Washington County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Washington County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Proposed Expo Multipurpose Facility
A new open-air multipurpose building at the Expo grounds goes before voters November 3. It could host graduations, rodeos, band practice, festivals, cook-offs, and more — with room for roughly 3,000-3,200 people. Scaled floor plans showing how real events fit will be released before early voting.
Elections Office Relocation
The Elections office is moving from the courthouse to the Courthouse Annex, putting the office, voting machines, early voting, and central count under one roof. It should save staff countless cross-street trips and be ready before the November election.
2027 Sheriff's and Constables' Fees
Constables will charge more for citations starting 2027 — $100 for service (up from $85) and $50 for posting. It's the first increase since 2013, and the constable's office is actually a revenue generator for the county.
Sales tax revenue boost
August sales tax collections hit $423,450 — $66,000 more than last year — and Judge Durrenberger reminded everyone that every dollar of sales tax helps buy down the property tax rate.
First responder pay step plans
Pay step plans for the Sheriff's Office, Jail, EMS and 911, plus the county's retirement plan agreement, were pushed to the next meeting because HR Director Amber Skalka couldn't attend.
State-funded EMS whole blood program
New MOUs shift the cost of the EMS prehospital whole-blood program to the state. EMS got three new blood coolers and blood supply through the Brazos Valley Regional Advisory Council.
Jail population climbing
The average daily jail population hit 115 in August, near 2022 levels, with 13 inmates transferred because bonds weren't being made. The sheriff said the county plays only a small role in a system-wide issue and is monitoring it closely.
Randermann Road bridge project
Precinct 4 is planning to widen and realign a bridge on Randermann Road, requiring relocation of AT&T and Bluebonnet utilities. AT&T gave formal notice of new service line installation along the right-of-way; easement talks with landowners look promising.
County Clerk modernization paying off
The county is digitizing roughly two million paper documents for about $202,000 over 18 months, plus a Laserfiche document system at ~$61,620 a year. That means faster public records responses, less risk to aging paper files, and no more 'treasure hunts' for staff.
Scrap Tire Collection Event
Residents can drop off up to eight tires per address October 10–24 at the Brenham Collection Station, and a grant covers the entire cost. Last year the event collected about 1,650 tires.
FY2027 Holiday Schedule Change
County employees will no longer get a floating birthday holiday — instead, the whole county observes President's Day. If you still want your birthday off, you'll need to use PTO.
New Elections Administrator takes office
Jennifer Gajeske was formally seated as Elections Administrator, with her bond and salary approved, just ahead of the November election.
Non-emergent ambulance transports in Brenham
A new addendum with Baylor Scott & White lets ambulances carry non-emergent patients between the Brenham hospital and clinics, keeping care local instead of sending patients to College Station.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
The county proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, supporting the Color Brazos Valley Gold effort; Washington County saw four new childhood cancer diagnoses this year.
Scarecrow Music Festival permits
The 2026 festival got conditional approval for its right of way and mass gathering permits, pending signatures from county safety officials.
School Board Meeting
The Brenham School Board is meeting Monday to talk about building upgrades, new grants, and staffing shifts. It’s a quick way to see how the district is spending your tax money and planning for the future.
Infrastructure and Facility Modernization
Washington County is gearing up to give the local Expo center a major facelift to attract more visitors and better support our farmers. Before the fun stuff starts, they’ve got to tackle some messy drainage and mapping issues to make sure the site is actually ready for the upgrade.
Judicial Infrastructure Expansion
Washington County is finally ditching the crumbling, unsafe courthouse for a brand-new 70,000-square-foot judicial center. It’s a major upgrade that stops the current, sketchy practice of walking inmates through the same hallways as the general public.