OCTOBER 5, 2022 DS PUMPKIN FESTIVAL WELCOMES FAMILIES
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HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 43 • No. 2
Serving Hays County, TX
DOG DAYS
Suds Monkey Brewing hosts second annual Dachshund Dash BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN DRIPPING SPRINGS — Suds Monkey Brewing concluded its Sudstoberfest on Sunday by hosting its second annual Dachshund Dash, partnering with Central Texas Dachshund Rescue (CTDR). All of the race entry fees directly benefitted CTDR to rehabilitate and rehome dachshunds in need. CTDR sold adult shirts for $20 and kids shirts for $15. Attendees could also adopt dogs during the event. There was a Doggo Photo Booth, courtesy of sponsor Lang Canine Obedience. Another event sponsor, Kate’s Soft Serve truck, served soft serve ice cream in three flavors: vanilla, chocolate and twist, including free Pup Cones. It also sold various toppings, including rainbow sprinkles, chocolate dip, hot caramel and hot fudge. Kate’s Soft Serve truck was also selling Root Beer Floats and waters. Firehouse Animal Health Center and Wondercide were additional sponsors of the event. Wondercide products like
PHOTOS BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
Costume Contest participants. hypoallergenic shampoo, insect repellent and flea and tick spray were a part of a prize basket. There was a costume contest between races, where dogs were dressed in costumes such as a shark, a hot dog, corn on the cob, a witch, a pumpkin, and Batman. The first place costume contest winner was Aoife, dressed as a corn dog. The second-place winner was BeeBee, who dressed as a witch. If you would like to donate to the nonprofit organization visit https:// www.ctdr.org/info/.
Izzy the dog wears a sombrero and colorful poncho for the costume contest.
Wiener dog Waldo sits and smiles in the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile.
Hays County resident Debbie McGinnis’ dog, JoJo, dressed as a Dallas Cowgirl.
DS woman found guilty for fraud WISD teacher arrested for
STAFF REPORT
Court documents and evidence presented DRIPPING SPRINGS — at trial showed that A federal jury has found a Josephine Perez-Gorda, Dripping Springs woman 39, defrauded the VA and SSA by overstating the guilty for defrauding the severity and extent of Veterans Administration her spouse Justin Perezand Social Security Gorda’s disability from Administration of over October 2011 through $300,000. August 2017. Mr. Perez, who died in January 2022, was an Army veteran who participated in the fraud. The couple claimed he was paralyzed from the waist down from an injury he suffered while on active duty, and applied for and received a specially equipped vehicle, specially adapted home and additional compensation based
on his disability rating. The investigation began after KENS 5 ran a news story in 2015 titled “Homes for Our Troops Questions Veteran’s Paralysis after Video.” The story involved the Perez’s specially adapted house in Dripping Springs that was gifted to them by non-profit foundation Homes for Our Troops in December 2013. VA Office of Inspector General agents videotaped Mr. Perez walking around his neighborhood without assistance and he was seen playing basketball. KENS 5 reporters also videotaped Mr. Perez carrying lumber in his garage. Mrs. Perez was found guilty of 11 counts of wire fraud, one count of
mail fraud, one count of healthcare fraud, three counts of false statements related to a healthcare matter, one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, and one count of theft of government funds. Sentencing is set for Dec. 20, 2022. She faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud and mail fraud charges, up to 10 years in prison on each of the healthcare fraud charges and theft of government funds charge, and up to five years in prison on each of the false statements related to a healthcare matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Surovic and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Miller are prosecuting the case.
inappropriate conduct STAFF REPORT
WIMBERLEY – A Wimberley ISD teacher was arrested and charged with assault, offensive contact. David Schachter, 53, was booked into the Hays County Jail and released on Wednesday, Sept. 28, according to court records. Schachter was charged with assault (offensive contact), which is a Class C misdemeanor, and he pleaded not guilty. Schachter started working for WISD in August earlier this year. “Schachter was immediately placed on administrative leave in early September when the district learned of allegations of inappropriate conduct,” the
David Schachter district said in a statement. “He has since resigned his position and is no longer working in the district. WISD has worked in cooperation with local law enforcement throughout the investigation process.” A pre-trial conference is set for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
DSISD board approves lower tax rate BY MEGAN WEHRING
DRIPPING SPRINGS – Dripping Springs ISD will have a lower tax rate. At the Sept. 26 meeting, the DSISD Board of Trustees approved the annual tax rate. The newly adopted 2022 rate is $1.2929 per $100 of certified property value. The adopted rate represents a $1.74-cent decrease from the 2021-22 rate, which is the fourth consecutive year that DSISD has decreased its tax rate. Over the four-year span,
DSISD’s tax rate has decreased by a total of 22.71 cents. The total tax rate of $1.2929 is comprised of two parts: $0.9429 for Maintenance and Operations and $0.35 for Interest and Sinking. The Maintenance and Operations (M&O) portion covers district operating costs such as salaries and benefits, utility bills, and supplies, and is subject to recapture. The Interest and Sinking (I&S) rate generates revenue that can only be used to pay off debt. Property tax bills are a product of the tax rate and the property
DRIPPING SPRINGS SHUTS OUT RIVAL BUDA JOHNSON
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value. Therefore, property owners’ tax bills may increase even though the tax rate has decreased, according to DSISD. School district taxes are frozen for citizens who are 65 and older, have a general homestead exemption, and have taken steps with the Hays or Travis County Appraisal District to claim the additional exemption. Based on state funding formulas for public schools in Texas, school districts that are classified as having revenue in excess of entitlement (under
Chapter 48 of the Texas Education Code) cannot keep the increased revenue associated with higher property values. State funding formulas are tied to property values so these districts must send more money back to the state in a process commonly referred to as recapture. For 2021-22, DSISD owed $11,200,000 to the state in recapture and estimates it will send approximately $20 million back to the state for the 2022-2023 school year, an increase of more than 78%.
The News-Dispatch Barton Publications, Inc. The News-Dispatch (USPS 011-401) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323