Community members in Round Rock ISD will soon be able to provide feedback on the district's bus operations through an upcoming Transportation Advocacy Group.

The district is accepting applications for the group from Sept. 21-30.

About the program: Chief Technology Officer Donnie Bruton Jr. said the program would aim to include fewer than 20 members from district families, with membership distributed evenly across the district. The group will also include district and campus leaders, he said.

Bruton clarified the group will exist in an advisory capacity only, with final decisions left up to RRISD and its transportation department.

What they're saying: The group's formation is in response to community input after some bus routes were proposed for cuts earlier this year, administrators said at a Sept. 17 board meeting.

"It may still result in routes being cut or adjusted, but involving the community in that decision-making process is really important," Place 3 trustee Amber Feller Landrum said.

What's next? Applicants will be notified of their selection status around Oct. 9, Bruton said.

Polished Smiles of Round Rock, a comprehensive dental services provider, opened in mid-September near the city's border with Hutto and Georgetown.

Zooming in: Patients at the practice will be seen by Drs. Daniel Im and Laura Maxey, who provide a full range of oral health services, including general, restorative, cosmetic and emergency dentistry.

• 4450 University Blvd., Ste. 150, Round Rock

Williamson County officials are seeking applications for a new Precinct 1 Constable, following Williamson County Precinct 1 Constable Mickey Chance's resignation, effective Sept. 30.

How it works: The Williamson County Commissioners Court will appoint a new constable to fill the position until the November 2028 election.

Those interested in the position should send their resume and qualifications to [email protected] by Sept. 30 for commissioners to review.

Why it matters: Constables are law enforcement officials elected to four year terms in each precinct. They execute court orders from county and state courts, which most often include arrest warrants, protective orders and evictions, according to county documents.

Precinct 1 covers parts of Round Rock and Austin in Williamson County.

Voters will choose the ACC Board of Trustees, Place 1 representative on Nov. 3, with early voting running Oct. 19-30. Community Impact asked candidates in the race to answer a set of questions on their motivations, priorities, and vision for the college.

Read the full Q&A for details on each candidate's platform ahead of the general election.

Here are six trending Austin-area stories from Sept. 14-17.

1. Check out 22 Georgetown-area business updates

2. Cedar Park to build wave pool in $10 million Veterans Memorial Pool expansion

3. Final first days: Pflugerville ISD prepares for 4 school closures, admin cuts

4. Construction on RM 620 widening project may begin in early 2029

5. Round Rock readopts trails master plan identifying new corridors for connectivity

6. Airbnb launches national affordable housing fund with $6.4M Austin investment

Some Texas Republican leaders have vowed to get rid of the property taxes that homeowners pay to their local public school districts, and lawmakers are analyzing how much it would cost to do so.

The big picture: Texas school districts collect about $29 billion per year in maintenance and operations taxes, which cover schools' daily expenses.

Of that $29 billion in school tax revenue, the state comptroller's office estimates that about $8.6 billion is paid by homeowners, and the rest comes from commercial and industrial property taxes.

This means the state would need to spend at least $8.6 billion annually to zero out homeowners' school property tax bills, officials said.

Quote of note: "Broadly speaking, you have a question about how much you want to fund schools, and then separately, where does that money come from?" Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said during a Sept. 15 legislative hearing. "If you have a target of how much you want to spend, you need to make sure you have enough variable revenue sources to reach that."