Judge: Redistricting plan could save county thousands

BURNET — A redistricting plan recently adopted by the Burnet County Commissioners Court could save taxpayers thousands of dollars, according to County Judge Donna Klaeger.

In the meantime, it also means changes for voters in Burnet and Granite Shoals.

Because of boundary changes to the county’s four precincts adopted earlier this week, the commissioners are assigning the four justices of the peace to county-owned buildings, a move that will cut costs, officials said.

“That will save $50,000,” Klaeger said. “That is a lot of money for this county.”

The redistricting plan follows the latest U.S. Census. Federal voting law calls for roughly equal populations among precincts and other political subdivisions, officials said.

“The census results drive the actions of the redistricting,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery said. “The commissioners’ goal is to balance the population of the individual precincts.”

One change is that Burnet will move into Precinct 2. Previously, the city was divided between Precincts 1 and 2.

Also, about 50 percent of the Granite Shoals population will move into Precinct 1, and the other 50 percent will remain in Precinct 4, officials said.