[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6746984,"mediaKeyId","5612997-a5c6ad51673d2071f915ec2771c012e7","parentId",5612997,"title","San Marcos utilities reviews rebates, audits and Stage 3 drought rules as city remains in drought","audioSeconds",585,"startMs",1063000,"endMs",1648000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5612997-a5c6ad51673d2071f915ec2771c012e7&start=1063&end=1648","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5612997-a5c6ad51673d2071f915ec2771c012e7/thumbnail_1063000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6746984/San-Marcos-City/Hays-County/Texas/San-Marcos-utilities-reviews-rebates-audits-and-Stage-3-drought-rules-as-city-remains-in-drought","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746984-78287e406454d124ccf3d4bb1616cae8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775102010&Signature=Hk932Xh9P4cplXMBjrJVXel5xbdi3EOhL2ZCSJEsZgXXaOtfRJhQ2dRU9xlbGBN2hGEL4qUFav8V4km3Tt~4~2De4JDNnyTyo6YTTFTDcGzNmjsEAt4gBIN6VzXqc6odgDx41FSKWAZES3VGP7tdxUaSpVsfQfcd~JkyF0u1BFm-QadwuuefUvTTM7drhUO39Ab0jfAtaaQJyydN4dJcl9WGZAJbxBGOA8OXGIzClIcrXRlq4~zstkeWyWCae6dtqeXnGc9EEdinCWrVYUKSeOA5JbZ5LjtSqS-xvYTRPSyLsGTCwf2vMhUgXEVSHTtibCO0lpJjykUruMj7R-FAbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Marcos","date","2025-08-20T18:00:00Z","article","Jan Dela Cruz, San Marcos conservation coordinator, briefed the Neighborhood Commission on the city's water and energy conservation programs and current drought rules.

Dela Cruz described outreach and free services (school classroom materials, neighborhood presentations, giveaways such as rain gauges and low-flow fixtures), and programs residents can request: free home energy audits that review insulation, HVAC and ductwork; rebates for HVAC upgrades, attic insulation, Energy Star window air conditioners and windows, solar window film and commercial lighting; and a solar PV rebate that requires prior efficiency measures.

She described the city's rainwater-harvest rebate (available for systems from small 50-gallon barrels up to 5,000–10,000 gallon cisterns) and said larger pressurized systems may qualify for a rebate equal to $1 per gallon of storage capacity. The city also offers a SoilSaver rebate for soil-improvement measures (core aeration, compost topdressing, mulch) and irrigation-zone conversion or removal rebates to replace spray zones with drip or to cap zones.

Dela Cruz said a pilot grass-removal rebate during the COVID era produced mixed results (many participants installed rock rather than native landscaping) and the city is considering a redesigned program that would emphasize native plant beds rather than artificial turf or full rock yards.

On drought status, Dela Cruz said San Marcos remains in Stage 3. She said Canyon Lake storage rose to about 68% capacity after recent floods but the Edwards Aquifer did not recover substantially because much runoff did not infiltrate. Under Stage 3 rules, sprinklers (automatic irrigation systems and hose-end sprinklers) are allowed one day every other week on designated days/times by street number; soaker hoses and drip systems are allowed one day per week; hand-watering is allowed any day before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Prohibited in Stage 3 are washing impervious surfaces, aesthetic water features, filling pools and similar uses.

