The decisions Hays County makes over the next several years could affect everything from the roads residents drive and the water resources communities depend on to mental health services, parks, public safety and how county tax dollars are managed.

Residents still have an opportunity to help shape those priorities.

Hays County is accepting public feedback through Aug. 26, 2026, on its draft Hays County Strategic Plan for FY 2027 through FY 2031, a five-year roadmap intended to guide county policies, investments, operations and budgeting decisions as one of Texas’ fastest-growing counties continues to add residents.

Approximately 150 survey responses had been received as of the county’s Aug. 12 update, and officials are encouraging more residents to review the plan and participate before the public engagement period closes.

The draft makes clear why long-range planning has become an increasingly important issue for the county. Hays County sits along the high-growth corridor between Austin and San Antonio, and the plan cites Texas Demographic Center projections showing the county’s population could approach 600,000 by 2060 — more than double its 2020 population of 241,067.

For residents in San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Dripping Springs, Wimberley and communities throughout Hays County, that growth brings familiar questions: Can roads and public facilities keep up? Where will future water supplies come from? How should the county prepare for flooding? What public health and behavioral health services will be needed? And how should local government balance those needs with fiscal responsibility?

The Strategic Plan is designed to put measurable goals behind those questions.

Five Priorities Would Guide Hays County Through 2031

The draft Hays County Strategic Plan is organized around five major pillars: Community Wellbeing; Governance, Workforce & Organizational Capacity; Infrastructure & Sustainable Growth; Partnerships & Collaboration; and Criminal Justice Modernization.

Each pillar includes specific initiatives and performance measures intended to allow county officials and the public to track whether goals are actually being met.

That emphasis on measurable outcomes is significant because the plan is not intended to remain simply a planning document. If adopted, it would help guide future county priorities, budgeting decisions and implementation efforts through FY 2031.

Roads, Water and Growth Are Major Parts of the Plan

For many Hays County residents, the Infrastructure & Sustainable Growth section may be among the most consequential.

The draft calls for a countywide roadway assessment program that would collect data on all county-maintained roads and ultimately assign road scores based on pavement conditions, structural integrity, safety, drainage, traffic performance and maintenance needs.

It also proposes a comprehensive water study, including an examination of water supply and infrastructure in western Hays County, a countywide flooding analysis and a centralized sewer evaluation for the Hillside Terrace neighborhood.

Long-range water planning would consider population growth, climate trends and economic development as officials evaluate future supply needs.

The plan also calls for updating the Hays County Parks, Open Spaces, and Natural Areas Master Plan and the county’s transportation plan, along with continued work on projects connected to the 2024 road bond.

Environmental stewardship is woven into that growth strategy as well. Proposed goals include evaluating county-owned facilities for rainwater capture infrastructure, restoring county-owned conservation lands and expanding public education around water conservation and “One Water” principles.

For homeowners and families watching development move steadily outward from the Interstate 35 corridor, those priorities could influence quality of life for years to come.

Public Health, Mental Health and Animal Services Also Included

The Community Wellbeing pillar focuses heavily on access to health and human services.

Among the proposed initiatives are an updated Community Health Assessment, improvements to indigent health care planning, expansion of behavioral health and diversion programs, and continued evaluation of programs intended to connect residents with services before needs become crises.

The county also proposes developing a roadmap for animal services, including shelter infrastructure, population-control programs and community-based alternatives intended to improve animal welfare and public safety.

Housing stability, homelessness prevention, preventive care and public health preparedness are also identified as priorities.

Residents Could See Changes in How County Government Operates Online

Some of the draft’s most visible changes could affect how residents interact with county government itself.

Under the Governance, Workforce & Organizational Capacity pillar, Hays County proposes modernizing its website, making key information easier to find, improving accessibility and expanding transparency.

The draft includes a goal of making key information reachable within three clicks, meeting federal web accessibility standards and enabling real-time, automatically refreshed election results on the county website.

The plan also calls for reviewing county policies, creating a centralized digital repository for those policies, improving county communications and maintaining competitive employee compensation to recruit and retain workers.

Those changes may sound administrative, but they can affect how quickly residents find information, understand county decisions or access public services.

Partnerships Could Stretch County Resources Further

Another section of the plan focuses on partnerships among Hays County, cities, educational institutions, nonprofits and other public agencies.

The county proposes reviewing how costs are shared for the Combined Emergency Communications Center, which consolidates 911 dispatch services for Hays County, San Marcos, Kyle, Buda and Texas State University.

Other initiatives include improving coordination of animal welfare services, strengthening accountability for social service contracts and developing a public administration partnership with Texas State University that could create hands-on learning opportunities while supporting local government workforce development.

The goal, according to the draft, is to reduce duplication, share costs where appropriate and use partnerships to expand the reach of county services.

Criminal Justice Modernization Focuses on Future Capacity

Growth is also creating pressure on courts, law enforcement and detention services.

The Criminal Justice Modernization pillar proposes long-range assessments of detention capacity, court operations, judicial facilities, public defense and technology.

It also includes goals related to juvenile diversion, behavioral health programs, specialty courts and efforts intended to reduce repeat involvement in the criminal justice system.

Among the proposed performance measures is a goal of reducing juvenile recidivism by 15% before FY 2030, along with improved tracking of diversion programs and criminal justice performance.

The county also proposes evaluating new technologies and integrated data systems to improve coordination across the justice system.

Why Public Input Matters Before Aug. 26

The current Strategic Plan remains a draft, which means the public engagement period is happening before Commissioners Court considers a final version.

Residents can review the draft, complete the county’s Strategic Plan survey and indicate interest in participating in a stakeholder listening session.

After the Aug. 26 deadline, Hays County plans to review survey responses, stakeholder comments and other public feedback. County officials will use that information to refine the proposal before presenting it to Commissioners Court for consideration.

That makes the current engagement period one of the clearest opportunities for residents to influence the direction of the plan before it begins shaping county priorities.

Residents can review the Strategic Plan and access the survey through the Hays County Strategic Plan webpage at hayscountytx.gov/349/Strategic-Plan. Questions or requests to participate in a listening session can be sent to strategicplan@hayscountytx.gov. 

What Happens Next

Once public engagement closes, county staff will evaluate the feedback and determine whether changes are needed to the draft priorities, strategies or performance measures.

If Commissioners Court ultimately adopts the plan, it would become a guiding framework for county decision-making from FY 2027 through FY 2031, helping connect long-term goals with budgeting, capital projects, public services and performance reporting.

In a county where population growth is changing communities quickly, those decisions will not be abstract. They could shape daily life — from commute times and flood protection to parks, public health services, water planning and how easily residents can interact with their county government.

For Hays County residents who want a voice in that future, the immediate deadline is Aug. 26.

My Neighborhood News will continue following the Hays County Strategic Plan and other decisions affecting growth, infrastructure, public services and quality of life across the county.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.