Council trims Chisholm Trail museum request after public criticism, approves $100,000 in HOT funds

A heated discussion over the Johnson County Heritage Foundation and the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum’s finances and operations ended with the Cleburne City Council approving $100,000 in hotel‑occupancy‑tax (HOT) support for fiscal year 2027, rejecting the museum’s $160,000 request.

Public comment set the tone. Sean Williams, a longtime volunteer who said he worked on museum projects, alleged the museum accepted contaminated fill for a lakeshore project, directed staff to work on the CEO’s private ranch, and questioned public representations of attendance and sponsorships. "During the construction of a 30,000 square foot beach located inside the floodplain area along the lake, loads of dirt arrived... it was full of construction debris, **** bricks, plastics, tile, chunks of broken glass and more," Williams told the council, and said he had filed reports with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and city code enforcement.

The museum’s CEO, Kerri Murdock, disputed some of the criticisms and laid out operations and programming, citing event diversity and recent attendance figures. On visitation, Murdock said February–June showed approximately 14,875 visitors and described the museum’s recent additions, including the Sand & Saddle festival and reopened horseback‑riding programs. She said the museum qualifies for all nine Comptroller categories for HOT spending and asked the council for $160,000 to cover minimum‑wage staff costs, insurance and storm damage repairs.

Council members pressed for financial details and cautioned against deficit spending. City finance staff explained that HOT revenues are projected to be flat compared with an elevated prior year that included late payments; the HOT fund balance stood at about $475,000 and the city projected the fund could be drawn down over multiple years if higher commitments continued. "We're actually going to see revenues this year compared to last year because we don't have the back payments," a city finance presenter said, referencing state Comptroller figures.

After debate about program sustainability and a requested roadmap to become self‑sustaining, Councilman Oliver Cosby moved to hold funding at the prior level of $100,000; Mayor Pro Tem Blake Jones seconded. The motion carried 4–1. Councilmember Diana Weaver recorded the sole recorded opposition, citing reluctance to begin her first council term by deficit spending.

What happens next: Council directed staff and the museum to continue budget discussions during the city’s budget process; council members requested a clearer plan from the museum showing how it will reduce reliance on HOT funds and the timetable for self‑sufficiency.