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Hays County is located in Central Texas. It was established in 1848. Our County Seat is San Marcos. Visit this
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To view the original notice, click here FILED HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS at 8:29 o'clock AM.
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS COMBINATION TAX AND REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on January 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at a regular meeting of the Commissioners Court of Hays County, Texas (the “Commissioners Court”), to be held at its regular meeting place in the Hays County Courthouse, Room 301, 111 E. San Antonio Street, San Marcos, Texas, the Commissioners Court intends to pass one or more orders authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $100,000,000 total principal amount of certificates of obligation, in one or more series (collectively, the “Certificates”), bearing interest at any rate or rates not to exceed the maximum interest rate authorized by law, as shall be determined within the discretion of the Commissioners Court at the time of issuance of the Certificates, and maturing over a period of not to exceed thirty (30)years from their date of issuance, for the purpose of paying contractual obligations to be incurred for all or any portion of the costs associated with (i) constructing, equipping, improving, extending,expanding, upgrading and/or developing a County administration building to be known as the East side Campus, including any necessary acquisition of land or interest in land in connection therewith,related drainage and utility costs, and other costs related thereto; (ii) acquiring, constructing,equipping, improving, renovating, extending, expanding, upgrading and/or developing animal shelter facilities, including any necessary land acquisition, related drainage and utility costs and other costs related thereto; (iii) remodeling, constructing, equipping, improving, renovating, extending,expanding, upgrading the existing Hays County Government Center; (iv) acquiring, constructing,equipping, improving, renovating, extending, expanding, upgrading and/or developing a Precinct 4office building, including any necessary land acquisition in connection therewith, related drainage and utility costs, and other costs related thereto; (v) acquiring, constructing, equipping, improving,renovating, extending, expanding, upgrading and/or developing a Precinct 5 office building, including any necessary land acquisition in connection therewith, related drainage and utility costs, and other costs related thereto; and (vi) professional services of attorneys, financial advisors, engineers and other professionals in connection with the foregoing purposes and the issuance of the Certificates.Said Certificates shall be payable from the levy of a direct and continuing ad valorem tax, levied within the limits prescribed by law, against all taxable property within the County sufficient to pay the interest on said Certificates as due and to provide for the payment of the principal thereof as the same matures, as authorized by Sub chapter C, Chapter 271, Texas Local Government Code, as amended, and from certain of the net revenues of the County's Solid Waste Management System. The estimated combined principal and interest required to pay the Certificates on time and in full is $184,959,875.00. Such estimate is provided for illustrative purposes only and is based on an assumed interest rate of 5.25%. Market conditions affecting interest rates vary based on numerous factors beyond the control of the County, and the County cannot provide any assurance regarding the rate of interest that the Certificates will bear upon their issuance. As of the date of this notice, the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt obligations of the County secured by and payable from ad valorem taxes is $635,108,993.00. Based on the County's expectations, as of the date of this notice, the combined principal and interest required to pay all of the outstanding debt obligations of the County secured by and payable from ad valorem taxes on time and in full is $923,048,745.64. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS November 18, 2025
News
SAN MARCOS , Texas – The office of Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced that 50-year-old Luis Rangel pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and was sentenced to 30 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on March 10, 2026. These sentences will run concurrently. This came one day after a jury was selected and moments before opening statements in the trial. Rangel was indicted in 2023 for sexually abusing his step-granddaughter from the ages of 7 to 12 years old shortly after her delayed outcry in 2022. Rangel entered a plea of guilty to three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child for acts alleged in 2014, 2017 and 2020. Because a guilty plea resolved the case, the child victim did not have to testify about the sexual abuse she experienced at a young age. The allegations Rangel pleaded to involve performing oral intercourse on the child while she slept. She was present for Rangel’s guilty plea and sentencing and spoke during allocution to the defendant about the trauma she continues to experience because of his actions. This case was investigated by the Austin Police Department and the San Marcos Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Cassidy Story and Daniel Sakaida, assisted by Sandra Groters, Avery Slocum, Zoie Sanders and Sergeant Investigator Robert Torres. “We want to thank the jury for dedicating their time,” Story said. “Without their willingness to serve, a plea agreement would not have been reached. I would also like to thank the victim for her bravery, and we hope that the closing of this chapter will open one that leads to continued healing with the assurance that this man finally paid for the long-term damage he has done.” # # #
