The Liberty Hill ISD board of trustees adopted a budget with a $1.9 million shortfall in its debt service fund during its Aug. 17 meeting.

Board members also approved the district's proposed tax rate at $1.2298 per $100 valuation. Due to increased median home values in the area, residents can expect to pay around $185 a month or $2,223 annually towards local school property taxes.

By the numbers: While the district’s general fund is projected to have a surplus of about $9 million, the district’s debt service fund is facing a $1.9 million shortfall.

Vallery Stone, the district’s chief financial officer, told Community Impact the district is meeting with its financial advisor to explore options. One solution the district is considering is a bond sale, which Stone expects will take place in November.

Measuring the impact: Although the district’s combined tax rate is falling, property values in the district are increasing. Stone said the Williamson County Appraisal District assessed that property value growth within the district increased by 5.5%.
 

A second 7 Brew Coffee location is coming to Leander. The planned location is set to open up near Northline, a $1 billion, 116-acre development just north of Leander Station, according to project information filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

At a glance: The project filing indicates that the location will begin construction in September before wrapping up in November. Beyond a variety of coffee-based drinks, 7 Brew offers a range of beverages such as teas, smoothies and milkshakes.

7 Brew Coffee opened its first Leander location August 2025 near the intersection of State Hwy. 29 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard. Another 7 Brew location is planned for Hutto as the coffee chain expands its presence in the Austin-area.

• 10281 183A Toll Frontage Road, Leander

Williamson County commissioners unanimously approved an economic development agreement Aug. 20 for Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space technology company, to possibly construct a facility on Innovation Boulevard in Hutto.

What we know: The deal would facilitate Blue Origin’s construction of approximately one million square-feet of industrial research space related to the aerospace and defense industry, located in Hutto Crossing industrial park, according to county documents.

The facility represents an $674 million investment in the county, and would create as many as 2,000 jobs in 10 years, officials said at the meeting. This would make it the largest employer in the city of Hutto, Precinct 4 commissioner Russ Boles said

Something to note: The county’s deal mirrors the incentives that the Hutto Economic Development Corporation recently approved, Snell said. The exact details of the agreements have not been made public, and are still under active negotiation, EDC Director Cheney Gamboa said.

Texas’ audit of hundreds of proposed data centers will likely wrap up by the end of the year, grid officials said Aug. 20.

The overview: Up to 300 proposals will be audited to ensure they meet certain criteria before the data centers can begin connecting to the state electric grid. If all the plans are approved, these facilities alone could use about 200 gigawatts of electricity—more than twice Texas’ 91-gigawatt peak demand record, which was set on July 22.

How we got here: On Aug. 3, Gov. Greg Abbott directed ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to audit proposed data centers regarding their water and electricity use; tax exemptions; impacts on residents; and facility ownership.

More details: Only large loads, or facilities that are expected to use at least 75 megawatts of electricity, will be fully audited. However, ERCOT will also survey proposed data centers that would use 25 megawatts of electricity or more.

ERCOT plans to release reports detailing the results of the audit and surveys on Dec. 10, officials said.

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Austin Transit Partnership office search continues as officials press for lower costs, risks: The Austin Transit Partnership continues to pursue new offices for its growing workforce as its development of Austin Light Rail ramps up. A decision on the transit planning organization's next home could come in September, months after officials declined to approve a $32 million luxury office lease downtown following opposition from Mayor Kirk Watson.

Road work projects around CedarView development to be completed before Scheels opening: Two roadwork projects around the CedarView development in north Cedar Park— at the intersection of New Hope Drive and Enchanted Rock Drive, and New Hope Drive and Main Street-Block House Drive—will be completed by late August by the time Scheels opens Aug. 29.

WilCo commissioners support TxDOT I-35 expansion project: Williamson County commissioners voted Aug. 18 to formally support the expansion of I-35 through the county, a project led by the Texas Department of Transportation and sent the department a list of requests.