Burnet County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Burnet County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New EMS Provider Authorization
The county approved Lonestar Faith, LLC to operate as a new emergency medical services provider.
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.
County Fleet Policy
Officials debated the rules for assigning take-home vehicles and reviewed risk management strategies like driving record checks and remedial training.
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.
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.
State Law Enforcement Grants
Burnet County applied for state grants through SB22 to boost funding for the Sheriff's Office, County Attorney, and District Attorney without needing local matching funds.
Development Standards Update
Granite Shoals is tightening up construction rules with stricter drainage and driveway standards. If you're planning to build or clear land soon, expect higher project costs and extra permit hurdles.
Water Infrastructure Upgrade
Granite Shoals is chasing a $7 million state grant to fix old water lines and put in new fire hydrants on the east side. If they get the money, it'll majorly upgrade the neighborhood's water system and safety without touching local tax dollars.
Creation of Chapter 54 Magistrate Board
The county created a new Magistrate Advisory Board to help set charges, responsibilities, and compensation for magistrates.
County Road Pavement Condition Assessment
The county is initiating a high-tech assessment of up to 120 miles of local roadways to gather engineering data for future infrastructure repairs.
Mixed-use Development
A massive $28.2 million mixed-use project called 'The Highlands' is officially breaking ground in Marble Falls this September. The development will bring hundreds of new homes and commercial spaces, shaking up the local landscape and putting pressure on nearby schools and traffic.
Flood Recovery and Recognition
Burnet residents are picking up the pieces after recent floods wiped out homes, sparking a push for better city infrastructure and smarter flood policies. It’s a wake-up call that our current defenses aren't cutting it and need a serious upgrade to keep our neighborhoods safe.
Code Enforcement
Burnet County flood victims are getting hit with code violation fines while they're still trying to rebuild their homes. It’s a frustrating clash between city bureaucracy and people just trying to get back on their feet after a disaster.
Burnet CISD $135 Million Bond Proposal
Burnet CISD is asking voters to approve a $135 million bond on May 2 to build a new middle school, expand an elementary school, and handle district growth without raising the total tax rate.
County Legal Representation Restructuring
Burnet County is shifting its legal setup by hiring the County Attorney's staff for day-to-day work while keeping outside law firms for big legal fights.
Disaster Recovery Funding
Burnet County is dropping $4.4 million to buy out homes wrecked by last year’s floods. It’s a huge win for residents looking to finally cash out and move on from the disaster.
Jail Fire Panel Upgrade Re-bidding
The court canceled a previous bid award for the jail fire panel upgrade because the technology was obsolete and authorized rewriting specifications for a new re-bid.
Emergency Communications Staffing and Recognition
County officials recognized local emergency dispatchers with a Telecommunicator's Week proclamation while highlighting ongoing staffing shortages and high call volumes across county dispatch centers.
Infrastructure Opposition
Burnet County and city officials are pushing back against a state-planned power line project that threatens to cut through local land. It’s a classic battle over who gets to decide how our community looks and grows.
Council Vacancy and Special Election
Burnet has an open City Council seat to fill, which means taxpayers are on the hook to fund a special election. It's a quick chance for new leadership, but it also means the city has to spend extra cash to make it happen.
Boil Water Notice
Heads up, Bertram residents—your tap water isn't safe right now, so you'll need to boil it before drinking or cooking until city officials give the all-clear. Keep an eye on local updates for when things return to normal.
Municipal Incorporation
A legal battle to block a new city from forming in Burnet County just hit a dead end, giving the green light for the municipality to officially move forward. This clears the way for local residents to start setting up their own city government and services.