Burnet County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Burnet County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Wirtz Dam Bridge PEC Utility Re-Engineering
TxDOT will handle utility relocations using $10 million in federal funding, keeping the 2029 letting timeline on track and saving the county contractor costs.
Outdoor warning sirens and flood gauges (Senate Bill 3)
The county's plan covers seven sirens and five gauges, concentrated in southern population centers, leaving northern precincts uncovered. Commissioner Beierle pushed successfully to add three northern sirens, raising the state ask to roughly $1.6 million.
CR 337 and CR 340 low-water crossings
Engineering is done and the projects go out to bid, replacing crossings that washed out after FEMA only paid to restore them as-is; the county will later seek partial FEMA reimbursement.
New county office building at 110 CR 250
To move the tax office out of the courthouse for renovation, the county is weighing a site-built office building over another portable — but took no action pending the facilities master plan.
IT Procurement and Cybersecurity Standards
A six-month effort to buy AI-driven network security software stalled over an unfinalized lease agreement, questions about the building-reserve funding source, and complaints that vendor selection wasn't competitive.
County homestead tax exemption request
A resident asked the court to consider offering a county homestead or over-65 exemption, which Burnet County currently does not provide.
Agate Road acceptance as CR 425A
More than half the Quail Creek landowners petitioned for the county to take over and eventually pave their 400-foot connector road; the court accepted it with a variance from the main-artery rule.
Reinstatement of County Burn Ban
Fire activity has slowed and rain is forecast, so the court debated lifting the ban now versus waiting. No action was taken; the judge can lift it unilaterally but only the court can reinstate it.
Waste Management Transition
Burnet County is switching trash and recycling providers to Texas Disposal Systems starting November 2. You'll get brand new carts delivered and need to leave your old ones at the curb next week so the city can haul them away.
Water Infrastructure Construction
Bertram is making major progress on a $3.43 million water tower and a $2.3 million lift station visible along Highway 29. These upgrades are designed to give the city's growing water and sewer systems a massive boost.
Park Curfew and Boat Launch Access
Cottonwood Shores just updated its park rules to allow 24/7 boat launching and fishing at the Lakeview Drive dock. Night owls and early birds can now access the water whenever they want without worrying about curfews.
Police Chief Appointment
Horseshoe Bay finally has a new top cop after naming Paul Nelson as police chief following a months-long search. City council officially greenlit the appointment, wrapping up the extensive recruitment process.
Rural Ambulance Grant Procurement
The county approved purchasing a new ambulance entirely funded by state grant money, which will be operated by the City of Burnet.
Low-Water Crossing Engineering Work Order on CR 403
Commissioners will consider approving an engineering work order for hydraulics and design at a low-water crossing on CR 403 at Flat Rock Creek to improve safety during heavy rains.
CAMPO Regional Transportation Plan & Committee Appointments
CAPCOG and CAMPO presented a draft long-range transportation plan for Burnet County, outlining 80 proposed projects and gathering public input on road safety, capacity, and right-of-way preservation.
FY27 County Budget and Departmental Appropriations
Burnet County officials finalized and adopted the $190,000-reduced FY27 budget after debating line items and reclassifications. Elected officials raised questions about fairness in funding staff positions across different county offices.
Affordable Housing Guidelines
Marble Falls just made it way harder to build affordable housing by forcing future projects to jump through City Council hoops and chip in for local services. If you're hoping to see more reasonably priced homes built around town, get ready for tougher rules and slower approvals.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Marble Falls cut an odor control system and scaled back parts of its new wastewater plant to fight rising construction costs, while the city council threw in an extra $88,000. Thankfully, the project's timeline is safe and they are using existing backup cash instead of asking taxpayers for new money.
Park Improvements
Marble Falls just locked in a $750,000 state grant to revamp Westside Park. Expect construction soon on a brand-new inclusive playground, covered basketball courts, and upgraded walking trails.
Permitting System and Fee Updates
Horseshoe Bay is moving its permitting online to make things easier, but it's going to cost you more. Short-term rental permits are doubling to $1,200, and building fees are switching to a square-footage model.
Deer Management Program
Granite Shoals is adding deer trapping to its wildlife control program in tight spots where bow hunting won't work. The police department is running the show, and all the captured meat gets processed and donated to charity.
Golf Course Fee Increases
Going for a round at the city-owned Delaware Springs golf course is about to cost a buck or two more starting October 1st. The Burnet City Council just approved small bumps to twilight and private cart fees to squeeze a bit more revenue out of the links.
Infrastructure Development
The $7.5 million Hidden Falls Golf Club renovation is moving right along and set to open in 2027. Since this project is backed by a bond you voted for, plan on seeing that $100 annual bump on your property tax bill.
FY27 Indigent Defense Grants and Regional Contracts
The county is considering accepting over $1.7 million in state grants for the regional public defender's office and renewing various jail housing and task force agreements.
Subdivision and Replat Requests
Residents in Quail Creek Subdivision petitioned the county to take over maintenance of Agate Road and rename it CR 425A, requiring a public hearing and a variance on road standards.
