Lake Travis - Westlake Edition | July 2025

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Lake Travis Westlake Edition VOLUME 16, ISSUE 6 JULY 24AUG. 22, 2025

2025 Home Edition

5 new developments underway near Lake Travis

or recreation activities, CEO of Travis Club Leisha Ehlert said. “[The amenity sweep] coupled with the architec- ture and what we’re trying to create for the commu- nity and [being] privately gated is certainly a step above luxury,” Ehlert said.

and The Backyard, larger projects like White Rocks and Travis Club Austin are shaping up in unincorpo- rated parts of the region, oering high-end amenities like golf courses as well as live entertainment, restaurants and shopping. Developments in the region aim to meet local mar- ket demands, which often include integration with nature, privacy, family-centric living and wellness

BY KAROLINE PFEIL

Residential development in the Lake Travis region is providing locals with access to a wide range of both middle-priced and luxury housing projects. With various townhome and apartment projects underway in cities like Lakeway and Bee Cave, including developments like City Center, The Pearl

CONTINUED ON 26

Travis Club

THURMAN BEND RD.

Travis Club

Also in this issue

SIESTA SHORES DR.

BEE CREEK RD.

Impacts

Page 6

Check out a new bakery that’s now open in Westlake

2025 Home Edition Page 13 See the latest on Bee Cave’s aordable housing project

Travis Club Austin will span 1,500 acres, oering 700 new homes. (Courtesy Travis Club Austin)

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Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

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Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Brittany Anderson Katlynn Fox Dacia Garcia Elisabeth Jimenez Anna Maness Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Joel Valley Gracie Warhurst Chloe Young Graphic Designers Abbey Eckhardt Alissa Foss Abigail Jones Sabrina Musachia Karoline Pfeil Sam Schaer

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Grace Dickens Editor

Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Product Manager Gloria Amareth Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara Austin Market President Travis Baker

Jacqueline Harris Account Executive

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LAKE TRAVIS WESTLAKE EDITION

Impacts

183

2769

the restaurant offers Indian-inspired dishes, drinks and desserts. • Opened July 3 • 3100 S. RM 620, Ste. 100, Lakeway • www.tikkahousetx.com 4 Medici Executive Health Clinic The clinic offers high-end, exclusive health exams. • Opened June 3 • 330 Gaines Ranch Loop, Ste. 230, Austin • www.medi.ci/executive-health 5 JoJo’s Bakery A new bakery has opened near the Cuernavaca neighborhood. JoJo’s Bakery, owned by Lily Swartz, offers sustainably-sourced baked goods including croissants, cookies, cakes, breads and cinnamon rolls. Lunch is also offered at the bakery, with a menu designed by Chef Sam Painter. • Opened in April • 1104 N. Cuernavaca Drive, Austin • www.jojos-bakery.space

620

MEADOW VIEW DR.

LAKE TRAVIS

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY DR.

CYPRESS MILL RD.

409

2222

MOUNTAIN VIEW AVE.

620

STEINER RANCH BLVD.

Lakeway

EMMA LONG PARK

COMMONS FORD RANCH

360

N. CUERNAVACA DR.

West Lake Hills

BARTON CREEK HABITAT PRESERVE

Bee Cave

Rollingwood

Coming soon

S. CAPITAL OF TEXAS HWY.

6 Max Strength Fitness Owned by Devaka and Madison Randeniya, the business in Steiner Ranch will offer fitness programs consisting of two 20-minute classes a week, designed to improve health and overall strength. • Opening in September or October • 4300 N. Quinlan Park, Ste. 125, Austin • www.maxstrengthfitness.com 7 Lake Travis Bouldering The new all-ages bouldering gym will offer indoor and outdoor bouldering, memberships, classes, day passes, cornhole and beer and wine. • Opening this fall • 3595 S. RM 620, Ste. 100, Bee Cave • www.laketravisbouldering.com 8 Steel n Ink Austin A new tattoo and piercing shop is coming soon to Barton Creek Square. Steel n Ink will open its first

MOPAC

GAINES RANCH LOOP

290

MAP NOT TO SCALE

1826

2 Hamilton Mediterranean Grill & Pizza The restaurant offers a variety of Middle Eastern dishes as well as pizza and shawarma. Pickup and delivery options are available on the business’ website. • Opened June 6 • 16614 Hamilton Pool Road, Austin • www.bit.ly/3tmaoyo 3 Tikka House Indian Eatery Located next to Spice Box International Grocery Store,