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The office of Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced that on March 5, 2026, a Hays County jury returned a verdict of 25 years in prison for 73-year-old Rodger Wilder following his conviction by that same jury of aggravated assault against a family member. The offense occurred in December 2024 when, during a verbal argument with his wife of 44 years, Wilder became enraged and strangled her before shooting her four times with a .40 caliber handgun at close range. She was struck in the hip and abdomen by the gunshots. The evidence at trial showed that their son heard the shots and came downstairs to find Wilder standing over the victim with a gun in his hand. Wilder tried to claim that she had attempted to commit suicide. The son disarmed Wilder and locked him outside while calling 911. Officers and EMS responded and transported the victim to the hospital, where she received medical treatment and survived. During the punishment phase of the trial, the jury heard testimony about years of emotional, verbal and physical abuse by Wilder that the victim had been subjected to. Assistant District Attorneys Shea Umphrey and Ashley Indelicato prosecuted this case. ADA Umphrey stated: “The victim and her son showed extreme bravery and strength through their testimony. It is because of the son’s quick actions and determination that she is alive today. Domestic violence is unacceptable at any age. We will continue to hold offenders accountable who try to bully, intimidate, and harm others. We appreciate the care and dedication that our staff, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, and EMS took with this case to help bring the defendant to justice.” # # #
Wimberley, Texas — Hays County will host a public forum and educational event at 5 p.m. today, March 4, at the Wimberley Community Center to provide updates on Sentinel Peak Preserve and other parks and open space projects currently underway across the county. A panel will share the latest progress on Sentinel Peak Preserve, a 530-plus-acre property located just west of Wimberley. The preserve is slated to open to the public in 2027. “Sentinel Peak will serve as a Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat preserve and will also offer residents a unique riverfront park experience along a pristine one-mile stretch of the Blanco River,” said Hays County Parks & Natural Resources Director Karl Flocke. “We are designing this space to balance low-impact recreation with long-term environmental protection.” When completed, Sentinel Peak Preserve will feature opportunities for swimming and hiking, a nature center, a small event space, and County offices. The project is part of the broader 2020 Parks and Open Spaces Bond program, which funds park improvements and land conservation initiatives across Hays County. Potential project sites were initially recommended by partnering cities and nonprofit organizations, then evaluated and ranked by the citizen-led Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Commission. Each project has also benefited from extensive stakeholder input, including guidance from the Watershed Association, The Nature Conservancy, Hill Country Conservancy, the Great Springs Project, neighbors, and others who participated in community discussions such as the 2024 Capes Pond open house. “These projects increase access to nature-based recreation throughout the county,” Flocke said. “Visitors will see benefits like new and expanded trails, greater connectivity, and additional opportunities for swimming and fishing — an important addition since swimming at Jacob’s Well has not been possible since 2022 due to low water levels.” The director emphasized that all projects reflect the County’s long-term vision of pairing recreational access with responsible resource stewardship. “Our goal is to ensure residents can enjoy the county’s natural landscapes without detracting from the beauty and ecological value of the environment,” he said. Precinct 3 Commissioner Morgan Hammer added, “Sentinel Peak Preserve represents a major step forward in expanding access to nature while honoring our responsibility to protect Hays County’s most sensitive natural resources. Community input has shaped every stage of these projects, and we’re excited to share the progress with residents. The work being done today will ensure that families can enjoy these spaces for generations to come.” Residents can learn more about Sentinel Peak Preserve, other ongoing projects, and bond-funded initiatives by visiting the Hays County Parks Bond website at www.haysparksbond.com. ###
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