Bastrop’s proposed fiscal year 2026-27 General Fund budget would balance revenue and expenses with a $234,000-plus surplus and fund a 2.5% employee cost-of-living adjustment, while the proposed tax rate would lower the city property tax bill for a median-valued home.

“I know for a fact that’s two years in a row that [city staff has] really, really worked hard at this budget,” Mayor Ishmael Harris said. “So I appreciate the hard work.”

The overview: Bastrop City Council set the proposed property tax rate at $0.5118 per $100 valuation on Aug. 25. 

The budget draft increases the Streets Maintenance Fund transfer by about $800,000, defers requested police and Fleet and Facilities hires until potentially mid-fiscal year, and includes $290,000 for an 8% health insurance increase.

Although the proposed rate is 0.78 cents higher than last year, the city estimates the owner of a median-valued home would pay $35.86 less because the median value declined. 

Some context: As previously reported, one of five earlier scenarios showed a potential $830,468 shortfall if the city funded all initial requests and made no other changes.

What’s next: Budget hearings are Sept. 8 and 15. The city must adopt the budget before Oct. 1.

Hope Floats will return to downtown Smithville under its original owners following its Aug. 30 closure.

What happened? Kalin “KK” Eskew, who took over Hope Floats in 2025, announced the closure on Facebook, citing family and health needs.

"We leave with full hearts, countless memories and an enormous amount of gratitude," Eskew said. "This isn't goodbye without sadness—but it is goodbye with so much appreciation for the journey."

What's next? Original owners Regina and Ryan Blackmore plan to reopen the business as Hope Floats Ice Cream & Sweet Shop next door to its former location.

Regina Blackmore told Community Impact that the new space is undergoing renovations and will offer ice cream, baked goods and coffee.

• Reopening Oct. 1

• NW Industrial, 109 NW 2nd St., Smithville

Additions and renovations to Deerpark Middle School in Round Rock ISD, a refresh of the Yeti headquarters building and a new donut shop in Austin are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the metro this week.

1. Aalo Advanced Manufacturing ($25 million): This project involves the renovation of an existing 204,350-square-foot one-story warehouse building to provide lab, machine shop and production floor space for Aalo Atomics Advanced Manufacturing.

2. Deerpark Middle School additions and renovations ($20 million): Renovations will be taking place at Deerpark Middle School, including a fine arts and classroom addition at the main building.

3. Yeti HQ refresh ($2.1 million): The Yeti headquarters building in Austin will undergo a renovation. 

4. UT Austin President's Office renovation ($1 million): This project involves the renovation of the main suite to serve as the temporary President’s Office during the main building restoration.

5. Smiling Donuts ($120,000): A new Smiling Donuts location is coming to Austin.

The Texas Department of Transportation manages over 200,000 miles of state highways. Roughly 72% of all vehicle travel in the state occurs on TxDOT-maintained highways, TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said.

The details: As Texas’ population continues to grow, so does “demand on our transportation systems, from busy urban corridors to rural communities,” Williams told lawmakers during an Aug. 17 hearing held by the Texas House Transportation Committee.

What's happening: More than 11,000 TxDOT projects are currently in the works, according to the agency’s website.

To keep motorists informed about road construction, TxDOT collects public input during the project planning process, then conducts outreach on social media, on project websites and through email notifications before and during closures, according to Eric Lykins, TxDOT’s senior director of district operations.

Learn more: The agency also places electronic message signs on roadways ahead of closures or detours, he said.

Some state lawmakers are encouraging transportation officials to improve outreach to motorists when roads, lanes and exits are closed or adjusted.