Now open

1 Iron Wolf Ranch & Distillery Cigar Lounge The new space provides customers with the opportunity to purchase cigars while enjoying Iron Wolf Ranch & Distillery’s other offerings, including live music, food and spirits. • Opened June 14 • 101 Co. Road 409, Spicewood • www.ironwolfranch.com

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location in the United States this fall, a representative with the business said. • Opening in fall • 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin • www.steelnink.com 9 The Picklr The facility will feature eight courts, locker and shower rooms, and bathrooms alongside a pro-shop with paddle technologies, demos, accessories and apparel. • Opening in spring 2026 • 7101 W. Hwy, 71, Ste. D1, Austin • www.thepicklr.com

Now open

Coming soon

Relocations

13 Union Pointe on the Lake The new waterfront event venue offers space for weddings, community gatherings and private events. Located in the former Iguana Grill site, the venue has a lakeside lawn, a main hall with floor- to-ceiling windows and parking. • Opened in June • 2900 N. RR 620, Austin • www.unionpointeonthelake.com

16 Winston’s: coffee + provisions + pizza Winston’s offers a selection of coffee, breakfast tacos, wood-fired pizzas, salads, desserts and alcoholic beverages. The new restaurant in Bee Cave will feature an extended menu, alongside indoor and outdoor seating, according to a business representative. • Opening late summer/early fall • Hill Country Galleria, 13420 Galleria Circle, Ste. A-140, Bee Cave • www.winstonsatx.com

10 Sound Sanctuary Austin Locally owned by West Lake Hills resident Glenn Mierendorf, the business curates and installs high-fidelity audio systems, such as speakers, amplifiers, turntables and streamers, offering a showroom, private demos and consultations. The current location is at 4616 Triangle Ave., Ste. 404, Austin. • Opening Sept. 3 • 12820 Hill Country Blvd., Ste. E-116, Bee Cave • www.soundsanctuaryaustin.com 11 Precision Custom Tailors The shop, which was previously located at 6816 N. RM 620, moved into the former spot of Enchanted Forest Ice Cream, offering repair, restoration and alteration services for suits, dresses, pants, jackets and other clothes. • Relocated in June • 6812 N. RM 620, Austin • 512-620-4016

14 GetHairMD Hair Loss Specialists Men’s spa Flycatcher announced it will expand its services in late July, with plans to offer comprehensive, nonsurgical hair restoration through in-office treatments, laser therapy and at-home care in partnership with GetHairMD Hair Loss Specialists. • 18217 Hwy. 71, Spicewood, • www.gethairmd.com, www.flycatcher.men 15 The County Line The business celebrated its 50th year in business on June 14. The barbecue restaurant, which opened its Bee Caves Road location in 1975, offers ribs, brisket, sausage and sides like potato salad and beans. • 6500 Bee Caves Road, Austin • www.countyline.com

17 Ascension Seton Southwest The hospital celebrated its 25th anniversary in May. The full-service facility offers 24/7 emergency care and a

Level IV trauma center. • 7900 RM 1826, Austin • www.healthcare.ascension.org/seton

In the news

Closings

12 All Dogs Unleashed The business celebrated the completion of major milestones in its renovations this June. The location offers three new training yards and a renovated building

18 Factory Mattress The business filed for bankruptcy June 7. The storefront sells mattresses from various brands including Nextar, Lovett, Smartlife and more. • Closing TBD • 1800 RM 620 S., Ste 100, Lakeway

with climate control to house dogs. • 3704 Mountain View Ave., Austin • www.alldogsunleashed.com/austin

LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

Government

Travis County partially lifts ban on waterway use following recent floods Travis County has reopened parts of Lake Travis after issuing a ban on public waterway usage. The ban was updated July 13 to reflect that only areas upstream of mile marker 36 and Sandy Creek Park will remain closed, as of press time. The overview The ban was first ordered Friday, July 11. It contin- ues provisions laid out in a Declaration of Disaster issued July 5 by Travis County Judge Andy Brown. The ban states that, due to health and safety hazards present in Lake Travis from recent flooding, all recreational usage of waterways in applicable areas is banned. The ban does not apply to emergency responders, commercial operators, or representatives of state or local agencies that need to access Lake Travis,

New fire station coming to Serene Hills A zoning change for a new fire station belonging to Travis County Emergency Ser- vices District 6, or Lake Travis Fire Rescue, has been approved by Lakeway City Council. An estimated timeline for construction of the fire station was not shared by city staff or project engineers at the meeting. The proposed fire station would sit on a 3.8-acre plot of land located 700 feet north of the Serene Hills Drive and Hwy. 71 intersection.

