Morgan Hammer, Commissioner PCT 3

10/29/2026

This week, I was proud to sponsor a proclamation in Commissioners Court recognizing October 25–31 as Spiritual Care Week in Hays County.

Spiritual care plays an important role in supporting individuals and families navigating mental health challenges, substance use recovery, grief, and other difficult life experiences.

Thank you to the Spiritual Care Network of Hays County and the many faith leaders, healthcare professionals, first responders, and community partners who work together to provide compassionate support and connect our neighbors with the resources they need.

Together, we can continue building a stronger, more supportive community.

📄 Read the full proclamation:https://public.destinyhosted.com/hayscdocs/2026/CC/20261027_142/7497_PROCLAMATION%20spiritual%20care%20week_ed.pdf

10/27/2026

The County is currently under a 30-day burn ban in unincorporated areas of Hays County, effective Oct. 27, 2026.

10/26/2026

The final week of Early Voting is here!

There’s still time to cast your ballot ahead of Election Day on November 3. Early Voting runs through Friday, October 30, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

📍 Find Early Voting locations and election information at https://www.hayscountytx.gov/elections.

Make a plan and make your voice heard!

09/29/2026

Budget and Tax Rate—Hays County Commissioners Court Vote

My apologies for the delay in sharing this. After Commissioners Court on September 15, I took a short leave to be with the sweetest soul I have ever known before her passing on September 18.

I believe it is important for our community to understand why I voted “NO” on both the FY27 tax rate and adopted budget.

My career is in finance, and throughout this budget process I worked to apply my background and experience to make sure we were making financially responsible decisions for Hays County. Ultimately, I had several concerns:

1. Significant salary increases
The adopted budget includes employee salary increases that, in total, represent one of the largest increases Hays County has seen. Some employees making more than $100,000 will receive increases exceeding $35,000. I greatly value our county employees, but I did not believe this was the right time for increases of this size when many taxpayers are facing financial pressures themselves. I advocated for a more conservative approach, particularly focusing increases on employees earning below the county’s average salary of approximately $74,000. This increase will effect our ability to remain financially sustainable in the future.

2. Spending down our reserves
The budget uses more than $3 million in reserves. Reserves are an important financial safeguard for emergencies and unexpected expenses. Continually drawing them down can weaken the county’s financial position and potentially affect our bond-rating strength. Spending these reserves also harm financial sustainability for the county.

3. Committing FY28 revenue before we know what it will look like
We have already committed significant dollars to these salary increases, future collective bargaining agreements, and other contracts. At the same time, our future property-value and revenue growth is uncertain but does not look favorable. My concern is that we are committing ourselves to expenses now that could leave very little flexibility in the FY28 budget.

4. Increasing the tax burden on families
Finally, I did not believe a tax increase was appropriate at a time when many families are already working hard to keep up with the cost of living. County revenue comes from our taxpayers, and I believe we have a responsibility to be as conservative and responsible as possible with those dollars.

I respect the tremendous amount of work that went into this budget and appreciate the county employees and my fellow commissioners who worked through a difficult process. While I disagreed with the final budget and tax rate, they are now adopted, and I will work diligently to ensure they are managed responsibly.

Moving forward, I am committed to reviewing all county contracts, subscriptions, and other recurring expenses to identify opportunities to reduce our fiscal footprint for FY28.

09/02/2026

🚨Update on the Aqua Texas and the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District Lawsuit. Please see link below for the full Summary Judgement.

What does this mean?

- Hays Trinity largely prevailed: The court upheld the District’s authority to enforce the permitting moratorium, over-pumping penalties, and groundwater line-loss rules.

-Aqua Texas lost most major claims: The court rejected its equal-protection, takings, and Chapter 245 arguments.

-Aqua Texas did win on wastewater/sewage spills: The court found Hays Trinity exceeded its authority under the specific groundwater statutes and rules at issue when regulating water/sewage spills.

-Aqua Texas’ permits remain effective: Seven permits Hays Trinity argued had expired remain in effect while related enforcement matters are unresolved.

Several issues remain: TOMA/open-meeting compliance, late reporting, and abandoned/deteriorated wells are still pending, and the court will set a trial date.

