ATX-LLH: Impact 9/8/2025

Leander ISD officials are considering implementing cost-saving measures such as closing and repurposing campuses and updating staffing guidelines.

Some context: District officials presented three pathways to the board of trustees in May that could net the district millions of dollars in savings, including closing and repurposing Cypress, Faubion and Steiner Ranch Elementary schools. The pathways were determined due to LISD's shifting enrollment patterns, uneven facility utilization aper-pupil spending variances. 

What they're saying: District officials organized three town hall-style community conversations in August with the impacted campuses. Cypress Elementary parents expressed concerns with how district officials have calculated operating capacities, enrollment projections and proposed campus repurposing, citing issues with the transparency of the process.

A sneak peak: During the Sept. 9 board workshop meeting, officials will:

• Provide updates on the long-range plan
• Walk through the budget development process
• Look at how functional capacities are derived
• Synthesize community feedback

Tex-Mex food lovers in the Leander and Georgetown area may soon rejoice as a project registration with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shows a new Chuy's location slated for the area.

What we know: The new location is slated to come to land near the Bar W Marketplace shopping center, per the filing. Construction on the building is expected to begin in December and last until July.

On the menu: The Chuy's menu features a mix of enchiladas, tacos and burritos as well as appetizers, specialty sauces and margaritas.

What else?: Founded in Austin in 1982, Chuy’s restaurants were acquired by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants in the summer of 2024. Darden’s portfolio includes brands such as Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse.

There are 10 existing Austin-area Chuy's locations, including ones in Round Rock and Cedar Park.

Williamson County commissioners approved a $702.4 million budget and supporting tax rate of $0.413776 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2025-26 at a Sept. 3 meeting.

What residents should know: The newly approved tax rate is the highest rate commissioners can adopt without calling for an election. It is a 3.4% increase over FY 2024-25’s rate.

Using the new tax rate, a resident’s estimated county property tax bill for the upcoming fiscal year comes out to $1,556, based on the median property value of $358,542, according to county documents.

This is an increase of approximately $122 per year from FY 2024-25.

What happened: The final budget includes two changes from the last budget workshop.

At the Sept. 3 meeting, commissioners unanimously approved removing money allocated for a county vehicle that was already delivered this year, coming out to around $87,000.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey also proposed adding $17.9 million to the general fund for the Capital Improvement Plan and the Long-Range Transportation Plan.

Here are the top trending Community Impact stories from the Austin metro from Sept. 1-5.

1. Cedar Park denies request for business to operate late hours in north Cedar Park neighborhood

2. Georgetown to use eminent domain to complete Williams Drive intersection improvements

3. Chuy's to build restaurant near Georgetown, Leander border

4. Farmers markets, fried chicken and sports training: 19 business updates from Cedar Park

5. 230 homes sold across Georgetown's 3 area ZIP codes in July

6. City Council approves request to rezone Apple campus in North Austin

Two months after 25 campers and two counselors died in the historic July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic, Gov. Greg Abbott signed three new laws Sept. 5 that he said will “make youth camps safer” and ensure Texas communities are better prepared for future disasters. The flood victims' families attended the Sept. 5 bill signing ceremony in Austin.

The details: Under the two-pronged camp safety package, summer camps are required to remove existing cabins from floodplains by Jan. 1.

Camps must also develop and annually update comprehensive emergency plans, set up warning systems to notify campers if something is wrong and install ladders so campers can climb on cabin roofs during floods.

Looking ahead: Two other disaster preparedness bills, as well as legislation designed to regulate Texas’ multibillion-dollar THC industry, did not pass during the recent special legislative session, which ended around 1 a.m. Sept. 4.

When asked Sept. 5 if he planned to call a third legislative overtime to continue work on those policies, Abbott told reporters to "stay tuned."