Robert Wayne "Bobby" Rinn

Seconded the motion to approve a countywide pause on new battery energy storage sites and data centers on July 27, 2026. The Austin County Commissioners Court passed it 4-0.

July 27, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Made the motion on May 11, 2026 to adopt a resolution supporting a statewide change to the 911 service fee. The county emergency manager said current cell phone rates leave small counties short of money. It passed 4-0.

May 11, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Told an Austin County public hearing on April 27, 2026 that he shared residents' worries about battery storage and data center projects. He named the effect on the environment, on water supplies, and on electricity.

April 27, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Made the motion on March 9, 2026 to adopt a resolution asking the Texas Legislature to send 5 percent of motor fuel tax money and 5 percent of electric vehicle registration fees to county road funds. It passed 4-0.

March 9, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Made the motion on March 10, 2025 to adopt a resolution supporting Texas House Bill 3000 and Senate Bill 1377, two bills on funding for emergency medical services. The county EMS chief had asked the court for the support.

March 10, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Seconded the motion to deny the development plan for the On Energy battery storage site near Bellville on February 24, 2025. The court voted 4-0 to deny it and gave public health and safety as the reason.

February 24, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Seconded the motion setting the Austin County property tax rate for 2025-2026 at 50.377 cents per $100 of value on September 22, 2025. The court approved it 4-0.

September 22, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Seconded the motion adopting the Austin County budget for 2025-2026 on September 8, 2025. The court approved it 4-0.

September 8, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against paying salaried county EMS staff extra for time spent deployed to a disaster on August 1, 2025. He objected, saying regular pay was the right amount for disaster work. The motion passed 3-1.

August 1, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against the county's new fee schedule for development permits on January 23, 2023. It passed 3-1.

January 23, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against the Austin County budget for 2021-2022 and against setting the tax rate at 56.743 cents per $100 on September 13, 2021. Both passed 3-1.

September 13, 2021Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against changes to the county's subdivision rules on March 22, 2021, after a public hearing. The changes passed 3-1.

March 22, 2021Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against the 911 district budget for 2020-2021 on September 28, 2020. He had asked for more time to review it. It passed 3-1.

September 28, 2020Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against the Austin County budget for 2020-2021, against the salaries set for county officials, and against the proposed tax rate of 56.964 cents per $100, all on August 24, 2020. Each passed 3-1.

August 24, 2020Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against the proposed 2020-2021 salaries for elected county officials on July 27, 2020. He also cast the only vote against setting the county's voter-approval tax rate at 8 percent under the COVID-19 disaster declaration. Both passed 3-1.

July 27, 2020Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against paying a $63,931.56 change order to Gaeke Construction for soil problems at the new justice center site on May 11, 2020. The payment passed 3-1.

May 11, 2020Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against a 4 percent pay raise for county employees, against the 2019-2020 county budget, and against the proposed tax rate of 56.423 cents per $100, all on August 19, 2019. The minutes also record that he did not favor raising commissioner salaries. Each passed 3-1.

August 19, 2019Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against calling a $17 million bond election for a new justice center and EMS station on August 13, 2018. The order passed 3-1 and set the election for November 6, 2018.

August 13, 2018Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against the proposed 2017-2018 county tax rate of 54.79 cents per $100 on August 31, 2017. It passed 3-1.

August 31, 2017Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Voted against the county tax rate of 54.35 cents per $100 on September 19, 2016. He and Commissioner Turner were the two no votes. The county judge broke the tie and it passed 3-2.

September 19, 2016Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Seconded the motion to approve a joint planning agreement between Austin County and nearby towns on May 26, 2026. The agreement, known as a 391 agreement, lets local governments plan together. The court passed it 4-0.

May 26, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Made the motion on August 25, 2025 to accept a $100,000 road bond tied to renewing a right-of-way permit for Carr Resources. The bond covers repairs to county roads. It passed 4-0.

August 25, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Made the motions on April 22, 2024 accepting two road-repair bonds from Verdun Oil Company for Precinct 2 roads. One bond was for $555,000 and the other for $200,000, covering Skull Creek Road and Cut-off Road. Both passed 4-0.

April 22, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Made the motions on March 28, 2022 awarding two bridge contracts to Wakefield Bridge, Inc. Shelby Road cost $250,435 and Emshoff Road cost $257,180. Both passed 4-0.

March 28, 2022Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Made the motion on April 22, 2013 awarding the Star Hill Road bridge job at Post Oak Point Creek to Wakefield Bridge, Inc. for $180,125. The bridge is in his precinct. It passed 4-0.

April 22, 2013Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026

Served as a board member of the Austin County Emergency Communications District, the county's 911 agency, at its November 12, 2025 meeting. He moved to accept the district's bank and financial reports, and the board agreed.

November 12, 2025

Source: austincounty911.net · researched September 6, 2026

Cast the only vote against selling the county AgriLife building at 20 South Holland on August 26, 2019. He objected, saying the county needed the office space. The sale passed 3-1.

August 26, 2019

Source: austincounty.com · researched September 6, 2026