Bottom line: This is generally a strong ruling for Hays Trinity’s core groundwater-regulatory authority, particularly its ability to manage groundwater production and enforce the moratorium, while placing some limits on how the District can regulate wastewater/sewage spills and leaving a few procedural and enforcement issues for trial.

Link to full summary judgement:

https://brazosvalleygcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Aqua-Texas-Inc-v.-Hays-Trinity-GCD-Orders-on-Motions-for-Summary-Judgment.pdf

08/27/2026

$39.2 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HAYS COUNTY, PCT 3–Centerpoint Project🇺🇸

I’m incredibly excited to announce that we were able to secure $39.2 million in federal funding for this important Centerpoint Overpass Project in Precinct 3. That is $39.2 million that Hays County taxpayers will not have to shoulder on their own—and that is exactly what responsible county leadership should be doing.

I want to give a special thank you to Senator Ted Cruz’s office and Senator John Cornyn’s office, both of whom I had the opportunity to meet with personally. Their teams took the time to make calls, leverage their federal contacts, and help make this happen. I’m also extremely grateful to HNTB, especially Sara Shields, for helping coordinate outreach to our local representatives and secure the letters of support that were critical to this effort.

I believe is it important to use every available resource, build relationships at the state and federal level, and bring outside dollars home so our local taxpayers don’t have to foot the entire bill. It takes a team, and I’m proud of the team that came together to make this happen.

This project isn’t just about dollars and infrastructure. It’s about protecting our quality of life and improving public safety. By improving this roadway, we can help our first responders get to the hospital faster and safer when every second matters.

I’m excited about what this means for our community for years to come. This is your tax dollars at work—and this is how we should be doing business.

08/13/2026

PRESS RELEASE: First Human Positive Case for West Nile in Hays County.

I am currently working with our Health Department to develop additional educational materials to help keep the public informed about preventative measures for West Nile virus, as well as the signs and symptoms to be aware of. Please stay tuned for additional information, and as always, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

07/11/2026

As we continue celebrating America's 250th anniversary this month, I am so grateful for this incredible nation and for the privilege of serving the people of Hays County.

I was honored to be able to sponsor the resolution recognizing America's 250th anniversary, and I'm proud that the Hays County Commissioners Court for unanimously approving it. This historic milestone gives us the opportunity to reflect on our nation's journey, celebrate the blessings of liberty, and honor the brave who have given their lives defending the freedoms we enjoy today. Freedom is never free, and we should never take that for granted.

I also had a wonderful time participating in community events throughout the 4th of July weekend. It was inspiring to see neighbors, families, veterans, and visitors come together in celebration of our country. The sense of community, patriotism, and gratitude on display was such a great reminder of what makes America so special.

As we look toward the next 250 years, may we continue to unite in service, cherish the freedoms we've been given, and work together to leave an even stronger nation for future generations. God Bless!

07/11/2026

Hope to see everybody who has questions or suggestions at the open house later this month at the Wimberley Community Center, one of the most central precinct 3 locations. These regulation re-writes will make a significant impact on precinct 3. See you there!

When: 7/28/2026
Where: Wimberley Community Center
Time: 6:00pm

07/09/2026

This is exactly what I'm talking about—collaboration is the key to doing everything within our authority to protect our water resources.

I'm grateful to be working alongside the Cities of Wimberley and Woodcreek as we come together with a shared commitment to move this effort forward. Establishing a Public Utility Agency (PUA) is a significant step for the Wimberley Valley and will help provide a stronger framework to protect one of our most valuable resources.

It has been a pleasure working alongside the leadership of these cities. Mayor Jim Chiles, Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Minnick, Mayor Debra Hines, and Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Rasco have been outstanding partners, and I appreciate their collaboration and shared commitment to protecting the future of the Wimberley Valley.

I'm proud of my fellow Commissioners Court colleagues for supporting this initiative and grateful for the opportunity to help bring it forward. Together, we're making meaningful progress. Let's keep the momentum going!

DISCLAIMER: A PUA does not have to own or operate the utility system(s) to provide significant value. Many regional entities in Texas function primarily as coordinating, planning, and financing organizations while leaving day-to-day operations to existing utilities.

The proposed partnership would bring together Hays County, the cities of Wimberley and Woodcreek to coordinate regional water planning.