Dela Cruz said enforcement emphasizes education: staff typically send notices of violation and follow up with drive-by checks; fines are a last resort after repeated notices. She directed residents to the San Marcos Utilities conservation web pages for rebate forms, flyers and program details.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Marcos - Neighborhood Commission on 2025-08-20 6 PM - 11040 Texas HWY 123, Conference","oneSentenceSummary","City conservation staff outlined free audits, a menu of rebates and Stage 3 drought restrictions, urging residents to use the utilities conservation web pages for program details and applications.","taxTitle","San Marcos City, Hays County, Texas","taxId",9292,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6746975,"San Marcos finance director outlines FY26 budget and multi-year tax-rate choices; council set a ceiling ahead of public hearings",620,3324000,3944000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5612997-a5c6ad51673d2071f915ec2771c012e7&start=3324&end=3944","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5612997-a5c6ad51673d2071f915ec2771c012e7/thumbnail_3324000.jpg","/articles/6746975/San-Marcos-City/Hays-County/Texas/San-Marcos-finance-director-outlines-FY26-budget-and-multi-year-tax-rate-choices-council-set-a-ceiling-ahead-of-public-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746975-e401d8d7c89920e13e9fd25c11439acd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775102010&Signature=dQJQHN6rN7qdW5Ej-tKLYGVBwdsGYzawG3rq78IcyyN0FHFykOvdHnV13nP5ndPR2hAEfdafURiNYWgrY7xtm5o6XtGO0bEsy0MrTch~T2304uZGTMSFphIFsFsG43cVH~uM6KqMUedrMQNY~njPNIP~3o4zclFF-miqd-mU73rQ~ajzkF0FEjj3vSBhT3xkxYv3tpa~D9Yx9~IMrIeqOcJ0BoRKk-qnwl4B5zC4CysX~aXHsvkvmcnNLY1HqLz3gGerPvIeUKap8TpfT9ySoI6ZvB5ITjjD1kuixodvZp8XsAs0ljdJ7AVQokGz5FIlpg2AnCUrXlV85~s0DFKq2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Locke, San Marcos finance director, presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and three tax-rate options to the Neighborhood Commission on Aug. 20.

Locke said the city's total operating budget is approximately $366 million and described council priorities included in the FY26 package: submission at the no-new-revenue rate (the rate that produces the same revenue on properties taxed in both years), a $200,000 increase in the Human Services Advisory Board allocation (bringing the total to $750,000), and creation of an Office of Community Support and Resource Navigation with net cost of about $50,000 using existing staff reassignments.

Locke said departments were asked to hold flat budgets in FY25 and to find an additional $100,000 collectively for FY26; he said sales-tax projections for FY26 are lower than FY23 levels and that, adjusted for the potential removal of several apartment complexes from the tax roll if appeals succeed, property-tax revenue could decline without new rate action.

He described a legal action the city filed after several housing finance corporations sought tax-exempt status for apartment complexes; the city won the initial hearing but expects appeals.

Staff presented multi-year forecasts showing a FY27 projected shortfall under the no-new-revenue rate (the presentation showed larger shortfalls in FY27 if the city does not adopt a higher rate). Locke said council set a ceiling on the rate to allow further public hearings and that two public hearings are scheduled (Sept. 2 and Sept. 16) for public comment on the tax rate and fee proposals.

Locke highlighted the \u001cbreakeven\u001d tax rate the city's modeling calculated as the rate that would eliminate the FY27 shortfall given the assumptions in the forecast. He also summarized the potential impact of a state change to the homestead exemption (Senate Bill 4) that could reduce total property tax bills for homeowners by increasing the school-district homestead exemption; staff said that change would not reduce city revenues but could lower the overall tax bill seen by homeowners because school taxes would be reduced.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the makeup of the forecasts, how the no-new-revenue rate is recalculated annually, and the duration of ARPA-funded items such as tenant-rights legal aid (staff said some funding runs through 2026 and that continuation decisions will be required). Several commissioners expressed support for a higher rate that would reduce multi-year projected shortfalls; others emphasized the need to keep city budgets lean and pursue further efficiencies.","City finance staff presented a structurally balanced FY26 budget and tax-rate scenarios, flagged a projected FY27 shortfall if rates remain at the no-new-revenue level, and described council-set public hearings and a breakeven rate to avoid next-year shortfalls.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6746979,"San Marcos upgrades outdoor siren system to auto-activate on NWS warnings; staff urges outreach as coverage gaps remain",295,2156000,2451000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5612997-a5c6ad51673d2071f915ec2771c012e7&start=2156&end=2451","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5612997-a5c6ad51673d2071f915ec2771c012e7/thumbnail_2156000.jpg","/articles/6746979/San-Marcos-City/Hays-County/Texas/San-Marcos-upgrades-outdoor-siren-system-to-auto-activate-on-NWS-warnings-staff-urges-outreach-as-coverage-gaps-remain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746979-bd487ce3701a664e77f88ffea5d58d22/orig.mp4?Expires=1775102010&Signature=jgLpZr4mNx4HVQwCefYXLzP49eI7lkmr2Fh2Bo~e1PDO2Z01B1a-DfRRCAiSbnzuhT6HTgTQ2o7SSUM3VAT1fjnvr~HnFniNn2Kkoa33vQUAV5kcVYFR1VNYW4qZrHww~hnNDRMtxdiq0IMtYPg-RPQn6juvz0AmdQKMbGjTXL8h-F9eSCObw8vbS2KMPRyyT8ztWltWobvaOCyLSlx-OHnIajlmusrHT66XJZ5rAOEv2XG~tniOoWWjH-aL~Pz38O7Bv92V63hmLTiZTi37sR95e8aE~cUo07audjpxHe4eKpNvrac4~k6X9ALfhserwZEHtNr0~Z9Guk12KBd0vA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Reese Martin, assistant emergency management coordinator, told the Neighborhood Commission the city's outdoor warning siren system consists of 14 towers installed in 2011–2013 with hazard-mitigation grant funds for disaster 1780. He said many towers had fallen into disrepair and were repaired after he was hired in 2020.

