ATX-CPF: Impact 8/20/2026

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Top Story

Leander ISD voters to decide on 3-cent tax rate increase in November

Leander ISD residents will have the opportunity to vote for a tax rate increase this November, which officials say would generate over $6 million for the district's maintenance and operations fund. The LISD board of trustees approved an order calling for a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE, during the Aug. 17 board meeting.

The cost: If approved, the VATRE would increase the M&O portion of LISD's 2026-27 tax rate by three cents, resulting in a rate of $1.1169 per $100 valuation. Based on LISD's average taxable home value of $460,292, taxpayers could expect an estimated annual tax bill of $5,141, an increase of $27.56 annually compared to 2025-26. If the VATRE is not approved, the tax rate would return to $1.0869, resulting in a tax bill decrease of $110.53 annually compared to 2025-26.

Why it matters: If approved, the VATRE would provide the district with approximately $6.7 million in additional funding after state recapture. The M&O tax rate funds daily operating expenses such as staff pay, district programs and student services.

Read the full story.

Market Story

Round Rock ISD to hold board, tax rate election in November

Voters in Round Rock ISD will decide on several ballot measures in the Nov. 3 election after trustees called both a board and tax rate election.

In a nutshell: Trustees set its tax rate for the 2026-27 financial year Aug. 13. The rate of $0.9848 per $100 valuation comprises a $0.7654 maintenance and operations rate, and a $0.1830 debt service rate.

The M&O rate funds the district’s general fund and supports day-to-day operations, while the debt service rate pays down district debt, such as bond payments.

What else?: Trustees also called an election for Place 3, 4, 5 and 6 board seats with terms expiring in November.

See more details.

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

As the Knife Twists

Main Street Market

Aug. 21-23, showtimes vary
Round Rock

Aug. 22-23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bastrop

More info

Austin Pride Parade

Puppy Plunge

Aug. 22, 11 a.m.
Austin

Aug. 23, 6:30-8 p.m.
Dripping Springs

More info

To submit your own event, click here.

Meet The Candidates

Q&A: Get to know the candidates for State Representative District 52

Incumbent state Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock, will face Democratic challenger Chris Jimenez in the race to represent District 52 in the Texas House of Representatives.

District 52 primarily consists of a large portion of Williamson County.

What to bring to the polls: Voters should bring a photo ID with them to the polls. According to the Texas Secretary of State's office, acceptable forms of photo ID include:

Texas driver's license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Texas election identification certificate issued by DPS
Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
Texas handgun license issued by DPS
U.S. Military identification card containing the person’s photograph
U.S. citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
U.S. passport (book or card)

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 5, and early voting begins Oct. 19.

A quick note: The candidates submitted responses to questions from Community Impact ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Read here.

Stay In The Know

Live updates: ERCOT will complete data center audit in late 2026, officials say

The Texas House State Affairs Committee heard from power grid officials; data center developers and industry representatives; local government officials; cybersecurity experts; and utility companies during an Aug. 19 hearing on the growth of data centers in the state. Dozens of Texas residents also testified about the impact of data centers in their communities.

The details: Pablo Vegas, CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said it will take the grid operator several months to audit about 200 gigawatts of data center proposals. ERCOT will request information from all large and medium-sized data centers that are expected to use at least 25 megawatts of electricity.

ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission were ordered on Aug. 3 to audit all data centers seeking to connect to Texas’ power grid. They anticipate completing that audit in late November or early December, Vegas said.

Your local team

Haley McLeod
Editor

Denise Seiler
General Manager

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

Good Morning, Cedar Park!

Your local team

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