ISSUE 3 · SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2026 · LIFE BY DESIGN, NOT DEFAULT
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL This Week |
A quiet week at City Hall — and a good one to read the budget. No city council or board meeting is posted for October 12–18, and City Hall is closed Monday for Columbus Day. The county court meets Tuesday. And the city’s draft budget shows how much of City Hall runs on what you spend in town.
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Liberty Watch |
0 city meetings posted Oct 12–18 | Tue 10/13 county court 9 a.m. | Oct 20 next council meeting | $0.42993 proposed city rate per $100 |
No city meeting this week. The city’s council-meetings folder has no council or board meeting for October 12–18, and the folder for the October 20 meeting was still empty Sunday afternoon. City offices close Monday for Columbus Day and reopen Tuesday at 8 a.m.
Still pending: the budget and tax rate. The September 15 agenda put the budget ordinance (No. 2026-06) and the tax ordinance (No. 2026-07) up for action, with a proposed rate of $0.429930 per $100. The minutes from that meeting still aren’t posted, and the city’s Fiscal Transparency page still lists the 2027 budget only as proposed. So what council adopted isn’t on the public record yet. We’ll report it when it is.
County Commissioners Court: Tuesday, October 13, 9 a.m., at the County Courthouse in Caldwell. On the agenda: oil and gas development permits for two well sites on Caldwell addresses (2958 Hwy 21 East and 2470 County Road 205), road-use permits for four wells, a $56,475 engineering contract to put a generator at the Courthouse (grant-funded), and a Czech Heritage Month proclamation. The agenda opens with a public forum.
| Your move: if you live near one of those well sites or the roads they use, the public forum Tuesday morning is your chance to say so before the court acts. |
Sources: City council meetings folder · Agendas & minutes · Fiscal Transparency · City announcements · County court agenda, Oct 13
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Mapping Our Community: Who Pays for City Hall |
The city’s draft budget for the year that began October 1 — the version posted with the September 15 agenda — balances the General Fund at $6,205,695. That’s police, streets, parks, the library and City Hall. Here’s where the money comes from.
42% sales taxes | 27% from the city’s utilities | 21% property taxes |
Sales taxes bring in $2,609,020, about twice the $1,275,525 from property taxes. Another $1,645,000 comes from the city’s utilities: a $700,000 payment from the electric utility in place of taxes, plus $945,000 in transfers for administration and services. The electric fund alone spends more than the General Fund: $7,755,260.
The lens worth keeping: in Caldwell, your grocery receipt and your light bill pay for more of City Hall than your tax bill does. And the draft counts on sales taxes rising 20% over this year’s budget. Through August, eleven months in, those lines had brought in $1,943,678 against a full-year budget of $2,175,000. It’s a fair question for October 20: what’s behind the forecast?
| GO DEEPER The Caldwell record: budgets, tax rates, votes and who governs, every figure sourced — councilonlocalrelations.org/tx/caldwell/ Start here — the Primers: 01 The Long Flat Line (how the family changed) · 02 The Documents We Live Under (the written rules that limit power) · 03 The Household (what a household buys, priced in years of work) · all primers → From the Council: This week: If It Only Works Because Someone Remembers, It Isn't Built Yet (The Engineer); Complexity Is a Moat. My Job Is to Fill It. (The Herald); I Watch the Gap Between What It Costs and What It Delivers (The Watchman); The Money Does Not Lie. But It Does Hide. (The Analyst); Why I Built a Council (David Campbell, Chairman). Get them by email → |
Sources: FY26-27 budget DRAFT (Sept 15 meeting folder) · Fiscal Transparency
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL From the Council This Week |
 | MONDAY, OCT 12 · THE TREASURER Every Dollar Is Working For You or Against You |
 | TUESDAY, OCT 13 · THE STEWARD Count What's Actually in the Pantry |
 | WEDNESDAY, OCT 14 · THE HEADMASTER The Standard Is Not Completion. The Standard Is Transfer. |
 | THURSDAY, OCT 15 · THE STRATEGIST Fewer Things, More Times |
 | FRIDAY, OCT 16 · THE ARTISAN Confusion Is a Form of Abandonment |
Every piece, every figure linked to its source: councilonlocalrelations.org
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Around the Block |
| Bookworms Storytime — 9:45 a.m., Harrie P. Woodson Memorial Library, 704 TX-21 W. Plus the Adult Computer Skills Clinic (2–3:30 p.m.) and Pokémon Club (4:30 p.m.). City offices are closed for Columbus Day; call ahead. | ||
| Knot Just Knitting: Book and Needlework Club — 2–4 p.m., library. ELL/ESL class at 5 p.m. | ||
| Genealogy Exploring for Beginners — 1–3 p.m., library. Also Introductory Spanish (2 p.m.) and Teen Game and Gather (5:30–7 p.m.). | ||
| Spanish Class — 10–11:30 a.m., library. |
Run a Caldwell event? Send it by Thursday.
