Burnet County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Burnet County reinstates burn ban, approves library equipment and election judges

The Burnet County Commissioners Court reinstated a burn ban for unincorporated areas at its July 28 regular session, the most consequential action taken in the past two weeks. The court also approved library equipment, election judge appointments, personnel changes, and IT purchases across two special and one regular session.

Burn ban reinstated

The court voted 5-0 to reinstate a burn ban for unincorporated areas, effective 12:00 p.m. on July 28, 2026. The ban applies to all unincorporated parts of the county.

Library equipment and election judges (July 27 special session)

At its July 27 special session, the court approved the purchase of a meeting room pod for the Herman Brown Free Library using TSLAC LIFI Grant Funds, not to exceed $42,495.25, in a 5-0 vote. It also appointed election judges for the 2026-2027 Burnet County elections (5-0) and approved out-of-state travel for Elections Administrator Stephanie Cooper to attend the 41st National Elections Conference, not to exceed $1,500 (5-0).

The court took no action on the Burnet County Budget Policy and Fleet Policies, nor on the FY27 proposed budget for listed departments.

Other actions from July 28 regular session

The court approved several administrative items, all by 5-0 votes unless noted:

• Title VI Compliance Nondiscrimination documents for TxDOT grant compliance.
• Reclassification of IT Software Support to Project Manager and Government Compliance Coordinator, not to exceed $1,200 for FY26.
• Appointments to the CARTPO Board: Judge Bryan Wilson, and reappointments of Commissioner Joe Don Dockery and Councilman Richard Westerman.
• Creation of a Magistrate Board and its charter.
• Final plat for Solomon Subdivision (4-0, one abstention).
• Increase of the Treasurer's Assistant Chief Deputy from Step 3 to Step 4.
• Purchase of 20 desktops/monitors (up to $3,600 each), 2 laptops/docking stations (up to $3,550 each), and 7 Toughbooks (up to $5,000 each).

Items on the agenda for Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 special sessions

The court held special sessions on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6; minutes have not yet been published. According to the agendas, the court will consider or discussed the following:

• Aug. 5: A proposed burn ban for unincorporated areas (note: a ban was already reinstated July 28); budget transfers of $1,800 for Road & Bridge Precinct 4 work on CR 421A and $599.42 for a Bertram Library patron self-check out computer; payment of up to $1,504.95 for District Attorney's Office travel expenses; and setting a public hearing date for the FY27 budget and tax rate.
• Aug. 6: A replat request for lot 12, Block 2, County Line Estates to remedy a foreclosure issue; FY26 budget amendments transferring $70,000 to Supplies and $8,000 to Inmate TV for jail commissary; approval of FY27 SB22 Rural Law Enforcement Grant applications totaling up to $800,000 for the Sheriff's Office, County Attorney, and District Attorney; sponsorships from Hotel/Motel Tax funds for the Oatmeal Festival ($1,500), Music on Main ($500), and the Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival ($1,000); and establishment of minimum standards for desktop and laptop computer purchases to support cybersecurity.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed as of Aug. 10, 2026. The court is expected to set a public hearing date for the FY27 budget and tax rate at a future session, per the Aug. 5 agenda.

Burnet County reinstates burn ban, approves library equipment and IT purchases as FY27 budget talks continue

Burnet County Commissioners Court reinstated a burn ban for unincorporated areas and approved roughly $100,000 in equipment purchases during its most recent regular session, while budget discussions for the upcoming fiscal year remain ongoing with no decisions yet on departmental spending.

Burn ban and land use

The court voted 5-0 on July 28 to reinstate a burn ban for unincorporated areas of Burnet County, effective 12:00 p.m. that day. Also on a 5-0 vote, the court approved the final plat for Solomon Subdivision. That item passed 4-0 with one abstention.

Library and IT equipment

On July 27, the court approved the purchase of a meeting room pod for the Herman Brown Free Library using TSLAC LIFI Grant Funds, not to exceed $42,495.25. The vote was 5-0.

At the July 28 regular session, the court approved several IT equipment purchases, all on 5-0 votes: 20 desktops and monitors at up to $3,600 each, 2 laptops with docking stations at up to $3,550 each, and 7 Toughbooks at up to $5,000 each. The court also approved reclassifying IT Software Support to Project Manager and Government Compliance Coordinator, with a cost not to exceed $1,200 for FY26.

Elections and appointments

The court appointed election judges for 2026-2027 Burnet County elections on a 5-0 vote July 27. The same day, it approved out-of-state travel for Elections Administrator Stephanie Cooper to attend the 41st National Elections Conference, not to exceed $1,500.

On July 28, the court appointed Judge Bryan Wilson and reappointed Commissioner Joe Don Dockery and Councilman Richard Westerman to the CARTPO Board (5-0). The court also approved creation of a Magistrate Board and its charter (5-0) and approved increasing the Treasurer's Assistant Chief Deputy from Step 3 to Step 4 (5-0).

Compliance and other actions

The court approved Title VI Compliance Nondiscrimination documents for TxDOT grant compliance on July 28 (5-0).

At the July 20 special session, the agenda included the proposed re-appointment of Judge Roxanne Nelson to the Bluebonnet Trails Community Service Board of Trustees for a term of Sept. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2028, and travel expenses for Public Defenders Office personnel not to exceed $4,378.32. Minutes for that meeting have not yet been published, so no outcomes are confirmed.

FY27 budget discussions

The court has reviewed proposed FY27 budget calculations for Road & Bridge (General and Precincts 1-4), Commissioners, County Judge, and Veteran Services, and conducted an initial review of the Burnet County Budget Policy, Fund Overview, and Expenditure Accounts Descriptions. No action was taken on the budget policy or FY27 departmental budget proposals at the July 27 session.

Coming up

• **Aug. 5, Special Session:** The court will consider another burn ban for unincorporated areas, discuss the FY27 proposed budget including salaries and departmental calculations, and review a $1,800 budget transfer for Road & Bridge Precinct 4 work on CR 421A, a $599.42 transfer for a Bertram Library self-checkout computer, and up to $1,504.95 for District Attorney's Office travel. A public hearing date for the FY27 budget and tax rate may also be set.
• **Aug. 6, Special Session:** Items include a replat request for Lot 12, Block 2, County Line Estates to address a foreclosure issue; FY26 budget amendments transferring $70,000 to Supplies and $8,000 to Inmate TV for jail commissary; FY27 SB22 Rural Law Enforcement Grant applications totaling up to $800,000 for the Sheriff's Office, County Attorney, and District Attorney; Hotel/Motel Tax sponsorships for the Oatmeal Festival ($1,500), Music on Main ($500), and Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival ($1,000); and new minimum standards for desktop and laptop computer purchases to support cybersecurity.