Georgetown officials began planning for a potential bond election in May 2027, which would help the city address long-term infrastructure needs.

While current debt capacity is committed through the next three years, the city aims to identify road, park and facility projects to support projected population growth.

In a nutshell: Assistant City Manager Nick Woolery said a May 2027 bond election is the ideal timing to allow projects to begin construction in 2029.

City Council will work to prioritize projects from now until 2027 leading up to the election. Potential projects come from city master plans approved in recent years such as the Future Mobility Plan and the Downtown Master Plan, as well as projects that already have preliminary engineering complete, Woolery said.

What’s next: The city is early in the bond project planning process and will continue to have workshops in the coming months, Woolery said.

Council members also supported creating citizen bond committees to help prioritize projects.

These nine updates from Georgetown-area businesses and organizations include those that have recently filed permits with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and those that are relocating, have new management or are marking an anniversary.

What’s next (Permits filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation)
Blast Swim Academy
The swim school provides water safety, swim lessons and stroke development for children starting at 3 months of age, its website states. Construction on the upcoming facility, which is slated to include an above-ground pool, is scheduled to last through November.

• 3701 W. Hwy. 29, Ste. 4102, Georgetown

• Relocating in August
• 6540 W. Hwy. 29, Georgetown

Mini-golf company PopStroke has announced plans to open a second Austin-area location in Cedar Park.

The details: The $5.8 million venture is anticipated to open in April, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Co-owned by golf legend Tiger Woods, PopStroke recently opened its first Austin location near The Domain in North Austin in September.

Community members can expect to find two 18-hole mini-golf courses, a full-service scratch kitchen restaurant and an ice cream parlor. The venue will include indoor and outdoor restaurant seating, three bars, an outdoor beer garden, yard games and a fully enclosed soft-surface playground.

Individuals can pay a daily rate for the space’s experiences or invest in a membership fee, which provides access to all games and sports amenities. The space can also be rented out for events or retreats.

• 817 C-Bar Ranch Trail, Cedar Park

Three Democrats are running to be Texas' next chief financial officer in the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The overview: Sarah Eckhardt, Michael Lange and Savant Moore are seeking the Democratic nomination for Texas comptroller. The winning Democratic candidate will face the Republican nominee in November; the winner of that election will be sworn in for a four-year term in January 2027.

The context: The comptroller's office is open after former state comptroller Glenn Hegar stepped down in July to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Former state Sen. Kelly Hancock currently serves as acting state comptroller and is running in the Republican primary, although he is not considered the incumbent in the race.

The comptroller is tasked with overseeing government spending, projecting Texas' biennial budget for state legislators, reporting on statewide economic issues, and managing the state treasury and unclaimed property programs. Hancock's office also recently launched the state’s new education savings account program, as mandated by the Texas Legislature.

Four Republican candidates are running for Texas comptroller in the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The big picture: Michael Berlanga, Christi Craddick, Kelly Hancock and Don Huffines are seeking the Republican nomination to be Texas' next chief financial officer. The Republican nominee will face the winner of the Democratic primary in November; the winner of that election will be sworn in for a four-year term in January 2027.

The background: The comptroller's office is open after former state comptroller Glenn Hegar stepped down in July to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Former state Sen. Kelly Hancock currently serves as acting state comptroller and is running in the Republican primary, although he is not considered the incumbent in the race.

The comptroller is tasked with overseeing government spending, projecting Texas' biennial budget for state legislators, reporting on statewide economic issues, and managing the state treasury and unclaimed property programs. Hancock's office also recently launched the state’s new education savings account program, as mandated by the Texas Legislature.

A far-reaching winter storm is expected to bring below-freezing temperatures, wintry precipitation and “dangerous ice” to Texas beginning Jan. 23, according to the National Weather Service. As residents brace for days of potentially hazardous conditions, state leaders said Jan. 22 that the Texas power grid “has never been stronger” and will withstand the storm.

What's happening: Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 134 of Texas’ 254 counties, telling reporters that the northern two-thirds of the state—from San Antonio to the Panhandle—will be impacted by the storm.

Officials said they do not expect a repeat of the widespread power outages that occurred during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, emphasizing that changes have been made in recent years to harden the grid against extreme weather. The governor said some Texans could see “local, isolated” outages due to fallen tree branches or ice on power lines.

"The severity of it is not quite as great... as Winter Storm Uri," Abbott said. "That said, people would be making a mistake if they don't take it serious."