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Overall Medina County budget to raise tax revenue by 16.2% or $3.7 Million

Medina County will have a public hearing on August 26 at 9 AM in the Medina County Courthouse Annex located in the Commissioner’s Court room in Hondo. The current proposed budget will increase the budget by $3.7 million compared to last year. Increasing property taxes from higher appraisals accounts for much of it, as well as new property added to the tax roll with the massive growth Medina County is seeing.
A majority of County leaders received raises this year. Raises and travel expenses for county leaders in this year’s budget can be seen in the public notice on page 7.
How growth has impacted the county…
Experts cite population growth and increased development as one of the reasons property taxes have skyrocketed in areas like ours. The rapid influx of people and expansion of communities requires additional infrastructure, amenities, and services to meet the growing needs.


Many of the developers costs are offset by tax incentives called TIRZ zones in Medina County.
The first major development in the Castroville area, Potranco Ranch, included tax incentives for developers called a TIRZ zone. When we checked last summer, under the TIRZ agreement offered by Medina County commissioners, Potranco Ranch’s developers was projected to receive a total Reimbursement Amount of over $12 million dollars ($12,295,461) over a 30 year period.
As of May 2024, so far the county had remitted $1.9 million to developers of Potranco Ranch developers.
So for example, in 2024 of the $751K projected property tax revenue in the zone, an amount of $516K was to be paid back to developers, while the county was projected to recieve $221K of the $751K collected.
And that is just the amount of money that has been remitted to one of the 4 TIRZ zones in the county.
As reported in May, with Medina County farms and ranches being subdivided rapidly, land being used for agriculture decreased by over 15,600 acres in one year (2023-2024). The amount of ag land lost last year is more than the amount of agriculture land lost than in the previous five years combined.
At the same time, land used for residential increased by over 15,500 acres in Medina County in the same 1-year time period (2023-2024).
The number of homes in Medina County has grown from18,791 homes in 2017 to 25,938 in 2024 (as of May), according to Medina County Chief Appraiser Johnette Dixon, who provided the sobering facts and figures.
According to Dixon, Medina County also saw a 237% increase in net Taxable Value from 2017 to 2024 (as of May). The increase is due to new industrial properties, new developments, and the overall market in general, she said.
Average Home values:
Average home values in Medina County had jumped by $41,000+ in just two year’s time as seen in the chart below (info as of May 2024).
2022 – $253,805
2023 – $295,180
2024- $295,475 (as of May 2024)
NOTE: You may notice other public hearings such as the one for ESD4. That is a separate taxing entity, as Medina County does not provide its own emergency ambulance service or fire services. Each ESD in the county is responsible for taxing and providing ambulance and fire service to their respective communities.

Traveling Dinosaur Museum in Devine all day Friday

Don’t miss out on the Driscoll Public Library’s exciting end of summer event. The George S Woods Community Center will be transformed into a prehistoric museum! The museum will be open 10 am – 5 pm Friday, August 16. The Dinosaur George Traveling Museum is one of the largest traveling prehistoric exhibits in North America. The museum showcases a diverse range of prehistoric creatures with a primary focus on dinosaurs. From massive dinosaur skulls to intricate fossil replicas, you’ll be able to view exhibit pieces from around the world and from every time period. In addition to dinosaurs, see other fascinating prehistoric animals such as fish and mammals providing a comprehensive view of Earth’s history. You will also have an opportunity to visit the Dinosaur George Gift Shop where you will be able to purchase your very own fossils, minerals, etcetera.


This event is a “come and go” event meaning the items will be on display the entire day and guests are invited to attend at their leisure. The event is open to all ages no reservations required. We do ask that if you plan to attend with a group larger than 10 that you call and let the library staff know the number in your group so that we can better serve you. For more information or questions please call 830.663.2993.
Dinosaur George grew up in Hondo and graduated in 1980.
Here’s a short bio:
George Blasing (Dinosaur George) is a self-taught paleontologist who has studied and excavated dinosaurs, and other prehistoric life, for more than 45 years. He is a public speaker, author and television writer. He also owns a traveling fossil museum that brings the prehistoric world to young people and adults across the United States.  
  He currently owns a museum located in Traders Village in San Antonio Texas where he is often found teaching visitors about the numerous exhibit items. The Dinosaur George Museum has one of the most extensive dinosaurs exhibits in Texas.
His podcast, Dinosaur George Kids, is dedicated to teaching young people about dinosaurs and other prehistoric life. The podcast is heard in over 180 countries and boasts a listening audience of over 1 million people around the world.
  Dinosaur George is also an animal behaviorist, studying modern animals and comparing their behavior to animals of the past.