Martin described four siren patterns the system can produce: a tornado pattern (repeated steady high tone cycles for 2–3 minutes), a wildland-fire pattern (15-second steady highs separated by lulls, repeated for 2–3 minutes), a general all-hazards pattern (10-second cycles), and a monthly low test (first Saturday of each month at noon).

He said the system was upgraded to include software that monitors National Weather Service (NWS) bulletins; the software can automatically activate the tornado pattern and the all-hazards/flash-flood pattern when the NWS issues a warning for Hays County. Martin said the contractor for maintenance and software is American Signal Corp and that the city has a maintenance contract to support the system.

Martin cautioned that the sirens are designed primarily for people outdoors; many neighborhoods now fall outside reliable audible coverage because the city's population footprint has grown since the towers were placed. He said most towers are grid-powered with limited battery backup (one site is solar); newer towers could include solar-plus-battery, but replacements are costly. He said sirens communicate via VHF radio.

Commissioners and residents asked about outreach and identifying which tower corresponds to which neighborhood. Martin said the city posted audio samples and a zone map online and has a contractor-produced zone coverage map; he asked staff to produce a clearer street-level map and said he would work with utilities on a mailed outreach effort. Commissioners suggested QR codes on signs or mailers that play the exact recorded tones.

Martin said if residents hear the sirens outdoors they should get off the river and seek shelter, then check authoritative information sources such as NWS products and the city's alert channels.","San Marcos officials said they repaired an aging 14-tower siren network and upgraded it to auto-activate when the National Weather Service issues tornado or flash-flood warnings for Hays County.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6746989,"San Marcos officials fast-track repairs after Cape Road bridal crossing sloughs off; environmental permitting cited as critical path",77,465000,542000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5612997-a5c6ad51673d2071f915ec2771c012e7&start=465&end=542","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5612997-a5c6ad51673d2071f915ec2771c012e7/thumbnail_465000.jpg","/articles/6746989/San-Marcos-City/Hays-County/Texas/San-Marcos-officials-fast-track-repairs-after-Cape-Road-bridal-crossing-sloughs-off-environmental-permitting-cited-as-critical-path","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746989-0130b8ef39e10b64061987ec31e5f33d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775102010&Signature=Jh8nhNTqwYt2vV-JTUub9dnoMKO1pTBZstuKYVs1Ey53V~IklbA6WFuanqw6oE7nAagw26aEVx8NFwg9Ps6PDFzToYsW2jXMeA6eycEVP1CDjRNyFW2fuHi4LHWiIBFoOIbCb4uRTnJ3flbqJoimIldVZozSlQUSaQDHyfz6skgEnAfbiXX5DQ0XcMD6pBS05Wv6RnWcZYOzWzWUe2prOgRcknYGL9tE0jzALqAlHM0s2~LFghUyCdZTUdISZpEtL5m2~Lq~irG-ThingK7lprVF2pOIlnwstvMilC4poC0j6K8pekLscJYamh994IKzLhbksosNv07XUi7sJX7Iiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City engineering staff on Aug. 20 told the San Marcos Neighborhood Commission that a section of the Cape Road crossing has sloughed off and been closed after a structural engineer's inspection. Sean Converse, director of engineering and capital improvement, said the closed lane is on the downstream side of the crossing and that the remaining lane is in usable condition.

Converse said the crossing sits in a bridal connected to the San Marcos River and that Texas Parks and Wildlife classifies the waterway as fountain predator habitat, which limits how the city can approach repairs. He said the city has retained HDR to fast-track environmental studies and permitting required before replacement work can proceed.

