Hays County authorizes up to $500,000 to negotiate purchase of historic block near Centro Cultural Hispano

Hays County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to authorize county lawyers to negotiate a purchase agreement with the City of San Marcos and the local tax increment reinvestment zone to remove a vacant parcel on Lee Street from private development and preserve it as culturally significant public space.

The motion, discussed under agenda item K6, authorizes Hays County to commit up to $500,000 toward acquisition of the parcel adjacent to Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, with funding drawn from the county’s FY 2025 undesignated miscellaneous capital improvement funds if the transaction proceeds this fiscal year. Budget officer Vicky Dorsett told the court the county could fund $500,000 from current FY25 funds; if the purchase occurs in FY26, funds would come from the FY26 undesignated projects allocation.

Commissioners and the judge described the site as part of a historic Hispanic block and said the intent is to safeguard the property from a proposed apartment development and to work with the City of San Marcos on a community-driven plan. Commissioner Cohen characterized the county’s role as taking “the dirt off the market” and then partnering with the city and grant programs to plan a low-maintenance cultural gathering place. Several commissioners emphasized that the county does not intend to donate the land to a single nonprofit and that final operating and maintenance responsibilities would be determined during later negotiations.

Commissioner Hammer asked who currently owns the parcel; court discussion identified the Independent School District as the present owner. The recorded market value discussed in the meeting was approximately $1.2 million; the court’s commitment was described as a partial, conditional funding contribution contingent on city and other partners completing the purchase and partnering on operation and maintenance. The motion clarified the county’s intent to co-own the property with the City of San Marcos and to work with the city and the tax increment reinvestment zone on terms.

County staff said the goal is a short‑fused negotiation to remove the parcel from an active purchase offer and then return to the court with a formal agreement for final approval. Judge Becerra said the court would expect a follow-up agenda item, and staff noted the possibility of an item returning for formal approval as soon as the following week.

The motion carried on a roll call vote of five to zero: Commissioners Inglesby, Smith, Cohen and Hammer and Judge Becerra voted yes.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased in this report are identified in the meeting record.