Laurie Brown – Hays County Commissioner Precinct 4

Laurie Brown

 

What is your work history, including current employment? Please respond in a list format.

Texas State University, Lecturer/Graduate Advisor                        2013 – present

Wells Fargo, Private Mortgage Banker                                              2011 – 2013

Student, Texas State University (BBA, MA)                                       2007 – 2011

Coldwell Banker, Residential Real Estate Agent                              1994 – 2007

Commercial Banking   , Loan Administrator                                     1975 – 1994

What is your educational history, including degrees received, licenses, professional credentials, etc.? Please respond in a list format.

Texas State University

Master of Accountancy                                                                      2011

BBA – Accounting, Summa cum laude                                            2010

Texas Real Estate License                                                                  1994 – 2011

Graduate, Realtors Institute

Accredited Buyer Representative

Certified Residential Specialist

 

What is your history of supporting Democratic organizations and/or candidates?

I have been voting for and supporting Democratic candidates in elections since moving to central Texas, and much more actively since 2016! I give support to Democratic candidates by block walking, putting up yard signs, making donations, and working the polls on election days. While I might not be considered a political activist, I am committed to Democratic values and the good Democratic leadership we need at every level of government.

 

What, if any, experience do you have with non-partisan volunteering and community engagement in Hays County?

Much of my recent service has been related to Texas State during my career there. For more than nine years, I’ve been very active as Faculty Advisor for an honors student organization, Beta Alpha Psi, and have received awards for my contributions and service to this organization, as well as to TXST and the McCoy College of Business.

In addition, I am currently the Treasurer of my neighborhood homeowner’s association (Leisurewoods HOA) and serve on its board. I have enjoyed sustained involvement with the Central Texas Food Bank, Salvation Army, Mobile Loaves & Fishes, and Austin Pets Alive.

Bobcat Bounty, which is a food pantry for food insecure Texas State students, has been a particular interest of mine, which is also supported by the Hays County Food Bank.  Further, I’m a regular blood donor for We Are Blood at Living Word Lutheran Church.

 

The cost of living in Hays County has skyrocketed. Within the specific authority of the office you are seeking, what concrete steps will you take to address affordability, housing stability, or the economic burden on taxpayers?

As an accountant, I see numerous opportunities to bring some new direction to the county budget so we can reduce property taxes which have become burdensome for both homeowners and small business owners.

One of the strengths I bring to the Commissioner’s Court is my experience in reading, understanding, analyzing and managing budgets. I’m a numbers person with a penchant for efficiency. You can count on me to steward the county budget and tax rate with an attentive, skilled eye—and to find a strategic balance when growth and property values are fluctuating.

In addition to the budget being a way to address affordability, I would like to see how we can use our subdivision rules to incentivize low to middle-income housing.  I’m interested in solutions that ensure working professionals in our county (nurses, teachers, law enforcement, emergency service providers, etc.) can afford to live near their jobs. I support Hays County working with partner agencies to establish a downpayment assistance program.

 

Our region faces historic drought conditions. Our groundwater resources are threatened by pressure from development and drought. How will you prioritize water conservation and environmental stewardship when making decisions regarding development, land use, or legal disputes involving natural resources?

Our biggest issue is how to plan for enough water for the future. We simply cannot continue to allow large developments to be served solely by groundwater in Hays County. The current drought, water availability, and climate change should inform our growth patterns and future water supplies.

I want to work closely with local groundwater districts, public water suppliers, and developers to ensure we manage water carefully, conservatively and fairly. I would like to see water and landscaping conservation standards included in all new developments and retrofits to HOA guidelines where possible.

I will work to find additional growth management tools within our county’s subdivision rules and existing county authority.  We must be able to adequately address how land is developed because it has a significant impact on our water supply. Fast-growing counties need additional tools to manage growth, density and incompatible land uses. I will work for targeted authority for Hays County to protect property rights and water resources.

I believe we can and should find new ways to promote and incentivize land and water conservation — such as conservation development, One Water building strategies, and expansion of rainwater harvesting for residential and commercial development. I’m enlightened and encouraged by a recent study from the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at TXST establishing rainwater as a reliable water supply option, even during drought. There is plenty of room to grow rainwater harvesting incentives and solutions in Hays County.

Passage of Proposition 4 has created opportunities for water supply and infrastructure projects, with the first $1.0 billion to be released by the Legislature in September 2027.   Grant application planning should begin now. I will work to ensure Hays County get its fair share of these funds to address our water infrastructure needs, as well as programs to educate and incentivize water conservation and efficient use.

