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Leander ISD voters to decide on 3-cent tax rate increase in November

Leander ISD residents will have the opportunity to vote for a tax rate increase this November, which officials say would generate over $6 million for the district's maintenance and operations fund. The LISD board of trustees approved an order calling for a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE, during the Aug. 17 board meeting.

The cost: If approved, the VATRE would increase the M&O portion of LISD's 2026-27 tax rate by three cents, resulting in a rate of $1.1169 per $100 valuation. Based on LISD's average taxable home value of $460,292, taxpayers could expect an estimated annual tax bill of $5,141, an increase of $27.56 annually compared to 2025-26. If the VATRE is not approved, the tax rate would return to $1.0869, resulting in a tax bill decrease of $110.53 annually compared to 2025-26.

Why it matters: If approved, the VATRE would provide the district with approximately $6.7 million in additional funding after state recapture. The M&O tax rate funds daily operating expenses such as staff pay, district programs and student services. 

 
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Market Story
Wren's Landing board game cafe and bar coming to Leander's Hero Way

A new business is offering a “unique” space for Leander residents to gather and create memories, co-founder Charles Carlson said. Wren’s Landing, a neighborhood board game cafe and bar, is planned to open in December.

The details: Co-founder Mindy Carlson noted the business plans to emphasize connection over tabletop board games.

“It is a very unique business model,” Charles said. “We're trying to open up a community space for people to unplug and connect over something besides just drinking.”

Wren’s Landing is inspired by Wren's Cafe, where Charles and Mindy had their first date in 1996. The couple have created memories over games like Magic: The Gathering, Splendor, Dixit and Salem 1692.

  • 1561 Hero Way, Ste. 120, Leander
 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

As the Knife Twists

Main Street Market

Aug. 21-23, showtimes vary
Round Rock

Aug. 22-23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bastrop

More info

More info

 

Austin Pride Parade

Puppy Plunge

Aug. 22, 11 a.m.
Austin

Aug. 23, 6:30-8 p.m.
Dripping Springs

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

Meet The Candidates
Q&A: Get to know the candidates for State Representative District 52

Incumbent state Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock, will face Democratic challenger Chris Jimenez in the race to represent District 52 in the Texas House of Representatives.
District 52 primarily consists of a large portion of Williamson County.

What to bring to the polls: Voters should bring a photo ID with them to the polls. According to the Texas Secretary of State's office, acceptable forms of photo ID include:

  • Texas driver's license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
  • Texas election identification certificate issued by DPS
  • Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
  • Texas handgun license issued by DPS
  • U.S. Military identification card containing the person’s photograph
  • U.S. citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
  • U.S. passport (book or card)
The last day to register to vote is Oct. 5, and early voting begins Oct. 19.

A quick note: The candidates submitted responses to questions from Community Impact ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

 
Stay In The Know
Live updates: Local officials request larger role in data center oversight, regulation

The Texas House State Affairs Committee heard from power grid officials; data center developers and industry representatives; local government officials; cybersecurity experts; landowners and residents during an Aug. 19 hearing on the growth of data centers.

The details: Some Texans expressed concerns that data center development is happening too quickly and communities do not have enough say in that growth.

"The question is always going to be who pays for this infrastructure as we continue to grow," San Marcos City Council Member Amanda Rodriquez said.

Data center developers, meanwhile, emphasized that they wanted to be “teammates and partners” to residents of the communities they build in.

One more thing: Testimony on data centers was limited to six hours as the committee began discussing plans to build large high-voltage transmission lines from East to West Texas.

"I don't want anybody to think this is our last time that we're going to talk about data centers, or that you’re not going to get another opportunity to talk about data centers," committee chair Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, said.

 

Your local team

Haley McLeod
Editor

Denise Seiler
General Manager

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