Lake Travis water level, July 1-15 The level of the lake nearly doubled in the first two weeks of July.

% of lake full

+92.33%

90% 72% 54% 18% 36% 0%

85.26%

44.33%

SOURCE: LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

according to the order. The lakes also currently contain debris and high levels of bacteria following flooding, which is common in the weeks after a flood event, according to the release. According to July 15 LCRA data, following recent flooding events and rainfall, Lake Travis is 85% full, up from 44% on July 1.

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BY KAROLINE PFEIL

West Lake Hills to raise police pay The city of West Lake Hills is upping its pay for police officers following a City Council decision June 11. The details Approved salary adjustments per job position are as follows: • Police officer: $60,216 to $70,928 • Corporal/detective: $69,680 to $80,288 • Sergeant: $80,288 to $87,776 • Lieutenant: $91,936 to $105,040 The increases are intended to provide more competitive pay, according to a presen- tation shared by Chief of Police Scott Gerdes. If the department is fully staffed during fiscal year 2025-26, the salary increases will cost the city $146,000.

Bee Cave shares updated timeline, cost for new library building The city of Bee Cave shared updates on timelines and cost estimates for development of a new city library building at a June 25 City Council meeting. Diving in deeper An agreement was amended with Lake Flato Architects at the meeting for design of the new library building, reflecting a location change from the city’s Revival Tract to the city’s Skaggs Tract. The amendment came with updated cost estimates and a new timeline for library comple- tion. Previously, the design fee for the library was $3.04 million on the city-owned Revival site, but updated costs for the Skaggs site now show a total fee of $1.85 million, Bee Cave City Manager Julie Oakley said. Concept design and cost estimates are predicted

TORDERA DR.

Library

SKAGGS DR.

to arrive between September and November, according to city documents. Construction documents will be provided between May and September 2026, and bidding on the project will begin in September to November of 2026. What else? Similar to the city’s public safety building, the new library will need to be put to a public vote before construction can begin, according to the vot- er-approved Proposition G passed last November.

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All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All asurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, counting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity. LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

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Transportation

BY HALEY MCLEOD & KAROLINE PFEIL

TxDOT shares Loop 360 construction updates As construction work continues on Loop 360, Texas Department of Transportation ocials are sharing tips for navigating altered trac patterns. The overview Intersection improvements for Loop 360 include: Lakewood Drive and Spicewood Springs Road; Westlake Drive and Cedar Street; Courtyard Drive and RM 2222; Bee Caves Road; and MoPac to Bee Caves Road. The Westlake Drive and Cedar Street project to add an underpass is ongoing, with all other projects still in pre-construction phases. The Westlake Drive Loop 360 crossover is currently closed for excavation work and bridge construction. Loop 360 mainlines remain open. Drivers heading west on Westlake Drive will need to detour to Cedar Street and make a U-turn to get across Loop 360. Those heading east will

South MoPac toll project prioritized The MoPac South toll extension was approved as one of several priority projects in the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority ve-year capital improvement plan and budget for scal year 2025-26. Approved June 25, the item included design and engineering funding for MoPac South express lanes for $3.69 million. The background After receiving the initial green light in 2013 to evaluate an 8-mile stretch of MoPac South from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaughter Lane, the agency dialed in on plans for up to two new toll lanes in either direction with an elevated overpass, referred to as Alternative 2C. Project construction is estimated to cost around $1 billion with work slated to begin in 2027.

Westlake Drive and Cedar Street project

Pennybacker Bridge boat ramp

360

Cedar St. & Loop 360

Westlake Dr. & Loop 360

need to detour to a signal installed near the Shell station at 3310 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., and make a U-turn. Drivers parking near the Pennybacker Bridge boat ramp should avoid parking on sidewalks, medians and construction zones, according to a TxDOT news release. Boat ramp parking is limited.

