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Leander Liberty Hill Edition VOLUME 3, ISSUE 12 APRIL 21MAY 19, 2026
Big and bright Leander works to keep stars visible in night sky
Light pollution
Texas areas with a magnitudes per square arcsecond, or MPSAS, score from 17-21. Metropolitan areas across the state exhibit the highest measures of light pollution and the lowest MPSAS scores.
BY DANIEL SCHWALM
As explosive growth threatens to spread light
pollution, Leander and Lib- erty Hill are working to make sure their night skies stay dark. Supporters of the eorts say dark skies are benecial to the environ- ment and residents’ quality of life. From 2015 to 2025, the average bright- ness of the nighttime sky over Leander
and Liberty Hill increased about 9% per year, according to data from NASA’s Black Marble, a project that compiles satellite data on the night sky. Both cities are taking steps to try to slow that increase. “We know that growth is going to continue … so there is no better time than now to do it,” Leander Mayor Na’Cole Thompson said in an interview. “I think it’s something that we need to do as far as keeping the character of the city. We really are a gateway to Central Texas and to the Hill Country.” Dark sky eorts have seen signicant grassroots support in the area, especially in Liberty Hill. Speaking at the March 25 City Council meeting, Liberty Hill resident Molly Evans called the local campaign in favor of dark skies “a community-led eort to protect Liberty Hill’s character, quality of life, wildlife, pollinators, public safety and health.”
2025 MPSAS scale MPSAS measures sky brightness.
21
19
Darker sky
More light pollution
Did you know? Leander and Liberty Hill have outdoor lighting ordinances aimed at reducing light pollution. City regulations include stipulations such as warmer light colors and restrictions on when outdoor lights may be on.
Santa Rita Ranch
Liberty Hill
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SOURCE: DARKSKY INTERNATIONAL, NASA, LIGHT POLLUTION MAP COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Also in this issue
Education: Read why Liberty Hill ISD students will return to ve-day school weeks (Page 12)
Election: Check out Q&As with candidates for the Liberty Hill ISD school board (Page 14)
Events: Explore six spring festivals happening throughout the Austin metro (Page 31)
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WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX • 2025 PROPERTY TAX DATA REPORT • PAID FOR BY OWNWELL
72% of Williamson County residential properties didn’t protest their 2025 property taxes.
28%
72%
Protested 1
Didn’t Protest 1
70,024
177,582
residential properties
residential properties
$22.1M total missed potential savings
$10.4M total realized savings in 2025
Protestors won 65% of the time in Williamson County1
WHY CHOOSE OWNWELL² 66%
IMPORTANT DATES
deadline for current & retroactive homestead exemption applications April 30, 2026 May 15, 2026
Williamson County 2025 win rate
44% 30,979 of Williamson County residential protested properties chose Ownwell in 2025
Williamson County properties represented by Ownwell in 2025
property tax protest deadline
$744 average annual property tax savings for Ownwell clients in 2025
PROTEST YOUR 2026 PROPERTY TAXES
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
About Community Impact
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1300 S BAGDAD RD, LEANDER 512-260-0400 LEANDER VETERINARY CLINIC
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Impacts
4 SafeSplash Swim School A new swim school is slated to join Leander Tech Park, a 50-acre mixed-use business development at the border of Leander and Georgetown. The year-round indoor swim school will provide structured swim programs for infants, youth and adults. The business features heated pools, certied instructors and small class sizes. • Coming this fall • 80 Kauffman Loop, Leander • www.safesplash.com/locations/leander-tx
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WHITEWING DR.
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KAUFFMAN LOOP
2243
2
S. BROOK DR.
N. GABRIEL ST.
What’s next PERMITS FILED WITH THE TEXAS
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Leander
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION
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5 Safari Kid Daycare Center A new daycare center is slated for the Leander area, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation ling. Construction of the 12,000-square- foot facility is expected to begin in October and take around two years to complete, the ling states. • 10401 RM 2243, Leander • www.safarikid.com 6 Willows at Leander The assisted living community is looking to expand with a 16-bed memory care building, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation ling. Construction of the 10,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin in July and be completed by spring 2027, the ling states.