FY27 Property Tax Rate Adoption
Burnet County commissioners adopted a property tax rate of $0.3541 per $100 valuation, resulting in an 8.07% increase that raises taxes on median homestead properties despite resident pushback.
Tourism Promotion and Holiday Lighting Contracts
The county is distributing hotel/tax occupancy funds to local chambers of commerce for tourism promotion and approving a contract for holiday lighting.
Police Chief Search
Horseshoe Bay is close to wrapping up its months-long search for a new police chief, having narrowed the field down to five finalists. Assistant Chief Paul Nelson is keeping things running smoothly in the meantime, with a final decision expected by November.
Utility Rates
Burnet just approved a yearly 3% rate hike on your water, sewer, and electric bills starting this October and lasting until 2031 to pay for fixing up local infrastructure. Expect your monthly utility bills to slowly creep up every year for the next several years.
Election Security
A local resident urged the court to abandon electronic voting machines and return to hand-counted paper ballots due to concerns over foreign interference and software vulnerabilities.
Comprehensive Plan Update
Horseshoe Bay is hosting its first town hall in ten years to map out the city's growth through 2047. It's your chance to tell local leaders how you want your neighborhood and tax dollars managed over the next few decades.
Air Quality Permit
Huber Carbonates' Marble Falls quarry is moving closer to getting a state air quality permit that allows for increased dust production. Local leaders are pushing back over health concerns, and residents have until September 21 to demand a hearing.
Teacher Hiring Policy
Marble Falls ISD is pushing back hard against a state proposal to ban H-1B visa teachers, warning it will only worsen the local teacher shortage. This clash highlights the heavy reliance on international educators to keep classrooms staffed and support diverse student populations in our area.
Boat Launch Ordinance
Granite Shoals just tightened the rules on its boat ramps, capping households at two free annual passes and locking every permit to a specific vehicle. If you're a local who likes to hit the water often, you'll need to make sure your paperwork matches your ride to avoid hassles.
Sheriff's Office Radio and Equipment Upgrades
The county approved budget transfers and a 5-year subscription for cloud server storage for body and in-car cameras for the Sheriff's Office.
New EMS Provider Authorization
The county approved Lonestar Faith, LLC to operate as a new emergency medical services provider.
School Staffing Policy
Marble Falls' super is fighting a proposed state ban on H-1B visa teachers because the district desperately needs them to teach its huge bilingual student population. If this ban goes through, it's going to be a major scramble to find qualified educators for kids who need language support.
Legal Fee Increases for Transmission Line and General Counsel
The county increased purchase order limits for outside legal counsel representing the county on the 765kV transmission line and general matters.
County Employee Health and Wellness Promotion
The county adopted a resolution to promote employee health with support from wellness coordinators and local fitness groups.
Interlocal Agreements and Road Improvements
Quail Creek landowners petitioned to have their chip-sealed road taken into the county system and paved to county standard; the court said yes with a variance.
Sheriff's Office Technology and Cloud Storage Migration
The Commissioners Court will evaluate whether to continue with Google Workspace or transition all county email and collaboration tools to Microsoft 365, impacting administrative efficiency and county IT costs.
Water System Upgrade
Cottonwood Shores is dropping $6.5 million on a major water system upgrade to fix low pressure and boost firefighting power. Combined with new digital meters, you'll see fewer annoying outages and faster leak detection at home.
School District Accountability
Burnet Middle School just tanked its state rating with an 'F,' joining three other local elementary schools that are already struggling. The district is scrambling to roll out a major overhaul this November to fix the academic slide.
Elected Officials Cost of Living Adjustment
The court discussed proposed salaries for appointed positions such as the Chief Public Defender, Elections Administrator, and Chief Magistrate, as well as removing appointed roles from the standard Step & Grade classification system. Decisions here affect leadership retention and personnel management.
County Fleet Policy
Officials debated the rules for assigning take-home vehicles and reviewed risk management strategies like driving record checks and remedial training.
Justice of the Peace Clerk Reclassification
Justices of the Peace and department heads advocated for employee reclassifications and step-and-grade adjustments to maintain fair pay, while commissioners debated the broader ripple effects on county salary structures.
Grant Funding for District Attorney and Auto Theft Task Force
The county accepted significant state grant awards, including up to $400,000 for the District Attorney's capital murder case costs with no local match required, and over $930,000 combined for automotive crime prevention task forces requiring local matching funds.
Comprehensive Planning
Granite Shoals is hosting a town hall this Wednesday to gather public input on future city growth and development. If you want a say in how your neighborhood handles infrastructure and expansion, this is your chance to speak up.
Water Infrastructure Expansion
Marble Falls is putting up a brand new water tower to keep up with the massive Roper Ranch East development, making sure your home's water pressure doesn't drop as hundreds of new houses and shops pop up.
Wildfire Response
A 300-acre brush fire in Bertram scorched land and destroyed a barn, but luckily spared any houses. It's a loud wake-up call for everyone to pay attention to local burn bans and fire safety alerts.