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Education

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

EISD OKs new budget with $7.1M shortfall Eanes ISD is heading into the 2025-26 school year with a $7.1 million projected general fund budget shortfall, but a multi-billion dollar Texas House bill could slash this by $1.4 million later this summer. The budget was adopted June 26 in a 4-2 vote with trustees John Troy and Catherine Walker dissenting. Trustee Laura Clark was not present at the meeting. The board also approved the 2025-26 compensa- tion plan in a 6-0 vote. The details Features of the adopted budget include a general fund budget of $165.1 million in revenues and $172.2 million in expenditures, resulting in a $7.1 million shortfall. The estimated tax rate is $0.8323, down from $0.8855 in 2024-25. The adopted budget was prepared based on a projected enrollment of 7,300—down from 7,598 in

LTISD sees slight rise in positive drug tests Lake Travis ISD saw five more positive student drug tests during the 2024-25 school year compared to last year, according to Tasha Barker, LTISD’s assistant superinten- dent for organizational services. LTISD’s drug testing program collects results from middle and high school stu- dents who are randomly selected through- out the school year. In 2024-25, there were 3,252 students enrolled in the program. Of those, 764 were selected and tested. Per the data: • 5.2% of tests were positive in 2024-25 • 3.4% of tests were positive in 2023-24 • 3% of tests were positive in 2022-23 • 4.6% of tests were positive in 2021-22 • Less than 1% of tests were positive in 2019-20

Impact of House Bill 2 on Eanes ISD

New revenue Required expenditures

Teacher retention allotment $2,570,000 Non-admin salary allotment $312,732

$2,852,700

$347,132

- Special education initial evaluation allotment $250,000 - Allotment for basic cost $773,800 - $55 basic allotment increase $461,450

School safety allotment $218,574 Total $4,586,556

$3,199,832

SOURCE: EANES ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

2024-25—and current law as of May. Chief Financial Officer Chris Scott said House Bill 2, an $8.5 billion school funding bill adopted during the most recent Texas legislative session, was not finalized enough to implement in the budget ahead of EISD’s 2025-26 fiscal year, which starts July 1.

LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Real estate

BY KAROLINE PFEIL

Home Edition

2025

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Home Edition! In this issue, we dive deep into some ongoing residential and multiuse projects in the area, including the latest on The Backyard in Bee Cave, Travis Club in Spicewood and more. We also spoke with experts in various fields to ask questions homeowners might find useful, from what it takes to get an electric vehicle charger installed in your home to what the home inspection process involves. In addition to local coverage, we also wanted to highlight what some larger changes at the legislative level might mean for homeowners in the area. As always, thank you so much for reading, and we hope you enjoy our July paper!

What's inside

Learn about the ‘brown grass’ bill that passed this legislative session (Page 14)

Grace Dickens Editor gdickens@ communityimpact.com

Find out more about the process of electric vehicle charger installation (Page 24)

Check out updates for 5 major projects in the area (Page 26)

For relevant news and daily updates, subscribe to our free email newsletter!

Bee Cave shares updates on workforce housing project a proposal to create the city’s first income-restricted multifamily housing project on a 22-acre tract of city land referred to as the Skagg’s Tract, according to previous reporting by Community Impact. At the time, city officials said that the project Workforce housing timeline 2024

Despite delays, Bee Cave officials are sharing that the city is continuing to examine the need for regional workforce housing projects. The overview “The City of Bee Cave supports responsible devel- opment that aligns with our comprehensive plan and the unique character of our community,” Bee Cave Communications Director Crystal Cotti said in a city statement shared with Community Impact. However, according to the city’s current compre- hensive plan, Bee Cave has already exceeded the recommended multifamily-to-single-family housing ratio put forward, Cotti said. “As a result, we believe it is important to get community input and update the city’s comprehen- sive plan before pursuing additional multifamily developments on city-owned land,” Cotti said. Some context On Feb. 27, 2024, Bee Cave approved a request for

February: Bee Cave approves request for proposal for city’s first income-restricted multifamily housing project July: Bee Cave rejects all workforce housing proposals

would help to alleviate stress on local businesses, first responders, hospital workers and teachers. Affordability goals outlined in that project request included 50% or more of available units being restricted to households earning 80% or less of the area median income. On July 9, 2024, City Council voted to reject all workforce housing proposals and to create a new request with updated criteria. A statement from the city said this would give the city time to update its comprehensive plan, according to previous report- ing by Community Impact . A timeline for completion of the comprehensive plan update was not available as of press time.

