NOVEMBER 2, 2022 CHAMBER HEARS ROAD BOND PRESENTATION
TOBIAS SHARES LIFE BEHIND THE DAIS
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Hays Free Press
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HaysFreePress.com
Vol. 128 • No. 34
Serving Hays County, TX
Hays County Judge questions tax liens Documents show $1.2 million owed
BY: BRITTANY ANDERSON
BY: BRITTANY ANDERSON
HAYS COUNTY — Property owned by Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra is subject to tax liens against more than $1.2 million in back taxes, according to information obtained by the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch. Federal documents, filed with the Hays County Clerk’s Office, suggest Judge Becerra, his wife Monica, or both, face tax liens from 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, totaling
$1,212,686.44. A federal tax lien is filed by the IRS as the government’s legal claim against a person’s property when they neglect or fail to pay a tax debt. IRS liens are valid for 10 years plus 30 days after being assessed. Judge Becerra, who is running for re-election, says the claims and documents that he and his wife owe back taxes are erroneous, and posted personal returns for tax
years 2016, 2017 and 2021 to his campaign website at www.judgebecerra.org/ transparency. “We have not seen these tax lien documents before, we do not owe this amount, and we have no taxable connection to the address listed in the document,” he posted on his campaign website. However, the addresses listed on the tax liens are the addresses of the Becerras’ business
County commissioner fined by Texas Ethics Commission Two Election Code violations found
and home, according to information accessed through the Hays County Central Appraisal District. Representatives from the clerk’s office said that the office does not check the legality or validity of documents such as liens when they are recorded, only that they meet the recording requirements of being original, signed and notarized.
See JUDGE, page 4
HAYS COUNTY — The Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) has fined Hays County Pct. 2 commissioner Mark Jones $500 for two campaign violations. The TEC found credible evidence of violations of Sections 253.031 and 254.063 of the Election Code. Jones, who is running for Hays County Judge, told the Hays Free Press/ News-Dispatch that he acknowledged the errors but noted that this is the only violation in the many years that he has held office. According to the TEC, Jones filed the January 2021 semiannual campaign finance report late on July 25, 2022. The report was due Jan. 15, 2021, thus
violating Section 254.063 of the Code. The report disclosed $0 in total political contributions and $0 in total political expenditures. In response, Jones swore that at the time the report was due, he was working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and forgot to file. In addition, the charges state that Jones failed to file an amended campaign treasurer appointment, accepted political contributions and made political expenditures when a campaign treasurer appointment was not in effect. This was based on Jones’ January 2022 semiannual campaign finance report, filed Jan. 14, 2022, in
See COUNTY, page 3
Buda PD issues warrant after vehicle almost hits children BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
The former Jack’s Axes building being demolished on Oct. 25 after a January 2022 fire destroyed it. The city purchased this property in July, but Papa Jack’s next door – which was also destroyed — remains under its original ownership.
Burnt downtown building demolished Future plans to be decided
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON next door to Jack's Axes, KYLE — A little over nine months after a fire destroyed two local downtown Kyle businesses, progress is starting to be made on cleaning up the area and preparing for something new. Shortly before 2 a.m. on Jan. 27, the Kyle Fire Department responded to a fire that had broken out at Papa Jack’s on Center Street and spread
an ax throwing business that had not yet opened. Although there were no injuries, both businesses were a complete loss. The Hays County Fire Marshal concluded the investigation shortly after, ruling it purely accidental. The city of Kyle purchased Jack’s Axes during a special city council meeting held on Saturday, July 23. Demolition on the building began on Oct. 25 and crews worked for
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several days. A project page can be viewed at www.cityofkyle. com/publicworks/110w-center-street, where more information will be released as plans progress. City representatives say that the city council is “looking to redevelop the building in line with the Kyle Downtown Master Plan,” which has been in development since earlier this year. The Downtown Master Plan
See BURNT, page 2
press release, an investigation found that the suspect did drive on BUDA — The Buda the park grounds with Police Department has youth present. As Buda issued an arrest warrant police took statements, for “endangerment of the officers were a child” after a vehicle dispatched to a “high almost hit children playing at a local park last priority, in progress” call. “We care about all of weekend. The suspect our citizens, particularly was notified of the our youth. Driving onto warrant, instructing him park grounds could to turn himself in within endanger the youth who 24 hours. were in the park, and that After Luke Perry is unacceptable,” said dropped off his son at Buda Police Chief Bo Stoneridge Park in Buda early Saturday afternoon Kidd in the press release. About an hour and 45 to play basketball with minutes later, and after four or five of his friends, a second 911 call by he went home. About Perry, Lopasky and his half an hour later, his supervisor pulled up to son frantically called him when a black Dually the scene of the incident truck drove into the park, and told Perry he was abusing police resources, across the basketball making false claims and court and to the fencing, disturbing the peace. seemingly chasing the A piece of video boys. footage shows Lopasky “He was a little bit and his supervisor, panicked,” Perry said. “He said, ‘somebody was Sgt. Bill Kuykendall, explaining the incident. in a giant monster truck “He could’ve killed facing us in the park, he your son, but he didn’t,” drove over the basketball Lopasky said. “By the court trying to run us time I first got out here over.’” Perry said it took about that incident was done. In your mind this is still 20 minutes for 911 to happening, in reality, this respond. ended like an hour ago.” When responding Perry also posted officer Casey Lopasky Ring doorbell footage arrived at the scene, on Facebook of two of Perry described him the other boys that were as “very nonchalant.” trying to get away from After about five minutes the vehicle. of being on the scene, “One of the boys Lopasky told him he had to respond to another call lives on the other side of fencing adjacent to and left. According to an Oct. 31 Buda Police Department See BUDA, page 4
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