The Leander ISD board of trustees is still weighing whether a multimillion-dollar bond and voter-approval tax rate election will be on the November ballot, as discussed at its Aug. 6 meeting.

The discussion: The proposed fiscal year 2026-27 tax rate with a VATRE would be $1.1169 per $100 of valuation, and $1.0869 without a VATRE. Based on LISD's average taxable value home of $460,292, taxpayers could expect to see an increase of $27.56 annually with a VATRE, or a $110.53 annual decline without a VATRE. 

What else? The Citizens' Facility Advisory Committee's list of bond recommendations includes 13 elementary projects, 12 middle school projects, 11 information technology projects, 10 ancillary projects, 10 high school projects and eight safety and security projects. A four-year bond cycle would cost $708.5 million, while a three-year bond cycle would cost $591.23 million.

What's next: The board must call for an election by Aug. 17 in order to place the bond package or VATRE on the Nov. 3 ballot, and must set the 2026-27 tax rate by then. 

A new dining concept in the Cedar Park-North Austin area, Precious Chinese BBQ, is bringing a taste of southern Chinese culinary traditions to the local restaurant scene.

The details: A fast-casual Cantonese restaurant, the concept features a signature specialty known as siu mei, or Hong Kong barbecue. Meats such as duck and pork are seasoned with spices and “meticulously” roasted, according to the company’s website.

The restaurant also serves traditional Chaoshan braised specialties, including braised duck and pork trotters, prepared using a signature braising technique in which meats are glazed and slow-simmered in an aromatic brine made with brown sugar, salt, soybean paste and more than a dozen spices, such as galangal and star anise, resulting in tender, flavorful dishes.

• 11815 RM 620 N., Ste. 4, Austin

A total of $295 million in bond propositions for Austin parks and libraries will be on the ballot this November. They include the $260 million Proposition A for a slate of Austin Parks and Recreation initiatives, and the $35 million Proposition B for two Austin Public Library branches.

The details: Every $100 million of new debt is now estimated to cost the typical Austin homeowner just over $14 in annual taxes. If approved, both propositions would add about $42 to property tax bills by 2033 as the city would plan to annually issue about $49 million of debt over six years after the election.

The two bond propositions will appear on the ballot alongside eight proposed amendments to Austin's city charter. Five council districts will also be electing their representatives to City Hall this fall, four of which feature incumbent candidates seeking to hold their seats.

St. David’s HealthCare announced it acquired 14 Texas MedClinic Urgent Care centers in August.

Latest update: The urgent care centers will be rebranded as St. David’s CareNow Urgent Care clinics, per an Aug. 3 news release.

This brings the number of urgent care facilities under the St. David’s system to 39 in Central Texas alone, according to the company.

In their own words: “Access to convenient, high-quality urgent care is essential for the health and well-being of our growing community,” David Huffstutler, president and CEO of St. David’s HealthCare, said in the release. “Adding these urgent care facilities significantly expands the St. David’s CareNow footprint into new Central Texas communities, including Burnet, Liberty Hill, Jarrell, Lockhart and Dripping Springs, connecting more patients to the trusted care and resources of St. David’s HealthCare.”

Check out the top trending stories from Aug. 3-6 in the Austin area.

1. New 40,000-square-foot fitness center to open in Kyle

2. Bee Cave issues cease and desist to developers near Sweetwater community

3. Woodside neighborhood developer proposes 500-home expansion to Sun City in Georgetown

4. Conejo's Tex-Mex Cantina to hold soft opening Aug. 5

5. Leander ISD committee proposes $591.2M-$708.5M 2026 bond

6. McDonald’s second Bastrop location to hold ribbon-cutting