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183A TOLL
COLLECTIVE WAY
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LEANDER DR.
BRIGHT LN.
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Leander
halal meat. The wing concept serves 100% white meat, fresh, all-natural, antibiotic and hormone-free chicken, according to its website. Patrons can choose from bone- in or boneless wings, tenders, grilled wings or chicken sandwiches. The wing spot also serves wa¤e fries, onion rings, jalapeno poppers and mozzarella sticks. Signature wing sauces include mild, atomic, mango habanero, lemon pepper and more. • Coming late May • 144 South Brook Drive, Ste. 130, Leander • www.atomicwings.com/locations/leander-tx SCOTTSDALE DR.
Now open
1 Willie’s Grill & Icehouse Willie’s Grill & Icehouse brings together the best of Texas cuisine, according to its website, including southern cajun dishes, Tex-Mex and burgers made in-house. The menu includes comfort food like chicken
• 801 Leander Drive, Leander • www.willowsatleander.com
In the news
fried steak, onion rings and fried pickles. Willie’s also serves up loaded fries, salads, seafood boils and sandwiches. • Opened March 30 • 1412 Bright Lane, Leander • www.williesgrillandicehouse.com
183
1431
3 Fifty/50 Pilates The tness concept will launch two new workout studios north of the Austin area this spring, with the rst location in Leander. The business o¥ers strength and sculpt, cardio and endurance, and stretch and yoga classes. All studios will have reformer Pilates, in-studio virtual classes and an on-demand digital content library with classes. • Opening in April • 133 Collective Way, Ste. 130, Leander • www.¦ifty50pilates.com .
7 Lioness Books The Williamson County-based mobile bookstore was slated to open a brick-and-mortar in Old Town Leander in April. However, the storage building on-site at the bookstore, which contained everything for move-in day, caught re days before the storefront opened. The company is currently accepting donations and has indenitely put its plans to open on hold.
Coming soon
Cedar Park
2 Atomic Wings The restaurant will serve New York-style wings— unbreaded and deep-friend—and fried chicken with
• 208 N. Gabriel St., Leander • www.lionessbookstx.com
45 TOLL
Bluebonnet Family Estates Assisted Living and Memory Care Where Care, Comfort and Luxury Meet 620
Now open and accepting new resident applications
1202 Seward View Rd, Leander TX, 78641 • (512) 265-1430 • bluebonnetfamily.com Located off Bagdad between Leander and Liberty Hill
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
8 Southwest Williamson County Regional Park Four soccer elds at the park will be converted from natural grass to articial turf through a sponsorship with Lonestar Soccer Club. The upgrades reduce impacts from drought and wear, and allow for longer playing time. For the $8.9 million project, Lonestar Soccer Club will fund $6.5 million, and the county will pay for the remaining $2.4 million. • 3005 CR 175, Leander • www.wilcotx.gov
Now open
Now open
Worth the trip
The Back Nine Golf The indoor golf facility is set to showcase private event spaces, indoor simulators, lounge areas, lockers and will allow visitors to bring their own food and drinks. The new sports business will also cater to golfers by o¥ering club ttings and repairs, discounted access to golf gear, tournaments and leagues and access to golf instructors. • Opened April 12 • 12617 Ridgeline Blvd., Ste. C101, Cedar Park • www.thebackninegolf.com/cedar-park-tx-lakeline
9 AnTeNa Kitchen & Bar A new ne-dining establishment serving modern Indian cuisine blends modern dining with traditions of Andhra, Telangana and North America. Entree selections include Charred Paneer Tikka Masala de Maison, which is tandoor-charred paneer simmered in a spiced tomato-onion sauce with a touch of cream. • Opened March 31 • 2080 N. US 183, Ste. 130, Leander • www.antenausa.com
10 Zeytun Mediterranean Grill The restaurant prioritizes a unique blend of ©avors to the Austin area as “a Persian, Italian and Mediterranean grill concept built on family tradition, cultural heritage and a passion for fresh, high-quality food,” owner Arash Sooani said. The restaurant o¥ers a variety of halal dishes, including gyros, kabobs and pasta. • Opened March 24 • 11880 Hero Way W., Ste. 201, Leander • www.zeytungrill.com
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
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Impacts
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
Now open
In the news
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RONALD REAGAN BLVD.
