West Lake Hills passes FY 2025-26 budget, tax rate
The city of West Lake Hills approved its final fiscal year 2025-26 budget, following a special City Council meeting held Sep. 16.
The overview: City Council approved an ad valorem tax rate of $0.176783 per $100 of assessed valuation for all taxable property Sept. 16.
The background: The rate is slightly lower than FY 2024-25, when the city’s tax rate was set at $0.1786, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
The tax on the average residence with the rate approved totals $3,828.72, with the average taxable residence being $2.17 million, according to city documents. This marks a $227 increase in taxes paid from 2024.
Additionally, council approved the municipal budget for FY 2025-26, funding municipal projects and authorizing expenditures.
A private wealth management firm and family office celebrated its 10th anniversary on Aug. 14.
The overview: Located in Davenport Village, Venturi Private Wealth serves high-net-worth families, business owners and corporate leaders.
The details: Services provided by the business include wealth management, equity compensation planning, business exit planning, private investments and family office services.
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.
American Cancer Society, Occidental partner to expand access to cancer care in Texas
Per a Sept. 12 press release, the American Cancer Society and Occidental have partnered to expand access to life-saving cancer treatment to patients across Texas. Occidental’s half-million-dollar donation will help the American Cancer Society continue to deliver the resources patients need to access cancer care that could save their lives.
The details: With the new contribution, Occidental is helping fund essential access to care programs that remove barriers often standing between diagnosis and survival for cancer patients, according to the release.
Programs the partnership is helping with include free lodging, rides to treatment and 24/7 support for cancer patients and caregivers.
Quote of note: “We are honored to contribute to the American Cancer Society and help remove barriers to accessing vital care so people can focus on their healing journey,” said Rob Stevens, vice president of supply chain with Occidental.
