ATX-GEO: Impact 10/20/2025

Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder highlighted the need for state water infrastructure funding and property tax-funded public services at a Georgetown Chamber event Oct. 16.

At the event, Schroeder discussed the 17 amendments to the Texas constitution up for vote in the November election, giving a local perspective on how each could affect residents. The propositions include reducing property taxes, funding water supply projects and creating a state dementia research institute, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

The gist: Schroeder asked voters to consider how some propositions will be funded if others reduce taxes.

“If you do like some of the services [the] government provides you, [such as] police, fire, roads ... and you acknowledge that none of them are free, we’ve got to acknowledge that we have to pay for them through some taxing mechanism,” Schroeder said.

At the polls: The only items on Georgetown-area voters’ ballots are the charter amendments. Early voting for the Nov. 4 election runs from Oct. 20-31.

Harmony Public Schools began teaching students coding and robotics skills at a new science academy in Georgetown this fall.

Officials with the Texas public charter school system celebrated the opening of Harmony Science Academy Georgetown at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 17. The Georgetown campus is one of two new campuses Harmony Public Schools opened in the Austin metro area this school year.

The overview: Harmony Science Academy Georgetown welcomed more than 480 prekindergarten through sixth grade students in August.

The school’s curriculum focuses on science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, education and preparing students for college.

Students take classes in computer science and robotics and engage with advanced technology like 3D printers, drones and laser printing. Students begin learning coding in kindergarten and start using Python, a high-level programming language, by sixth grade.

The backstory: Principal Abdullah Suzek said Harmony Public Schools saw a need for STEM-based curriculum and college-preparation programs in the Georgetown area. The school had over 2,300 applicants in its first year, said Mustafa Altindag, HPS Central Texas area superintendent.

Juliet Italian Kitchen in downtown Georgetown announced on Facebook that owner Veneto Hospitality will convert the space into a lounge and event venue.

Dining services at the restaurant are paused, according to the post. The two Juliet Italian Kitchen locations in Austin will continue serving food and beverages, Abbey Pennington Katzen from Pennington Public Relations said in an email.

More details: The new event space is currently accepting bookings, and a new name for the space will be announced in November, Pennington Katzen said. Veneto Hospitality is also updating the former restaurant to include private dining areas, lounges and balconies for a range of events.

A new chapter: “We’ve listened to our guests, and the demand for private event spaces in Georgetown has been overwhelming,” owner Donna Wilkins said in an email to Community Impact.

The ground floor of the space will be open to the public during select events in downtown, such as the Christmas Stroll and the Red Poppy Festival, Pennington Katzen said.

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

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 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