ATX-PFH: Impact 10/20/2025

The city of Hutto is planning to issues roughly $77 million in bonds for upcoming utility projects and for the design of a new justice center.

Overview: More than $72.5 million of the bond funding will help support capital improvement projects for the city’s utility system.

Andre Ayala, financial adviser with HilltopSecurities, said in an Oct. 17 City Council meeting that the certificate of obligation bonds would be secured by the city’s property taxes and its revenue collected from utility services. However, he added that the debt would likely be repaid solely by the utility revenues. Hutto has been undergoing a series of water and wastewater infrastructure projects, including the South Wastewater Treatment Plant the city broke ground on last year.

Another $5 million in general obligation bonds would go to the design of Hutto’s new justice center. In July, Hutto Police Chief Jeffrey Yarbrough told council members that Hutto Police Department’s facility is in need of an upgrade.

The Williamson County Fair and Rodeo will be open from Oct. 22-25 in Taylor.

More details: Attractions for this year include carnival rides, a children’s business fair, a petting zoo, pig races, the H-E-B Beer and Wine Garden and more. 

Fun for the family: Children can partake in the rodeo activities through the kid’s calf scramble and mutton bustin’ competitions; families are encouraged to register their rider in advance to secure a spot. 

To-do list: Attendees can expect live music all weekend from Elle Townley, Suede, All Hat No Cadillac and a Taylor Swift tribute show. Fairgoers are also invited to shop at the arts and crafts fair stocked with over 60 vendors selling handmade jewelry, holiday decorations and home goods. 

Early voting in the Nov. 4 election begins Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. During early voting, registered voters can cast ballots at any polling place within their county of residence, according to the secretary of state’s office.

What to bring: Voters must bring one of seven forms of identification to the polls:

• A Texas driver license (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety)
• A Texas personal ID card (issued by the DPS)
• A Texas handgun license (issued by the DPS)
• A Texas election ID certificate (issued by the DPS)
• A U.S. military ID card with the voter’s photograph
• A U.S. citizenship certificate with the voter’s photograph
• A U.S. passport

As water restrictions and shortages become more common in Texas communities, state lawmakers are asking voters to approve $20 billion to fund new water supply projects and improve existing systems over the next 20 years.

The overview: If voters approve State Proposition 4, which is on the November ballot, the state will create a dedicated funding stream to help local utilities access more water and upgrade their infrastructure. Without the new funding, Texas’ water crisis could deepen, experts say.

“We’ve got 1,500+ people moving to Texas every day, and not one of them is bringing a single drop of water with them,” Dean Sharp, who leads the management division of the Texas American Water Works Association, said Oct. 16.

Key takeaway: Despite the $1 billion annual price tag, Proposition 4 would not create any new state taxes or increase costs for Texans, lawmakers and experts said. Beginning in 2027, the money would come from existing sales tax revenue and be deposited in the Texas Water Fund, a state account that voters approved in 2023.

As Community Impact enters its third decade, it’s returning to its roots of growth and deeper reader connections. The “Patron” program, which began in 2020 by reader demand, is relaunching as the InCIder this month.

“This relaunch represents our renewed commitment to readers who support our local news,” CEO John Garrett said. “Beyond funding great journalism, we also want to reward our InCIders and build deeper connections with them, creating a true sense of community around the work we do.”

The InCIder program currently gives donors access to a special Saturday email edition across each metro: Austin, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio.

Memberships are currently $10 per month or $110 annually. A membership will include the previously mentioned perks, as well as:

• Quarterly discounts at local businesses 
• Invites to in-person events
• Optional naming and “thank you” in our newspaper
• Community Impact swag
• InCIder anniversary gift

Check out the top trending Community Impact stories in the Austin metro from
Oct. 13-17.

1. Williamson County Fair and Rodeo coming to Taylor in October

2. Trader Joe’s expected to begin construction in Cedar Park this January

3. Pflugerville home sales decline, prices drop in Hutto

4. Austin ISD offers naming rights at district facilities to generate additional revenue

5. 'Shovel-ready:' Austin ISD nears groundbreaking on affordable apartment community

6. Home sale prices continue to decline in September for Cedar Park and Far Northwest Austin