ESD4 to increase tax rate by 57%, public hearing set forAugust 20 on tax increase

By Kathleen Calame
Publisher, The Devine News
The Medina County ESD4 which provides emergency medical services ( EMS) to Devine, Natalia , Pearson and parts of Lytle is wanting to increase taxes by 2.85 cents per $100 value which computes to an increase change of 57% over last year’s tax rate according to a public notice they published last week. Tax on an average homestead will have a change increase of $64 ($87.94 +64.35= $152.29) or 73% increase it explains.
The need for more tax money comes even after the ESD started receiving the additional extra sales tax money that voters approved last year, approximately $10,000 per month. The checks have been rolling in monthly since February 2024, $61,000 in the first half of the year. It was thought that with the extra sales tax combined with the money they have been setting aside in accounts for major investments, the ESD would be able to start their own ambulance service in Devine themselves and start building a new station in Natalia. Apparently it isn’t enough for the visions planned, so back to the taxpayers.
Many years ago Devine had their own ambulances and volunteers and billed for services but couldn’t make it financially.

Then the ESD4 was created which is taxpayer funded. At various points the ESD ran the service themselves with donated ambulances. Later hired Medina Valley EMS/ being run by Mike Ferris. MVEMS was contracted at that time by MCESD-1 (Castroville), 3 (Hondo) and 4 (Devine/Natalia) with the name Medina County EMS on the side of the ambulances. That venture failed and was investigated.
Next the ESD4 turned to contracting it out to large private companies first it was Acadian, then AMR, then Allegiance. The ambulances and supplies were given to the private business owners of Acadian to use as they wish as they were the new contractor to provide EMS services for MCESD4. The ESD kept the building and still owns it today.
Currently Allegiance uses the building for their employees and ambulances, and is our current provider, at a cost of $210,000 yearly (2023 rate) until the ESD launches their own in less than 7 weeks as planned. Allegiance provides us with two 24 hour ambulances (one in Devine 24 hours, and the other 24 hour ambulance splits time with 12 hours in Natalia during daytime and then around 6 pm moves back to Devine for the evening hours.)
The hope for a third truck has been on the horizon for many years, but the community was told there was not enough funds for a third ambulance.
We can only hope the new service will have the funds for a third ambulance. More money, more service?
An employee hiring fair was hosted in July.
ESD4 plans to launch their own ambulance service October 1 instead of using a contractor like they have for many years. The announcement was made months ago. A director of operations was hired a few months ago.
So ambulances must be bought or rented, supplies purchased, employees hired, accounting programs bought, employee benefits set up etc. All the things a business must do to get started with its own human resources and equipment to do the job. Since it is a taxpayer funded service, the board can increase or decrease taxes yearly to meet their needs up to a maximum tax rate of 10 cents per $100 value. The percentage of increase determines whether or not an election must be held.
The ESD plans to charge customers for the service calls to help with expenses as well.
An election is not required this time, just a public hearing since the tax isn’t higher than the “de mimimis rate” of .0785 per $100 value.
The Public Hearing on the Tax Increase will be on August 20, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at the Devine EMS building, 206 Dixon Dr, Devine, Tx. Citizens will be allowed at the public hearing to voice their concerns about the tax rate and increase and ask questions. (See medinacountyesd4.org for the Public Notice of the Hearing for additional details, audits and reports.)
Board members are Anthony Martin, Viola Potter, Juan Zamora and George Moralez. There is a seat open as Shelly Watson resigned in July from the board. Christy Merendon is the District Coordinator.
“We need the extra 2 cents to start the EMS,” said President of ESD4 Tony Martin. “ Since initiating the Emergency Service District (ESD) #4, the goal of all commissioner’s has been to provide the people in our service area the availability of the best medical care at a fair cost. In working towards this having our own Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is a positive action in lieu of having a contract with a private service. As with starting any business there are costs involved with the start-up, but our long-term goal remains steadfast to offer the best for the people in the community,” Martin said.
Another project they are looking to fund is a new EMS station to be built in Natalia, a two story building with an elevator. It would serve as the second location for the EMS crews and ambulances. Currently they use part of the fire department property courtesy of the Natalia VFD during the daytime.
If you know of someone interested in being on the board contact any of the board members or President Tony Martin at 210-367-1295 or email him at president@medinacountyesd4.org
If you have questions or concerns about the tax increase or what changes the ESD is planning, attend the August 20 meeting at 6:30 pm in the EMS building. Come to the meeting if you would like to know what the new plans are for EMS service. Many people have volunteered for years to keep the service going and know the importance of this next step.
Concerns or questions can be sent by email to: president@medinacountyesd4.org

Devine Cactus Festival November 2, vendor sign ups underway for locals first

The Devine Chamber of Commerce will host its annual 2024 Fall Cactus Festival on the first Saturday of November as usual, set for November 2 in downtown Devine with a festival, street dance and carnival.
Sign up as a vendor
This year preference will be given to chamber members to keep with the local first theme who sign up to be a vendor first. Then it will be opened to outside vendors. Only 3 of every kind of vendor will be allowed to provide a nice variety of vendors. The Devine Market Association has accepted the job of organizing the vendors and taking care of that part of the festival for the chamber. An August 23 deadline has been set for chamber members to apply to get dibs on a vendor spot. Chamber members will be given priority then local and then open to others. To give as much opportunity as possible to local people first. Think, Shop, Dine Devine!