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2 Guardian Paws Animal Hospital Owned and operated by veterinarian Dr. Jubilee Goodner, the clinic provides preventive care, diagnostics, advanced surgeries and treatment options, and hospitalization for area cats and dogs in a stress-free environment. • Opened Jan. 5 • 2025 Kauffman Loop, Bldg. 2, Ste. 200, Georgetown • www.guardianpawsah.com
4 Garey Park The left side of the Dog Ranch is closed for Phase 2 improvements until further notice. The Garey Park Equestrian Center is also closed for improvements. The splash pad saw renovations and regular maintenance to address agstone deterioration and work to maintain the anti-slip surfacing, which wrapped up in March. • 6450 RM 2243, Georgetown • www.georgetowntexas.gov/parks
HOLMES RD.
KAUFFMAN LOOP
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ESCALERA PKWY.
4
2243
$2.7 million, according to a ling with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. • Opened March 23 • 28707 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Georgetown • www.wellsfargo.com
• Coming in April • 114 Holmes Road, Building 3, Suite 120, Liberty Hill • www.nextgencricket.us
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N TM; © 2026 COMMUNITY IMPACT CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
What’s next PERMITS FILED WITH THE TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION
Liberty Hill
Coming soon
5 Gerber Collision and Glass The Illinois-based automotive repair company will build its fourth location in Williamson County, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation ling. Construction of the 16,525-square-foot facility is expected to begin in May and be completed by November, the ling states. • 11990 W. Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill • www.gerbercollision.com
Now open
3 NextGen Cricket Academy A new indoor Cricket sports facility is expected to open by the end of April, a representative of the company said. The 9,000-square-foot facility will feature batting and bowling cages, sell Cricket gear and also oer coaching for both adults and children.
1 Wells Fargo Bank A new branch has opened in Georgetown’s Parmer Ranch Marketplace, a spokesperson with the bank conrmed. The 3,500-square-foot building began construction in March 2025 and costs approximately
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
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Development
BY KATLYNN FOX, DANIEL SCHWALM & GRACIE WARHURST
320-unit apartment complex coming to Liberty Hill, Georgetown A new apartment complex is coming to Liberty Hill at the intersection of Hwy. 29 and 183A Toll, near the recently opened Costco. The site plan for a 320-unit multifamily housing development at 250 Gracie Lane was approved by the Liberty Hill City Council Feb. 25. The details The project falls under a larger planned unit development, or PUD, agreement tied to the larger 183 BLW development—an approximately 82-acre site that also includes Target and other nearby commercial properties, Robyn Claridy-Miga, the city’s director of planning and development, said in a statement. A PUD is a type of zoning that allows a property to be developed under a customized set of rules
Liberty Hill to renovate Parker’s Corner Market
250 Gracie Lane Multi-Family Development
183A
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The city of Liberty Hill will renovate the building that was formerly Parker’s Corner Market in downtown to prepare it for a new tenant. Two-minute impact City Council members approved $150,000 for renovations March 25, having purchased the building in January. City sta said the building requires improvements to ensure the safety of people in and around the building. After repairs are completed, the city plans to rent the space out to a tenant for two years or until the city needs to utilize the space for other downtown improvements, according to city documents.
