Leander City Council instructed staff to suspend the city’s use of Flock surveillance cameras following a lengthy Sept. 3 public hearing focused on privacy, data security and funding concerns.

A closer look: The city’s 14 cameras automatically capture and upload license plate images, which police have said helped solve shootings and robberies since their installation in summer 2025. Police Chief Greg Minton outlined safeguards for the technology, including quarterly audits, restricted access and only 30-day data retention.

What they're saying: Dozens of residents raised concerns about potential misuse and constitutional privacy rights, with an online petition opposing the cameras gathering more than 1,600 signatures. After the meeting ran past 1 a.m., city officials said the police department will stop using the cameras and data, and the city will end funding for its Flock contract. Leander’s decision follows similar action in Pflugerville and Bastrop, while Liberty Hill is still reviewing its Flock contract.

Williamson County commissioners adopted the fiscal year 2026-27 budget and tax rate at the Commissioners Court meeting Sept. 1.

The $712.94 million budget is supported by a tax rate of $0.421547 per $100 valuation, the no-new-revenue tax rate.

Explained: The no-new-revenue rate calculates the property tax rate that would generate the exact same amount of revenue as last year from existing properties. Williamson County’s current tax rate is $0.413776 per $100.

Under the newly adopted rate, which goes into effect Oct. 1, Williamson County property owners will likely see a decrease on their county tax line, officials said. The average homestead will pay about $28, or 1.49%, less per year than in the current fiscal year, according to a county news release.

Digging deeper: The county budget consists of the general fund, road and bridge fund, and debt service. Commissioners approved a general fund budget of $405.65 million, $75 million for the road and bridge fund, and $232.3 million for debt service.

As Williamson County’s population grows, local officials are working to get ahead of water demand.

At a Sept. 3 Round Rock Chamber Momentum breakfast, County Judge Steven Snell, Round Rock Public Works director Michael Thane, and Brazos River Authority CEO and General Manager David Collinsworth answered questions on a panel about the future of water planning and infrastructure in the county.

In a nutshell: Thane said an upcoming 12-month study of 20 of the county’s largest water utilities will identify immediate water supply and treatment shortfalls as well as plan regional solutions.

“One utility cannot afford to build the infrastructure by themselves, so there may be many solutions,” Thane said. “There will be regional solutions where these water utilities in Williamson County work together to help build out that infrastructure, whether it’s treatment or transmission pipelines across the county.”

Stay tuned: Thane said a contract for the regional water study, estimated to cost about $500,000, will head to Williamson County Commissioners Court for approval soon.

Four candidates are running for Texas lieutenant governor—the second-in-command to the governor—in the Nov. 3 election.

What's happening: Libertarian Anthony Cristo, Democrat Vikki Goodwin and Green Party candidate Kevin McCormick are challenging Republican incumbent Dan Patrick, who is seeking a fourth term.

The lieutenant governor leads the Texas Senate and can exercise the powers of the governor if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent from the state, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

How we got here: Patrick won his Republican primary race in March, while Goodwin advanced to the general election after beating another Democrat in a May primary runoff, Community Impact reported. Cristo and McCormick were selected as their parties' respective candidates during nominating conventions in April.

Looking ahead: Early voting in the midterm election runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.