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News-Dispatch
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Volume XXXVII No. 29 • Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982 • Thursday, April 27, 2017
Flippin’ for Founders Day
Limited spending highlights DSISD election BY MOSES LEOS III Limited spending on advertising has highlighted the campaigns of two Dripping Springs ISD incumbent trustees vying for reelection to the dais May 6. Trustee Barbara Stroud, a 13-year resident of Dripping Springs who has served as a board trustee since 2008, led the pack by spending $829 on her campaign,
PHOTOS BY MOSES LEOS III
A member of the Dripping Springs Camp Gladiator group performs a backflip for the crowd during last week’s Founders Day festival on Mercer Street. Thousands made their way to downtown Dripping Springs for the 30th annual Founders Day festival, which encompassed three days from April 21-23. The event featured the annual parade, along with a barbecue cook-off and rides from the Mighty Thomas Carnival. See more photos from the event, as well as this weekend’s Old Settler’s Fest and the EmilyAnn Butterfly Festival online at www.haysnewsdispatch.com.
DSISD, 2
Flushing tourism dollars
Founders Day by the numbers Over 200 vendor booths set up at the 2017 event 100+ volunteers helped with the event during the course of the weekend 98 teams competed in the BBQ Cook-Off 79 floats participated in the 2017 parade 90 floats participated in the 2016 parade
LAGNIAPPE Early voting
The clock is ticking for those registered to participate in the May 6 election. Early voting for elections in Hays County lasts until May 2. See a list of early voting locations at haysnewsdispatch.com.
Candidates forum
A Dripping Springs City Council candidate forum sponsored by the North Hays Republican Group and North Hays Republican Women will be held on Sunday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Church of the Springs, 230 Sports Park Road in Dripping Springs. Since this is a non-partisan election it will be open to the public and anyone who votes in the DS City Council election is welcome, as well as those who may be
LAGNIAPPE, 3
Future of groundwater districts in question BY MOSES LEOS III
A proposed house bill could call for five groundwater conservation districts (GCD) spread across Hays, Blanco, Burnet, Comal and Kendall Counties to merge into a single aquifer management entity. But concerns are rising that the legislation filed by State Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) has resurfaced debate over state versus local control. Isaac’s bill, HB 3677,
During a virtual town hall on Facebook, State Rep. Jason Isaac said the reason for the bill was to eliminate the “patchwork quilt” of districts that regulate groundwater in Central Texas and consolidate all those districts into one.
would create the Heart of Texas Aquifer District (HOTAD), which would span the five county area and include the Hays Trinity, Blanco-Pederna-
les, Comal Trinity, Cow reek and Central Texas Groundwater Conservation Districts. The bill would dissolve the five districts
and require they transfer their debts, assets and obligations to the HOTAD, which would have full GCD powers via Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code. GCDs unaffected by the legislation include Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer, Edwards Aquifer and Plum Creek. According to language in the bill, the HOTAD would have five directors appointed by the Hays, Blanco, Burnet, Kendall and Comal commissioners courts.
GROUNDWATER, 6
Bill would raise Habitat loan level STAFF REPORT A recently passed house bill could go a long way toward helping organizations such as Habitat for Humanity guide Texans toward homeownership. House Bill (1512), authored by Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs), increases the maximum amount of loans organizations such as Habitat can extend from $90,000 to $150,000. These loans are partially serviced by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs through the Bootstrap Loan Program and partially by other sources, which are often charitable grants. According to a press release, rising cost of living, property values and permitting costs are providing chal-
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
Volunteers work together to build a home at a 2016 Habitat for Humanity build in Wimberley.
lenges for nonprofit organizations to help Texans in need. “I’m excited to have passed this important piece of legislation,” said Isaac. “Habitat and nonprofit organizations like it provide an outstanding service to
Texans in need, helping them find a pathway out of poverty.” Amy Ledbetter Parham, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Texas, said home ownership has widely documented benefits for residents. Those in-
clude improved health and economic freedom, to more stable family livelihoods. “This bill will give more hard-working Texans a boost to buy their own homes. It’s good for them and great for the Texas economy, bringing communities all the benefits of solid neighborhoods,” Parham said. Isaac said his bill would help more low-income Texans forge a path toward home ownership. “I look forward to continuing to work on more ways to reduce regulations, fees and taxes to relieve the financial burdens on the hardworking people I serve.” The bill has been sent to the Texas Senate for consideration, where its companion was recently voted out of committee.
Study renews concerns on financial impact of bathroom bill BY ALEXA URA Texas Tribune
In the aftermath of one troubled study on the economic impact of a “bathroom bill” in Texas, San Antonio tourism officials are returning to the legislative debate with another dire financial outlook. Legislation viewed by many as discriminatory toward LGBT Texans — including proposals to regulate which bathrooms transgender individuals may use — could cost the state $3.3 billion in annual tourism and more than 35,600 full-time jobs associated with leisure travel
TOURISM THREATENED, 6
Water bills in the LEGE Where are they now? HB 4122
Author – Kyle Kacal (R-College Station) What: Bill would allow the owner of a parcel of land greater than 1,000 acres and included in the jurisdiction of two or more groundwater districts to petition to transfer their entire parcel of land into a single district. Status – In committee: HB 4122 went before the House Natural Resources Committee April 5, but has not made it’s way to the house floor. State Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping
WATER BILLS, 3