Bertram, Cottonwood Shores, and Burnet voters cast their ballots
Bertram is getting a new mayor, Burnet is adding a new face to its council, and Cottonwood Shores is keeping a street maintenance tax, just a few highlights from the May 1 election.
BERTRAM
City of Bertram voters picked Mike Dickinson to fill the unexpired mayor term. The spot became available earlier this year when Mayor Adam Warden resigned after moving out of Bertram.
John Baladez, Lane Shipp, and Pat Turner won the City Council race among five candidates for three spots.
Voters also approved reauthorizing a local sales tax at the rate of one-quarter percent for street maintenance and repair.
COTTONWOOD SHORES
Cottonwood Shores voters approved renewing a similar street maintenance tax at a rate of one-fourth of 1 percent.
“This is the first renewal,” City Administrator J.C. Hughes said. “You have to renew the sales tax every four years. So, it’s just extended for another four years.”
Funds generated by this tax can only be used for maintenance of existing streets, drainage, and potholes, he said.
The overall street maintenance budget is $49,000, and the street maintenance tax generates between $45,000 and $46,000 annually.
“So it’s very important,” Hughes said. “It’s about 93 percent of our street maintenance budget.”
BURNET
Burnt voters re-elected Cindia Talamantez to the City Council. They also picked former council member Joyce Laudenschlager and newcomer Ricky Langley for seats on the dais.
Mayor Crista Goble Bromley ran unopposed and was re-elected.
Associate Editor Daniel Clifton contributed to this report