ATX-BAS: Impact 9/2/2025

Bastrop is set to shine a bit brighter this holiday season, as city officials approved $209,614 in lighting improvements aimed at enhancing charm across town.

The details: This marks the first series of holiday lighting improvements since 2017. 

“The feedback received [in 2017] was greatly positive,” Bastrop Police Chief Vicky Steffanic said during an Aug. 26 meeting. “This year should be no different.”5

The holiday lighting improvements—which will be purchased from San Antonio-based Decor IQ—will be installed at several locations throughout the city, including: 

• Downtown 
• Bastrop City Hall 
• Bastrop Convention and Exhibit Center 
• Bastrop Fire Department
• Bastrop Public Library 
• Fisherman’s Park 

Bastrop City Council approved a resolution Aug. 26 to delay action on an ordinance that would authorize the issuance of certificates of obligation worth $20 million—financing that will fund several park improvements. 

The details: The delay is in response to the need to complete an annual comprehensive financial report, according to city documents.  

“The city of Bastrop’s external auditors are thoroughly reviewing the financial status of the city of Bastrop, and are estimating the audit to be completed by the end of August or early September,” Bastrop Finance Director Judy Sandroussi said in a staff report. 

Diving in deeper: A majority of the $20 million will be allocated to the Old Iron Bridge project, which will feature several improvements, including:

• Adding a concrete deck
• Adding steel truss components
• Installing railing
• Installing decorative lights

Austin airport CEO Ghizlane Badawi spoke at a Round Rock Chamber luncheon Aug. 28, outlining the multibillion-dollar expansion currently underway and the hefty economic benefit for the region.

The big picture: Badawi characterized the airport as the “economic engine for Central Texas,” noting that a 2018 Texas Department of Transportation study estimated Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s economic impact at $7.6 billion—a figure now projected at approximately $10 billion, Badawi said.

What’s happening?: Presently, under the expansion initiative—Journey with AUS—there are six projects under construction and five in design.

Looking ahead: City of Austin officials gave the green light to a new lease agreement with airlines during an Aug. 28 council meeting. This means airlines will commit to the expansion program and lease the over 20 new gates airport officials expect to open in the early 2030s, according to an ABIA news release.

Community members can spend 30 minutes a week helping children increase their reading literacy at a local elementary school with Education Connection’s Literacy Partners program. 

Diving in deeper: Now accepting applications for the 2025-26 school year, the nonprofit organization partners with 18 school districts across Central Texas to serve in 121 schools. The program allows volunteers to read once a week with two students selected by classroom teachers for 15 minutes each. 

Volunteers must pass a school district background check and sign a pledge to protect student confidentiality, according to the organization. Necessary training will be provided to volunteers by Education Connection. 

The background : Education Connection created its literacy partnership program in 2009 with the goal of having every child reading by the end of third grade, according to previous Community Impact reporting. 

Some of the districts include:

• Austin ISD
• Bastrop ISD
• Georgetown ISD
• Hays CISD
• Lake Travis ISD
• Leander ISD
• Liberty Hill ISD
• Pflugerville ISD
• Round Rock ISD