Soccer Pups now offering youth training in Pflugerville
Soccer Pups opened its new training facility in late July, offering a variety of indoor soccer programs.
Overview: The business offers classes for children 3 years and older, with a variety of curriculum for youth of all skill levels. Soccer Pups provides advanced soccer training for ages 5-9 through its academy. The 8-week academy focuses on motor skills and the fundamentals of soccer. The training facility also offers 3v3 and 4v4 leagues to provide youth with competitive play.
Pflugerville ISD board approves tax rate for 2025-26
Pflugerville ISD’s 2025-26 tax rate will stay the same as last year as the district’s budget shortfall is expected to shrink following new state funding.
The board of trustees adopted the tax rate and approved a budget amendment to lower the shortfall during the Aug. 28 board meeting.
What you need to know: The adopted $1.1069 tax rate is broken down into:
$0.7869 for maintenance & operations, which funds classrooms, staff and daily operations
$0.3200 for interest & sinking, which pays off voter-approved debt
Also on the agenda: The board also approved a budget amendment to the 2025-26 general fund which will lower the budget shortfall.
The board adopted the budget in June with a $10.3 million shortfall, but included a motion to amend the budget following further guidance from House Bill 2.
In July, Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Land reported that PfISD would receive approximately $16.8 million in additional funding from HB 2. This will offset the previous budget shortfall by $6.9 million, bringing the new shortfall to $4.3 million.
Local restaurants to fight food insecurity during Austin Restaurant Weeks
Dozens of Austin restaurants are teaming up from Aug. 29 to Sept. 14 to help combat food insecurity. The details: Austin Restaurant Weeks is a two-week dining event that features specially-priced meals and cocktails at a variety of participating eateries. A portion of the proceeds from each meal will be donated to the Central Texas Food Bank.
Pricing options include a $25 lunch and brunch package, a $50 dinner package and a $75 dinner package. The resulting donations are $4, $7 and $10, respectively.
WilCo animal shelter receives no-kill designation for 2024
The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter achieved a no-kill year in 2024, according to a recent report.
Explained: The no-kill designation means that WCRAS, which is the only shelter that serves Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, Georgetown and unincorporated areas of Williamson County, saved at least 90% of the dogs and cats that came in last year.
The 10% margin is for animals that may require humane euthanasia due to severe medical or behavioral issues—not because of overcrowding.
Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal welfare organization, releases an annual report which shows the number of no-kill shelters across the country.
Digging deeper: WCRAS is able to take in more strays than the national average while still maintaining the no-kill title, Animal Services Director Misty Valenta said at an Aug. 26 commissioners court meeting.
“We don't close our doors in order to change our numbers,” Valenta said. “We welcome the community in when they need help, including the pets that are lost.”
