SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 TIGER TENNIS SHUTS OUT THE LIONS
5K RAISES $8K FOR BLUE SANTA PAGE 3
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News-Dispatch © Barton Publications, Inc.
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HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 43 • No. 1
Serving Hays County, TX
Dripping Springs approves $30.41 million budget BY MEGAN WEHRING DRIPPING SPRINGS – After months of deliberation, the Dripping Springs City Council approved a budget of over $30 million in expenses last week. On Tuesday, Sept. 21, the Dripping Springs City Council approved the fiscal year 2022-2023 operating budget of $30,414,062.84 in expenses and set the tax rate at 0.1778 per $100 assessed valuation. The property tax rate is a decrease from fiscal year 2021-2022, which was 0.1900 per $100 valuation. “Some of the additional budget dollars derived from Ad Valorem have come from new properties either built or annexed into the city which require additional services and expenditures by the city,” according to a city press release. The city’s budget includes funding for several projects and programs. The city has also committed $1,096,332 toward transportation improvements, $204,050 in street and right-ofway maintenance and street improvements – which brings a total of $1,994,089.99 in total transportation expenses, according to the budget documents. Over $548,000.00 in park improvements is slated to be completed
CHELSEA BIVENS
Teacher named award finalist STAFF REPORT
in FY 2023. This includes parking improvements and additional skate park funding at Founders Memorial Park, funding for future lighting improvements at Sports and Recreation Park, and construction of park wayfinding signage at Founders Memorial Park and Veterans Memorial
Park. The budget, for the first time, establishes a comprehensive Utility Fund which incorporates both wastewater and water operations. The adopted budget includes funding for numerous Capital Projects, including remodeling of City Hall (about
$500,000), rehabilitation of the Stephenson Building (about $210,000), Downtown Public Restrooms (about $200,000), and drainage improvements at the Dripping Springs Ranch Park (about $345,000). In the city’s general fund, revenue totals $13,987,117.22.
recognizes Austin area high school teachers who have demonstrated DRIPPING SPRINGS – A local teacher was named instructional expertise, classroom innovation, the a finalist for a statewide ability to cultivate their award. students’ love of learning Chelsea Bivens, and their ability for critical a science teacher at thinking, who expand Dripping Springs High their own knowledge School (DSHS), was in the liberal arts and named a 2022 Teaching sciences, and who share Excellence Award finalist their own classroom by the Phi Beta Kappa success for the benefit of Alumni Association of their colleagues. Greater Austin. Bivens, one of four The winning teacher, to be announced in October, finalists, is in her third year at DSHS and teaches will receive $2,500 with aquatic science. Other an additional $500 going finalists are McNeil High to the winner’s school School’s Erin Balfour, to be spent on a project Austin Waldorf School’s determined by the Deborah Mann and teacher. Pflugerville High School’s The Teaching Heidi Reich. Excellence Award
EDUCATION
WHS senior recognized BY MEGAN WEHRING
WIMBERLEY –John Moore, a senior at Wimberley High School (WHS), has been named a Commended Student in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Incoming WHS Principal Ryan Wilkes presented Moore with a certificate from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Moore is one of approximately 34,000 Commended Students across the nation and achieved recognition by scoring highly on
the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). In addition to a strong academic record at WHS, Moore has also excelled in extracurricular activities. He was a contributing member of the 4A State Champion Team Tennis squad (2021), finished as a state silver medalist in spring tennis (4A boys doubles, 2022), and received state silver and state bronze medals for his contributions to the UIL Current Issues and Social Studies teams in 2022.
SNODGRASS RECEIVES VISION AWARD, KEY TO CITY
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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Principal Ryan Wilkes, left, stands with recently recognized Commended Student, John Moore.
The News-Dispatch Barton Publications, Inc. The News-Dispatch (USPS 011-401) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323