Bastrop ISD trustees continued discussions July 27 about potentially asking voters this November to approve a tax rate increase.

Why it matters: The district is weighing a proposed voter-approval tax rate election amid rising operating costs, stagnant enrollment and a $1.7 million budget shortfall for 2026-27.

The overview: The proposal would add three tax-rate pennies and generate about $6 million annually, Chief Financial Officer Mike White said.

He added that the state tax compression is expected to lower the district’s maintenance and operations rate by 1.7 cents, so adding the three pennies would leave the rate 1.3 cents higher than in 2025-26.

By the numbers: For a home with $300,000 in taxable value, the annual M&O tax bill would decrease about $50 without the VATRE or increase about $40 with it.

Homeowners age 65 and older with a homestead exemption would not see an increase.

Next steps: Trustees will consider calling the election at an Aug. 13 meeting. If that happens, voters would decide on the measure Nov. 3.

Bastrop resident and licensed vocational nurse Mary Lou Porter will soon debut Bluebonnet Scrubs in downtown Bastrop.

It will be located near the former Bastrop Medicine Shop spot, which moved to Chestnut Street on May 18.

What to expect: The shop will carry uniforms for healthcare professionals, as well as those working in industries such as hospitality and childcare.

"We’re here to help you look professional, feel comfortable and perform your best," Porter said in an email to Community Impact.

What else? Bluebonnet Scrubs will also offer themed personal care gifts, bags, bracelets, candles, lanyards, stethoscopes and more.

Meet the owner: Porter said her experience as an LVN living in Bastrop helped her recognize a need for more local scrub and work uniform options as Bastrop’s medical community continues to grow.

"We are excited to become part of Bastrop’s growing business community and look forward to serving those who spend their careers caring for others," she said.

• Opening Aug. 3
• 1112 Main St., Bastrop

A Burlington in Kyle, a Fairfield Inn in Bastrop and an AutoZone in Austin are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Burlington ($16.5 million): A new Burlington store is coming to the Kyle Park mixed-use development.

2. Fairfield Inn Staybridge Suites ($10 million): A new 121-key hotel is coming to Bastrop, with construction set to conclude in summer 2028.

3. Slaughter Lane Signal Improvements ($1.2 million): This project includes the installation of accessible pedestrian push-buttons, pedestrian signal poles, and renovation of curb ramps and adjacent sidewalks at 11 traffic signals on the Slaughter Lane corridor.

4. AutoZone ($1.1 million): A new AutoZone location is planned for Austin. The 6,446-square-foot auto parts store is set to begin construction in April.

5. Jersey Mike's ($250,000): A new Jersey Mike's is planned for Cedar Park. The 1,457-square-foot sandwich shop is expected to be completed in October.

Texas lawmakers are considering cutting a costly, decade-old tax break for the state’s booming data center industry.

The overview: Texas spends more than $1 billion annually on the sales tax exemption, and the comptroller’s office estimated in 2025 that due to the program, the state will lose about $3.2 billion in sales tax revenue over the next two years.

The Lone Star State is home to the nation’s fastest-growing data center market, and the Data Center Coalition, which advocates for the industry, has argued that the tax break program is key to maintaining that title. Senators and members of the public who spoke at a July 27 hearing disagreed.

Looking ahead: Amid a bipartisan push for more regulation of data centers, senators indicated that they intend to add more strings to the tax exemption program or eliminate it entirely.

"The question is whether or not we need to have a special session where all of us are focusing in on this," Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said.

“We do,” Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, replied.