2025

June: Bee Cave continues work on updating comprehensive plan, criteria for workforce housing

Adjusted income limits by household size Household size Adjusted income limits Very low (30% limits) Low (50% limits) Moderate (80% limits) 1 person $28,150 $46,850 $72,950 2 person $32,150 $53,550 $83,400 3 person $36,150 $60,250 $93,800 4 person $40,150 $66,900 $104,200 SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

Real estate

BY KAROLINE PFEIL

Legislation put forward by Lake Travis- area representatives aiming to prevent homeowners associations from charging fees for brown or unwatered lawns was passed this session, local ocials shared. House Bill 359 was a bill Rep. Vikki Goodwin’s team worked on, which was aimed at preventing HOAs from ning homeowners for not watering their lawns during periods of drought. Although HB 359 did not pass, a duplicate bill put forward by Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, HB 517, did. “When I went and talked to groups, whether it was in Austin or some of the surrounding suburbs or even a couple of rural counties, people were very excited by that bill,” Goodwin said. Brown grass bill out of Lake Travis passes

Also of note

Local water bills led

HB 1432, put forward by Goodwin, aimed to protect homeowners’ right to use drought-tolerant landscaping, sometimes known as “xeriscaping.” “It’s in state law currently [that] homeowners associations aren’t supposed to ban homeowners from xeriscaping, but unfortunately the way the law was written, there have been cases where someone has xeriscaped their lawn and the HOA has said ‘you can’t do that,’’ Goodwin said. HB 1432 would have claried Texas law and made it clear to HOAs that homeowners can use either native grass or xeriscaping.” “Unfortunately, it did not even get a hearing this session,” Goodwin said, “So that was a little bit disappointing, but we’ll continue to try.” Other bills supported by Goodwin during this legislative session included HB 1344, put forward by Rep. Ellen Troxclair. This bill did not pass but would have provided opportunities for the Texas Water Development Board to assist with projects in low income areas.

House Bill

Did it pass?

Description

A property owners’ association may not issue a ne against a property for not maintaining green vegetation or turf during water restrictions or shortly after water restrictions. Prevents home owners associations from denying home owners the right to use drought- resistant landscaping. Gives priority to municipalities located within 50 miles of high- growth areas for Texas Water Development Board funding.

HB 517

Yes

HB 1432

HB 1344

SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURECOMMUNITY IMPACT

What they’re saying

“Conserving water shouldn’t come with penalties–especially

the protection of this vital natural resource.” Lakeway City Manager Joseph Molis said that HB 517 reected practices supported by Lakeway. “HB 517 is a legislative limitation on HOAs, but it reects a practice of the [city] of Lakeway in using discretionary authority in enforcement of [code] requirements due to mitigating circumstances, such as drought,” Molis said.

The cities of Bee Cave and Lakeway, which both supported water conservation bills put forward by Goodwin, celebrated the passage of HB 517. “The [city] of Bee Cave supports HB 517, which prevents HOAs from ning homeowners for not watering their lawns during drought restrictions,” Bee Cave Communications Director Crystal Cotti said. “... This law empowers homeowners to make smart, water-conscious choices that encourage

when nearly half of residential water use goes toward outdoor landscaping.” CRYSTAL COTTI, BEE CAVE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

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Real estate

BY HANNAH NORTON

This November, voters across Texas will be asked to approve larger property tax breaks for homeowners and businesses. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the three proposals into law June 16. But because the tax cuts would be enshrined in the state Constitution, voters will have the final say. If voters approve the constitutional amendments Nov. 4, homeowners will see increased exemptions from school district taxes, with the largest reduction for seniors and people with disabilities. Business owners would also see a reduction in the taxes paid on their inventory. “These exemptions, once you vote for them in November, will be there... for life,” Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said June 16. Voters will have final say on property tax cuts

Zooming in

How it works

In a June 11 interview, Abbott said that because the state does not levy property taxes, it also cannot make direct tax cuts. “I know Texans are frustrated about what’s going on. ... Local jurisdictions, in my opinion, have imposed too much property taxes on our fellow Texans,” he said June 11. To limit homeowners’ tax bills, Abbott has suggested requiring entities to receive two-thirds approval from local voters before they can raise tax rates.

