Burnet County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Burnet County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
FY27 Budget and Public Hearing
The county is moving forward with the budget process for the next fiscal year, setting a public hearing for September 8 to discuss tax rates, salaries, and departmental spending.
Emergency Management Leadership
Deadly flash flooding is tearing through Burnet and Travis counties, leaving at least six people dead. Keep a close eye on local alerts and avoid any closed roads while crews handle the emergency.