Liberty Hill ISD has become one of the fastest growing districts in Central Texas with nearly 1,000 new students joining the district each year. Nearly 2,000 new homes are built in the district annually, which is the third highest amount of new home construction in the Austin area, Zonda Demographics Vice President Bob Templeton said.
“Liberty Hill is going to be a very strong growth district for at least the next 10 years,” Templeton said.
Despite its enrollment growth, the district has projected mounting budget shortfalls in recent fiscal years. Now, the district is seeking to generate an additional $10.9 million in revenue by asking voters to approve a $0.07 increase to its tax rate in a Nov. 4 election.
Leander residents will have a new option for pizza when Crust Pizza Co. opens its latest location.
What they offer: Established in 2011, Crust now has dozens of locations throughout Texas and Louisiana. The franchise sells Chicago-style thin-crust pizzas, in addition to a wide range of starters, salads, pastas and desserts.
The chain is set to hold a grand opening for its new franchise at Southbrook Station on Sept. 20. To mark the occasion, the branch will be holding a sweepstakes in which the first 100 customers who spend $20 will be entered to win free pizza for a year.
Flood recovery costs hit Travis County homeowners' pockets
Travis County homeowners will see an average $200 increase in property taxes this year after commissioners approved a one-year 9.12% tax hike to fund flood recovery efforts. The increase is allowed without voter approval due to state and federal disaster declarations following July’s severe flooding.
The breakdown: The higher tax rate—roughly 3 cents more per $100 of property value—is expected to raise about $42 million for a special reserve dedicated to flood repairs and road recovery. County officials have already spent over $21 million from emergency funds, covering debris removal, temporary road fixes and personnel costs. An additional $1.8 million is proposed for ongoing projects, including Cow Creek, Sandy Creek Bridge and a community resource liaison role.
The outlook: Commissioners emphasized the need to repair substandard roads, with roughly 100 miles still in need of upgrades, while ensuring transparency in emergency spending. Residents like Robert Ruggiero expressed concern about the impact on those on fixed incomes, worrying the law enabling the tax hike could lead to “government abuse.”
FOODIE FRIDAY Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Austin area.
A new location of Mendocino Farms is opening soon in Sunset Valley.
The menu at Mendocino Farms offers fresh sandwiches, salads, soups and sides. The “chef’s specials” menu features sandwiches and salads made with seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as the sweet peach and goat cheese salad, summer heirloom BLT and watermelon ‘poke’ salad.
To drink, the restaurant serves housemade beverages, including a passion fruit black tea and pomegranate mint lemonade.
TC4 & Co plans to construct the new restaurants at 1411 S. I-35 frontage road, Georgetown, on property it owns, according to a representative with Pennington Public Relations.
The League Kitchen & Tavern serves burgers, chicken pot pie, weekend brunch and a variety of drinks at four locations in the Austin area.
Tony C’s Pizza & Beer Garden currently has five locations in the Austin area, including offerings at the Moody Center and Dell Diamond. Menu items include mozzarella sticks, lasagna, pizzas, sandwiches, and a selection of beer and wine.