\"The critical path is environmental requirements,\" Converse said. Staff are planning for a six- to 12-month design period followed by three to six months of construction, he said, though he later told commissioners he expects an overall timeline of about 18 months before the crossing is fully restored. During design, the crossing will remain a one-way configuration; construction would close it for the duration of the work.

Converse said the city is evaluating whether any temporary measures (for example, a short bridge deck) could reduce the one-way period, but he cautioned commissioners not to count on temporary fixes. He said the city is assessing whether future improvements called for in the city's master plan \u0014 including a 10-foot shared-use path \u0014 are feasible at the site, but environmental constraints and a lack of repair budget mean major expansions are unlikely to be included in the immediate repair.

Commissioners asked about coordination with nearby county construction at Kick Pond Park and traffic impacts; Converse said he does not anticipate the closure preventing county contractors from accessing their site, since construction equipment can stage from U.S. 35 and other access points. He also said the repair is not yet budgeted and that a full repair could exceed $1 million.

Commissioners pressed whether the design process would consider widening or adding an elevated pedestrian crossing in the future; Converse said staff would avoid blocking potential future expansions even if those are not part of the fast-tracked repair.","City engineers say a major crack at the bridal crossing on Cape Road near the San Marcos River prompted a closure and fast-tracked environmental review. Officials estimate design 6–12 months and construction 3–6 months; one-way traffic will remain during design and may persist for 9–12 months or longer.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6746970,"Neighborhood-chosen Mexican American and Indigenous heritage signs slated for installation in September",262,6690000,6952000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5612997-a5c6ad51673d2071f915ec2771c012e7&start=6690&end=6952","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5612997-a5c6ad51673d2071f915ec2771c012e7/thumbnail_6690000.jpg","/articles/6746970/San-Marcos-City/Hays-County/Texas/Neighborhood-chosen-Mexican-American-and-Indigenous-heritage-signs-slated-for-installation-in-September","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6746970-04bdab07b0a1cbe1a841f83fa6a17873/orig.mp4?Expires=1775102010&Signature=jdrqniyOoRQZ0EcG3ddMVOpzt0AouKkoYq70yP72PCNDRa-SjpeUxlkUOJSoP8Sfxt7~eywmlf0IjEHodt-lBWXuGJuYxrAn3Br9Adlb1KadX5i-nDo6mCJghP-Fx6ItRnYDL1OTwKJbOoxoPLg4rYc6m3XbxB5TlUOUeCcLKSVSjKfGubcmmpsHSfdeHvDuqtmVr7sA-JhmEQlsBYZDDd7Qbp1jRs~YMH4D-xysSnHYh05N8z5ecwor3oQp~nbpJBiIYkLZ~8J-vgnNNGw6jO52LPwAoTLCm84U2Il7iiCOSRKLIaN49L1cr6U8~ntzFmusfToT4hU54dYgiPnJ7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners gave an update on the Mexican American and Indigenous Cultural Heritage District project. The initiative was led by neighborhood commissioners and community advocates and will place signs in three neighborhoods: East Guadalupe (East Guadalupe/Riverside), El Barrio De La Pascual (noted as Barrio de Pascalo in materials) and Victory Gardens (El Barrio De La Victoria).

Commissioners said residents selected wording and imagery for each neighborhood's sign and that wording is being finalized; one neighborhood asked to revise a sentence to emphasize that it was the community's first Mexican neighborhood and the site of the original Mexican school. Installation and neighborhood celebrations are expected in September (Hispanic Heritage Month) with three weekend events planned in sequence.

Commissioners said outreach was underway to confirm final language and to coordinate installation logistics and celebrations with residents and neighborhood advocates.","Commissioners reported final resident approvals of imagery and text for Mexican American and Indigenous Cultural Heritage District street signs in three neighborhoods, with installation and celebrations planned in September to coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

San Marcos utilities reviews rebates, audits and Stage 3 drought rules as city remains in drought

San Marcos finance director outlines FY26 budget and multi-year tax-rate choices; council set a ceiling ahead of public hearings

San Marcos upgrades outdoor siren system to auto-activate on NWS warnings; staff urges outreach as coverage gaps remain

San Marcos officials fast-track repairs after Cape Road bridal crossing sloughs off; environmental permitting cited as critical path

Neighborhood-chosen Mexican American and Indigenous heritage signs slated for installation in September