The proposed tax cuts will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot as state propositions.

Senate Bill 4

By Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, would: • Raise the statewide tax exemption for all homeowners from $100,000 to $140,000 • Apply only to taxes levied by public schools • Save the average homeowner about $484 annually

Senate Bill 23

By Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, would: • Give homeowners who are over 65 years old or have a disability a $200,000 exemption • Apply only to taxes levied by public schools • Save seniors and people with disabilities about $950 annually

Texas’ tax system

The state of Texas does not charge property taxes. Homeowners are taxed by over 3,700 local governments, including:

House Bill 9

By Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-University Park, would: • Exempt up to $125,000 of businesses’ inventory from taxation, up from $2,500 today • Save the average small-business owner about $2,500 annually

School districts

Cities and counties

Texas would spend:

SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE, SEN. PAUL BETTENCOURT’S OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

$10B to ensure school districts do not lose revenue as a result of the proposed tax breaks

About 37% of Texans rent their homes, accord- ing to the progressive think tank Every Texan. Some lawmakers said they were concerned that the proposed tax cuts would not benefit renters. “A lot of renters indirectly pay a property tax by their monthly payments,” Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, said on the House floor May 20. “We need to continue to look at renters, those folks that are working shift jobs or may not have enough yet to save up for a home.”

Hospital districts

Junior college districts

$51B, or 15% of the 2026-27 budget , to maintain existing property tax relief and fund the expanded exemptions

SOURCE: TEXAS COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Municipal utility districts

SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Real estate

With Texas temperatures heating up, residents may notice an increase to their monthly electricity bill, as air conditioning units work overtime to keep homes cool. However, homes with poor insulation, air leaks and clogged filters can drive those costs higher, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. In order to identify these types of inefficiencies, homeowners can complete a home energy assessment, also known as an energy audit. Matthew Arndt, an auditor with 1st Choice Energy in Austin, said the assessment involves a visual inspection of key items in a home and typically results in recommendations for how to improve the home’s energy efficiency. Energy audits uncover waste

How it works

Since 2015, the average retail price of electricity for residential homes per kilowatt hour has increased. Average retail price of electricity for residential homes in March

Arndt said a home energy audit takes roughly an hour, depending on the size of the property, and involves a comprehensive checklist to determine how a home can become more efficient. Depend- ing on the features of a property, auditors can inspect the home’s air conditioning and heating systems, exterior walls for air leakage, and attics for amount of insulation. After the assessment, auditors provide a report and recommendations for upgrades to the homeowners. “You want to have a whole-home approach, because just replacing the AC unit will only solve so much of the problem if you don’t have any insulation, or ductwork has holes in it or deterio- rated,” Arndt said. Many businesses also offer free energy assess- ments. A list of certified Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure energy professionals can be found at www.austinenergy.com.

16¢

14¢

12¢

10¢

SOURCE: U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

“The whole goal is to solve comfort issues, lower customers’ bills and then, ultimately, it helps the grid out,” he said.

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BY GRANT CRAWFORD

Diving deeper

Learn more

In the city of Austin, the ECAD ordinance, which was first implemented in 2009, requires home sellers to disclose an energy audit to potential buyers if the property is within the Austin Energy service area, lies within the Austin city limits and the home is 10 years old or older. While homes outside of Austin don’t meet these conditions and are not required to perform an ECAD, residents can still benefit by learning how to improve their home’s energy efficiency. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can save 5%-30% on energy bills by making upgrades identified in the audit. Signs a home is in need of improvements include sudden spikes in energy bills, warm air leaks during the summer, uneven temperatures throughout the home and HVAC systems running nonstop.

Those who have an energy audit completed and make improvements to a home can earn money back through a variety of local rebates and tax credits. Austin Energy offers rebates and loan options for improvements made through its Home Energy Savings program. Oncor also offers a variety of financial incentives to homeowners and businesses through its energy efficiency programs, and those who make qualified energy-efficient improvements to a home may qualify for federal tax credits as well. According to the Department of Energy, other steps residents can take to improve their home’s efficiency include installing window coverings, raising the home’s temperature when away, using the bathroom fan to remove heat and humidity from the home, and vacuuming air intake vents.