Sources: City events calendar · Library programs
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Prosperity Spotlight |
Woodson Lumber Co.
On December 1, 1913, brothers Jim and Harrie Woodson opened the first Woodson Lumber store right here in Caldwell, selling building materials and hardware to local builders.
The family later added yards in Lexington, Bryan, Brenham, Mexia, Groesbeck and Buffalo, and it marked 100 years in 2013.
Harrie's granddaughter, Ann Woodson Yager Chapman, runs the company today, with a fourth generation in the business. Its headquarters is still in Caldwell.
| Woodson Lumber Co. · 702 W. Buck St., Caldwell · (979) 567-9805 Mon–Fri 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. · Sat 7:30–4 · Closed Sunday · woodsonlumber.com/caldwell |
Sources: Woodson Lumber Co.
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Food Scene |
Where does Caldwell eat? Tell us your favorite local spot — the plate you order every time, the counter where they know your name. Hit reply; we’ll feature the best one here.
✦ Trivia Question |
Caldwell was laid out in 1840 along the Old San Antonio Road. Who surveyed the town site? (Answer at the bottom.)
✦ Quote of the Day |
“Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” — Louis D. Brandeis
✦ Secret Little Hack |
Every dog and cat over six months old kept inside city limits needs a city license: $20, and the animal must have its rabies shot. Skipping it can cost $50 the first time and $150 after that. Questions: Animal Control, 979-567-4455, weekdays 9 to 5 (Animal Control page).
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Real Estate Pulse |
49 homes sold (Sept) | +36% sales vs. a year ago | 111 homes listed now | 4 in foreclosure |
Buyers showed up: 49 homes sold in the 77836 ZIP in September, up from 36 a year earlier, and 65 sold over the past twelve months. Supply is still deep at 111 listings. Your move: if you’re selling, price to the sold numbers, not the asking ones.
Sources: RealtyTrac — Caldwell 77836
| Looking to buy or sell? Nina Bright, Realtor — call or text 832-689-3170. Full disclosure: Nina is David’s wife. |
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Service Opportunities |
Hand out candy at Scare on the Square, October 31 downtown: the city is signing up community partners now and expects about 1,500 trick-or-treaters (sign up). Serve on a city board: the Airport, Electric, Library, Housing, Plumbing, Main Street and Police Training advisory boards all take citizen members (advisory boards).
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Adopt a Friend |
Every week we feature one Caldwell-area pet looking for a home. This week, meet them in person: the shelter’s adoptable animals are listed on its own page, and the staff will introduce you.
| City of Caldwell Animal Control · 114 S. Echols St., Caldwell · 979-567-4455 Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m. · adoption page |
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Growth & Learning |
Next time you buy something in town, show your kids the tax line on the receipt. Then tell them: in Caldwell, sales taxes bring City Hall about twice as much money as property taxes do. Ask: what happens to the city if people start shopping somewhere else? More at unrivaledacademy.com.
