This list is not comprehensive.
Hays County plans for tax rate increase following road bond woes
Hays County residents may see an increase in their property taxes as the county works to find alternative funds for 30 road projects, defunded after a Travis County Court case overturned a 2024 road bond election.
The tax rate would be the same rate that was approved by voters as part of the November 2024 road bond election.
The details
Hays County Commissioners unanimously voted July 29 to publish a notice of intent to increase the tax rate by $0.02 per $100 assessed home value to fund most of the road projects included in the 2024 road bond, according to agenda documents.
In November 2024, 55% of Hays County residents voted in support of the $440 million road bond, which also included a $0.02 increase to the tax rate.
The court approved issuing $240 million in certificates of obligation—a separate funding mechanism from a bond that funds projects without voter approval—to fund the projects approved by voters in the 2024 bond.
See the full story here.
Hays County approves weather hazard plan
Hays County Commissioners approved the 2025 Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan during a July 8 meeting, as the area continues to grapple with severe weather events.
The breakdown
The plan aims to reduce the impacts of weather hazards on people and property through priority actions for the county, area cities and school districts to incorporate, such as structural reinforcement and installing additional weather monitoring systems.
Population growth and more frequent, violent weather events demonstrate a need to brace for impacts on people and property, the plan states. Judge Ruben Becerra said recent Central Texas floods highlighted the importance of hazard mitigation.
See the full story here.
Hays County, City of Kyle eye surveillance cameras
Hays County Commissioners and city of Kyle council members are working on plans to add surveillance security cameras to their law enforcement departments, but have faced mixed opinions from community members.
What’s happening?
Commissioners were set to amend a contract at a July 29 court meeting that would approve the purchase of additional automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, from security hardware company Flock Safety.
The approval was tabled after commissioners requested more time to consider public feedback concerns. During public comment, speakers voiced opposition over potential use by other government agencies, specifically Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
However, some commissioners and Hays County Sheriff's Office officials said the cameras would be useful for crime-solving needs.
What else?
City of Kyle council members discussed similar concerns at a July 16 meeting. Kyle City Council approved, in a 5-2 vote, to purchase surveillance towers if the police department receives funding from a local grant. The surveillance towers would be used for scenarios such as large-scale events and crowd monitoring, not ALPR uses, Kyle Police Department officials said. Still, community members said they are concerned about the targeting of protesters or undocumented individuals, as well as data sharing.
See the full Hays County story here and the city of Kyle story here.