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Glimpse…

OK, I’ll go first. My family lived about five miles south of Somerset in the Blackjacks on our 100-acre family farm when I started first grade. My paternal grandmother lived down the lane from us under a grove of Oak trees, and we lived under another. A Mr. Frank James (of the ubiquitous James family of Somerset) was our bus driver, and I recall we meandered amongst the family farms for about an hour before reaching the schoolhouse in “downtown” Somerset. The main schoolhouse was a three-story, 11-classroom building that housed second through 12th grades. The first grade met in a two-room building (which was probably an old barracks) down below the official school house.
There were two rooms. Miss Winnie was my teacher and Miss King was the other. Unfortunately, the Hispanic children were segregated, and they were Miss King’s students.

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DEVINE HOMETOWN HISTORY:

Dec. 11, 1910 – St. Joseph Catholic Church Rectory – Confirmation Day
San Antonio Diocese Rev. Bishop Shaw and St. Joseph’s Rev. Maas proudly stand behind some newly confirmed Catholic children in front of the St. Joseph Rectory, which still stands on Washington Drive in Devine, Texas.

“A Big Catholic Day” 1910
“Bishop Shaw arrives by train and confirms 275 persons.”

By Nancy Ehlinger Saathoff, Devine Historical Committee
Sunday, December 11, 1910, was an “extra-ordinary” day in Catholic circles, and in fac, for Devine too, as the Rt. Rev. Bishop J. W. Shaw confirmed 275 persons. Bishop Shaw arrived by train from San Antonio and was met at the train by auto and the Devine Citizens band, and a procession was formed leading to the church and grounds.
“The parochial residence, the convent, the Mexican church and school and the church were all beautifully decorated and everything was carried out in an elaborate way.” After the large confirmation in Devine, Bishop Shaw and St. Joseph’s Rev. Maas went to Bigfoot and Moore for more confirmations. Catholics from all parts of the country, and other local and area citizens who attended, numbered in the several hundred for this special occasion.

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CASU Final Report onCity of Devine complete

The results of the Devine Community as a Startup (CASU) Planning Summary Conducted by the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi were issued as of August 2024 in a final report. The complete report can be seen on the City of Devine website.
“This report is being considered as a road map for the city council to use to create the cities strategic plans and funding for the city priorities. It is also currently being highlighted as part of our economic development portfolio to attract new businesses and developers,” said David L. Jordan, City Administrator, City of Devine.
These are some of the topics discussed and outlined in the final report.
Introduction
The CASU model is a collaboration with communities that takes a customized view of a community and assists in facilitating its future. The model utilizes principles used in the world of fast moving, results achieving startups and applies them to a community. The desired outcome is to develop a community that more readily identifies opportunities and increases the chance of achieving them. The project strives to develop economic resilience and diversification, enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and build a framework for rapid development of future economic vitality.

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Bigfoot Volunteer FD 16th BBQ Fundraiser Sept. 21

The Bigfoot VFD will hold their 16th annual BBQ fundraiser on Saturday, September 21 at the Bigfoot Park located at FM 472 in Bigfoot. They will be serving plates with brisket, Kiolbasa sausage, green beans, potato salad with the trimmings and a drink for $14. Serving will begin at 11 am.
There will also be an auction and bake sale. There will be vendors and community outreach so come enjoy the delicious food and support our volunteer fire department.
To volunteer or donate, Denise at (210) 542-0774.

Looking Good or Seeing Good

I recently saw a T-Shirt for sale that said something along the lines that aging is one body part saying to other parts: “You Think That Was Bad? Watch This!”
To be very clear, I take NO credit for that phrase, but I DO RESEMBLE that remark!
The latest in my Replacement Journey is a scheduled Cataract Surgery. The Good Book. AKA The Bible, talks about as some of the people mentioned aged…their Eyes Grew Dim. I can sure relate to that.
After some extensive investigations into that piece of my anatomy, some options were given to me and the Boss Lady. We selected the least invasive choice. Time will tell IF the procedure will be successful. But the real dilemma that comes to my mind is these two combative thoughts: Will I See Better and/or will I Look Better?

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School Time!

As is usual, with the first week of the month, my week was a busy one with various meetings and appointments. When we had our Hospital Auxiliary meeting, we changed the time of our hours, so now my Wednesdays working will change from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and be 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The early part of this past week, they mowed the hay fields and spent the day Friday running the balers, in the fields close to my house. Sunday morning, when I looked out the window after church, most of the bales had been hauled off.
This week will begin with an appointment in Victoria for me and my sister decided that she needed a break and will take me. We have a gift certificate to a boutique in Cuero that we are anxious to use, so coming home there will be a side trip to that boutique. Mostly though, we’ll check out the mall and a couple of stores in Victoria, and of course, we get to eat out!

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