other precincts. Additionally, the county’s five justices of the peace get an adjustment of $9,800 in addition to the five percent due to their magistration allowance being included in the base salary. The budget passed by a vote of 5 to 0 following a public hearing Tuesday. Two people expressed their concerns ahead of the vote. County Judge Ruben Becerra, who also receives $25,200 annually for magistration duties funded by the state of Texas, will receive a salary of $88,505 and a travel allowance of $15,000 for compensation totaling $103,505 from Hays County, plus the state’s $25,202. Commissioners receive a base salary of $82,151 and travel allowance of $15,000 each. Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe also gets a longevity adjustment of $1,595. Commissioner Pct. 2 Mark Jones and Pct. 3 Lon Shell get longevity adjustments of $480. With travel allowance and longevity adjustments figured in, Gonzales Ingalsbe will take home $98,746; Jones and Shell will get $97,631 and Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith will receive $97,151. Sheriff Gary Cutler, who is the county’s highest-paid official, earns a base salary of $110,664, a longevity adjustment of $490 and a phone allowance of $420 for a total package of $111,574. Tax Assessor-Collector Jenifer O’Kane’s base salary is $95,610. She also gets a longevity adjustment of $500, a travel allowance of $3,306 and a phone allowance of $420 for total compensation equalling $99,836. Others are as follows: • County Treasurer Britney Bolton Richey: Base salary $83,484; longevity allowance $1,735; travel allowance $3,064; total package $88,283. • District Clerk Beverly Crumley: Base salary $87,488; longevity allowance $1,590; travel allowance $3,064; total package $92,142. • County Clerk Elaine
COUNTY PAY RAISES, 2