Judson ISD calls VATRE in hopes of balancing FY 2025-26 budget
Judson ISD will be on the Bexar County ballot Nov. 4, as the district's board of trustees officially called for a voter-approval tax rate election Aug. 18.
What you need to know: The board is proposing a fiscal year 2025-26 property tax rate of $1.0796 per $100 valuation, a rate increase of $0.045 from FY 2024-25 and an increase of $0.08 from the FY 2025-26 voter-approval tax rate.
If approved, the VATRE would bring in approximately $21 million of revenue, Chief Financial Officer Tony Kingman said—decreasing the district's budget shortfall from $37.95 million to approximately $16.95 million.
If the VATRE passes with that rate, the district budget is three to four years away from being balanced without other cuts, Kingman said.
A new coffee and donut chain has recently opened a new location near Live Oak.
A closer look: Shipley Do-Nuts has opened a fourth location in the Northeast San Antonio Metrocom, situated at 7875 Kitty Hawk Road in Converse, just beyond Live Oak.
Others in the area are located in Universal City, Schertz and off of Nacogdoches Road in Northeast San Antonio, according to their store locator.
Shop staff said they held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 16.
What’s special about it: The food chain specializes in handcrafted donuts, desserts and entree-focused kolaches filled with various meats and cheeses, according to their menu.
Traditional coffee shop beverages are also on the menu, from iced lattes, cold brew, smoothies, soft drinks and more.
Gov. Abbott signs new congressional map; Texas Democrats vow to fight in court
Gov. Greg Abbott signed Texas’ new congressional map into law Aug. 29, declaring in a video posted to social media that “Texas is now more red in the United States Congress.”
The details: Under Texas’ current congressional boundaries, Republicans hold 25 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats. State lawmakers have said the new map will help them gain up to five more during the 2026 midterm elections.
Texas Democrats have called the mid-decade redistricting effort unconstitutional and "racially discriminatory," while Republicans asserted that the map "complies with the law" and was designed to help more Republicans get elected to the U.S. House.
Next steps: Texas’ new congressional map is set to take effect in early December, although it will be discussed in court two months earlier. After state senators approved the map Aug. 23, the League of United Latin American Citizens and a group of Texas residents filed a lawsuit asking that the map be found unconstitutional.
A panel of three federal judges will hear arguments in the case Oct. 1-10 in El Paso.