Common home energy improvements

Seal air leaks around floors, walls, windows and doors

Add insulation to attics, crawl spaces and exterior walls

Install energy-efficient windows, doors and skylights

Install and set programmable thermostats

Seal air ducts

Install energy-efficient hot water heater

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SOURCE: U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION

Real estate

BY KAROLINE PFEIL

BY ANNA MANESS

How water use is regulated in the Lake Travis region Across Texas there are over 100 groundwater conservation districts that manage their own region’s groundwater, Scadden said.

Central Texas cities join, drop out of ranking of fastest-growing US cities

2023 2024 The following Austin-area cities are among the fastest- growing in the U.S. by percent change in population. Hutto (13th fastest growing U.S. city) 38,980 42,661 Leander (18th fastest growing U.S. city) 80,507 87,511 Manor (49th fastest growing U.S. city)

State and regional water authorities

With water being a contentious resource in Texas, a range of state and local entities are needed to regulate usage of both surface and groundwater sources throughout the state. Statewide authorities The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality provides regulatory oversight on matters related to natural resources and water for the entire state of Texas. The Texas Water Develop- ment Board helps prepare the state water and flood plans. Local authorities “[The TCEQ] has authority over surface water, so lakes and streams. And the [Southwestern Travis County] Groundwater Conservation District has the authority to permit, regulate [and] manage groundwater within our jurisdiction,” SWTCGCD Director for the City of Bee Cave Richard Scadden said.

+9.4%

• TCEQ • Texas Water Development Board

Statewide water authorities

Texas is home to seven of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the U.S. with a population of more than 20,000, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. In the Austin metro, Hutto was the fastest-grow- ing city in the area by percent population change, and ranked 13th overall in the nation with a year- over-year population increase of 9.4%. Zooming in Rapid growth in Hutto brings shopping, dining, entertainment, recreation and infrastructure improvement opportunities, Director of Economic Development Cheney Gamboa said in a statement. “Our growth is fueled by a strong sense of community, a lower cost of living compared to surrounding areas, and a lot of momentum from new businesses and families choosing to call Hutto home,” Gamboa said.

Diving in deeper Georgetown was the fastest-growing U.S. city of 50,000 or more in 2021 and 2022, but lost spots in the rankings when the Census Bureau changed its format to include smaller cities. In 2024, Georgetown is ranked as the 71st fastest-growing city. “While no longer one of the top 10 fastest-growing cities in the U.S., Georgetown continues to attract thousands of new residents each year,” George- town Mayor Josh Schroeder said in a statement to Community Impact . How it works The bureau’s population division estimates a city’s population as of July 1 each year. Out of the top 15 fastest-growing cities in the U.S., North Texas was home to five of them.

Any entity seeking a permit to draw surface water, rather than groundwater, would need to go through the Lower Colorado River Authority, which is responsible for water flowing in and out of the Colorado River system, including the

+8.7%

• SWTCGCD • LCRA

Local water authorities

• Water Control and Improvement District No. 17 • WTCPUA • Travis County municipal utility districts (various) • City MUDs (various)

20,325 21,500 Georgetown (71st fastest growing U.S. city) 96,731 101,344 New Braunfels (73rd fastest growing U.S. city) 111,202 116,477 Kyle (75th fastest growing U.S. city) 62,871 65,833

Highland Lakes. Water customers

+5.8%

Water customers

The LCRA sells water to firm customers, or water system operators and cities, said Jason Homan, general manager of Travis County Water Control and Improvement District No. 17. Firm water customers include WCID No. 17 as well as the West Travis County Public Utility Agency. Other customers in the region may include city or county municipal utility districts. For local residents, home water usage will be regulated by these smaller entities.

+4.8%

SOURCE: COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

In the Lake Travis-Westlake area, there are:

36 MUDs and WCIDs

+4.7%

2 groundwater conservation districts serving Travis County

1 river authority

+4.7%

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: TCEQ, TWDB/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

BEE CAVE 13015 Shops Pkwy (512) 263-9981

BRODIE LANE 4970 W Hwy 290 (512) 366-8260

NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316

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