Further, I support additional TX Water Code, Chapter 36 authorities for the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District to put it on equal footing with other GCDs in Texas and to assure it has the budget for essential science and staff to adequately measure and manage groundwater in the northwestern part of the County.

 

Hays County is becoming an attractive target for Data Centers that use a significant amount of water and electricity to service primarily non-local data requests. How can we balance technological advancement while preserving our resources?

We can do this through a combination of strategic planning, a strong commitment to resource conservation, regional infrastructure coordination, and robust community engagement.

The county has seen a number of developers looking to site and build data centers along the IH35 corridor. When municipalities bow to local pressure and say no to siting within city limits, data center developers simply move to unincorporated areas of the county to build.

While the county may not be able to say a flat “NO, go away”, we certainly don’t need to be providing tax incentives and abatements either. We can and must make sure that water and energy availability reports are thoroughly studied and proven. I would like to see the county’s new subdivision regulations (in development now) include specific provisions to address data centers—in particular to protect local resources and interests.

Data centers can bring economic opportunities, but they also can put significant pressure on water and energy resources. According to the data center industry, demands on water and energy are changing and becoming more efficient. For public awareness and education, I would like to see the county host a public meeting (in person and online) specifically on data centers to share facts and figures and short- and long-term realities. Further, I’d like to see the County website house information resources on issues like this.

 

A judge recently overturned the 2024 Hays County Road Bond due to insufficient public notice, and that decision is being appealed. What processes will you follow to ensure appropriate notice and public input in the decisions the county faces?

I was disappointed that the road bond was overturned, but I believe the public’s business should be conducted in public and that large county expenditures, like bonds, should include a robust public involvement program and, above all, must follow the law to the letter.

I welcome the opportunity to revisit the issue. I know there were a number of concerns in the Buda portion of Precinct 4 where nothing was allocated to address the gridlock at the intersection of 967 and 1626, as well as the gridlock from that intersection into downtown Buda. I'm committed to sitting down with the city staff and residents to see what role the county can play in getting the traffic moving again.

There is no need to reinvent the wheel in terms of the public involvement and public notice area. There are proven best practices for soliciting public input and opinion on proposed projects, and there are very specific legal directives on all aspects related to public notice and public meetings. We need to simply listen to legal counsel and follow the law.

I will represent ALL constituents in Precinct 4 to address their concerns and needs and work collaboratively to find solutions that balance the county's growth with its beauty and natural resources.

 

What do you consider the most urgently needed road projects in your district, and how will you ensure the work is done?

Good safe roads and efficient transportation are primary responsibilities of county commissioners. I will make it a regular part of my duties to drive my roads with someone from the Hays Transportation Department. This will help me keep up with maintenance needs but also observe traffic volumes and potential problem areas. I look forward to learning everything I can about this important area of service.

I do know that fast growing counties like Hays are challenged by the demands for increased transportation capacity, necessary safety improvements, and traffic congestion relief—Precinct 4 has all of these.

I plan to study the regional, county and local transportation plans. We will need to work collaboratively to address congestion, such as at two very busy intersections in Precinct 4—FM 1626 and FM 967 near Buda and RR 12 and Hwy 290 in Dripping Springs.

I feel strongly about including public awareness and local input with any roadway improvement or expansion program in precinct 4.

Further, I believe we should look at all tools that can provide budget relief and revenue support in dense growth areas, such as Transportation Reinvestment Zones (TRZs), Public-Private Partnerships (P3s), and state or federal programs for multi-modal transportation options. I understand Pass-Through Financing programs were very effective in the past, but that TxDOT is no longer offering the option. Still, I would like to inquire about it for the future.

What Democratic principles are most important to you and how will they inform your actions as a commissioner?

Speaking to these principles, my most important principles are:

• A healthy and diverse economy that provides quality jobs and a positive environment for business startups
• Free and Fair Elections in which we make it easier for people to vote, rather than harder.
• Accountability and Transparency so that no more business is done behind closed doors.
• Rule of Law in which every citizen in Hays County has equal access and equal protection.
• Equality and Inclusion policies that encourage diversity and equity at all levels of society.

My job as a county commissioner will be to make certain that all of the residents of Hays County are heard and that the county government is working in their best interests.

Yes or no, did you use AI to assist you in answering any of these questions?

No