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Local Theory & Remnant Radio |
 | Now playing: Sovereign Ground — the latest Local Theory album (April 3, 2026 · 15 tracks). Listen · vote on the mixes. Remnant Radio streams the whole catalog 24/7 at radio.thinkandactlocally.com · Spotify. Fourteen releases. Sovereignty through sound. |
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Weather Forecast |
Sun Mostly sunny 93° 68° | Mon 30% storms 93° 74° | Tue 50% storms 94° 74° | Wed 40% storms 93° 69° | Thu Slight rain chance 91° 66° | Fri Mostly sunny 85° 59° | Sat Mostly sunny 77° 53° |
Summer isn’t finished yet: highs in the low 90s through Thursday, with afternoon storm chances Monday through Wednesday — best on Tuesday at 50%. Then it breaks: 85 on Friday, 77 on Saturday, and a low near 53 Saturday night. The city’s burn ban is still posted as in effect.
Sources: National Weather Service (HGX), retrieved Oct 11, 2:36 p.m. CT
✦ CrowdHealth |
 | David and his family left traditional health insurance for CrowdHealth — a community that funds each other’s medical bills. Bills get negotiated down first; no claims department, no denial letters. See how it works. We earn a referral if you join. CrowdHealth is not insurance. David is a paying member. |
✦ Unrivaled Travels |
 | Planning a trip worth taking? Our own travel service books the expedition, cruise, or getaway you’ll remember — at no markup. info@unrivaledtravels.com · 281-241-1994 · unrivaledtravels.com One of our own businesses. |
✦ Unrivaled Candles |
 | Hand-poured jewelry candles — every one hides a piece of jewelry inside, valued from $10 to $10,000. Burn it down and find out what’s yours. Shop Unrivaled Candles. Full disclosure: one of our own businesses. |
✦ Unrivaled Marketing Solutions |
 | You built the business — now make sure your Caldwell neighbors can find it. Grab a free digital audit and we’ll show you where you’re leaving money on the table. No pitch. Book your free audit. One of our own businesses. |
✦ Sponsor Spot |
This spot is open. Sponsor this spot — reach Caldwell neighbors every Sunday, in the one inbox they actually read. Reply to book it.
✦ They Told Him He Was Crazy |
David sold his metals. Not trimmed — sold. He kept the receipts, every decision sourced, so you can decide for yourself: conviction, or crazy? Read the filing →
David’s own account; affiliate link. Support never touches coverage.
✦ Have a Question? Ask It Live |
Want to understand the framework David uses to put money to work without living in front of a screen? The team behind it runs free live calls — bring your questions, get them answered in real time. No cost to sit in and listen.
Register for a free live call →
Full disclosure: this is an affiliate link. But you know the rule — sponsors support the mission, never influence the message. David doesn't recommend anything he doesn't personally use.
We earn a referral if you join. Education, not financial advice. Options involve risk of loss.
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Community Voices |
Who kept Caldwell running this week? The animal-control officer who got a loose dog home, the librarian who stayed late for Teen Game and Gather, the neighbor who checks on the folks down the street. Hit reply — one or two sentences — and we’ll run the best next Sunday.
✦ Take Action |
- Read the draft budget before the October 20 council meeting (5:30 p.m., 107 S. Hill St.).
- License your dog or cat: $20 at the city; skipping it can cost $50.
- Sign up to hand out candy at Scare on the Square, October 31.
✦ Submit Your Content |
Events, business features, volunteer calls, letters from Caldwell: david@thinkandactlocally.com. Deadline: Thursday 5 PM for Sunday.
✦ Answer to Trivia |
George B. Erath. He surveyed the town, laid out along the Old San Antonio Road, and it was named for Mathew Caldwell (Handbook of Texas).
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Keep the Herald Free |
No advertiser sets our coverage — readers keep it alive. The cheapest way to help: forward this to one neighbor who pays a light bill or buys groceries in town. That’s everybody, and this week’s budget story is theirs too.
| SUBSCRIBE TO THE CALDWELL HERALD → |
Caldwell on the record (CLR) · CLR Primers · Think and Act Locally · Unrivaled Marketing Solutions
The Herald is published by Think and Act Locally. Its facts come from the public record kept by the Council on Local Relations, which shares a founder with Think and Act Locally. Portions drafted with AI assistance and reviewed before publication. Reply anytime: david@thinkandactlocally.com
