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Survey indicates support for potential Georgetown ISD VATRE as deadline looms

Ahead of the Aug. 17 deadline for school districts to call a voter-approval tax rate election, Georgetown ISD released the results of a community survey measuring support for a potential tax increase.

The results, presented during GISD’s July 28 board meeting, show support for a VATRE as the district seeks to provide educators with a pay raise.

By the numbers: The survey shows initial support for a 9-cent tax rate increase measured at 48%. However, Brasher said that after being informed throughout the survey, support rose to 58%.

More details: While GISD adopted a balanced budget in June, the district is considering a VATRE to generate revenue to provide district employees with pay raises.

The district is proposing a 6-cent tax increase overall from 1.0506 to 1.1106, which it says will cost the median homeowner with a homestead exemption an additional $7.92 in property taxes annually.

District officials said the tax increase will be used to provide teachers with a 3%-4% pay raise while all other staff will receive a 2% pay increase.

 
now open
Velvet Taco opens Georgetown location

Velvet Taco opened a location in Georgetown's Bluebonnet Plaza at the end of July. This is the fifth Austin-area location, and the 59th Velvet Taco restaurant, according to a July 29 news release.

The details: Velvet Taco has a menu featuring over 20 tacos and bowls as well as a red velvet cake made in-house daily. The 3,148-square-foot restaurant can seat approximately 100 people, and the business will create about 50 local job opportunities, the release states.

One more thing: The Georgetown honey chipotle chicken taco will be available at the new restaurant from July 29-Aug. 4, and a portion of sales from the taco will benefit The Georgetown Project.

  • 1316 W. University Ave., Ste. 103, Georgetown
 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo

Sunset Movie Series

July 28-Aug. 1, times vary
Bastrop

July 31, 8 p.m.
Georgetown

More info

More info

 

Summer Stock Austin’s “Newsies”

Hays County Back to School Health Fair

July 31-Aug. 9
Austin

Aug. 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
San Marcos

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

Across The Region
Film Friendly: Area officials, industry people look to attract screen time

Travis County, specifically western Travis County’s Hill Country, has become a hot spot for filming as 2,415 movie and TV productions have been filmed in the area in the past 30 years, according to the Texas Film Commission.

In response to production companies continuing to consider the Hill Country for potential filming sites, cities such as Lakeway are embracing the industry as both an economic development strategy and a way to showcase the region.

The framework: As more film crews begin to show interest in various locations around the Hill Country, cities are moving to become certified as “film friendly” by the Film Friendly Texas program through the Texas Film Commission.

Certified communities are featured on the Texas Film Commission’s website and receive ongoing training surrounding media industry standards.

Lakeway received its film friendly certification from the Texas Film Commission in March.

To accommodate the film friendly label, the city established a framework that allows production companies to work with property owners and city staff to ensure regulations are being followed.
 

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