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approved by a city, rather than standard zoning regulations. In addition to the 320 units, the plans include amenities such as a pool, tness center and club- house, according to city documents. The planned development would span roughly 12.5 acres, the documents state. Water utility service for the development will be provided by the city of Georgetown, and wastewa- ter service will be provided by Liberty Hill. The developer still needs to obtain building permits before construction can begin, Claridy-Miga said. WilCo o cials purchase 253 acres for future Justice Complex Williamson County commissioners approved a $75.8 million purchase of 253 acres of land in Georgetown March 24, intended for the future Justice Complex, according to a news release. Learn more Because Georgetown is the county seat, the Justice Complex must be located within the city’s limits or in its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The land purchase includes several pieces of property in southwest Georgetown, including a 134-acre portion at 1200 CR 110, and 119 acres south of Sam Houston Avenue and east of Maple Street, the release states. There are also existing county buildings on SE Inner Loop, providing for more ecient govern- ment operations, Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey said at the March 24 meeting. “[That’s] why there’s so many acres there, so it can become a campus,” Covey said. “Not just for the jail and justice center, but perhaps other locations the county owns that have other county buildings
Future Williamson County Justice Complex
Original county-owned land Newly purchased county land
SOUTHWESTERN BLVD.
Regan Sports Club will o er indoor soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton and more.
RENDERING COURTESY AUGUST CONSTRUCTION
SAM HOUSTON AVE
Indoor sports club to break ground in 2027 A 44,000-square-foot indoor sports club to be known as Reagan Sports Club, will feature indoor soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, pickleball, taekwondo, yoga, and a dedicated gym space. The sports club will outsource businesses for the yoga, indoor soccer and taekwondo o erings, which will each operate as sepa- rate businesses. The indoor sports facility will also allow visitors to rent courts hourly for sports like basketball and pickleball. August Construction is expected to break ground on the new sports complex in March 2027, targeting a fall 2028 opening.
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The purchased site is near several existing county buildings on SE Inner Loop.
GRACIE WARHURSTCOMMUNITY IMPACT
on it, perhaps one day they can move here.” The county will hold a public information session about the Justice Complex project April 21 from 5-7 p.m. at 3189 SE Inner Loop in Georgetown.
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Education
BY DANIEL SCHWALM, BROOKE SJOBERG & CHLOE YOUNG
Liberty Hill ISD moves back to 5-day calendar Liberty Hill ISD students will attend school for ve days a week for a majority of next school year, with the board of trustees approving the academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year March 9. In a nutshell During the current 2025-26 school year, the district adopted a hybrid calendar with mostly four-day school weeks in which Fridays served as teacher work days. District ocials said the hybrid calendar was meant to better support sta members amid bud- get cuts and larger class sizes. The district made $8 million in budget cuts over the last two scal years, including cutting nearly 80 positions, and realized a $2 million budget decit in FY 2024-25. In January, LHISD was required to add some Fridays back after the Texas Education Agency denied the district’s sta development waiver.
ACC integrates AI in higher education Austin Community College announced a new partnership with the Round Rock-based Trellis Foundation to create an articial intelligence-driven system connecting students to support services, personalizing interventions and preparing students for a more prominent AI economy. ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart said this initiative will “lean in” to the AI-driven changes in the economy, seeking to meet the moment similar to that of previous large- scale changes such as the Industrial Revolu- tion or the introduction of computers. The platform will pull together students’ real-time data, connecting them to advising oces, tutoring, nancial aid, mental health and wraparound services support in a proactive manner, making interventions more eective.
“We can pay [teachers] as much as we want, but again, if they don’t have time
to help meet all the individual needs of the students in the room [and] to help prepare the best lessons ... they’re not going to be successful.” TRAVIS MOTAL, LHISD SUPERINTENDENT
Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, the agency stopped approving sta development waivers for districts with a four-day-school-week calendar, according to TEA information. LHISD ocials had believed the district would still qualify for the TEA waiver as in years past “as district sta works ve days per week opera- tionally,” according to the district’s website. The district received approval for sta development in the 2024-25 school year, during which 59% of school weeks had ve days, LHISD Superintendent Travis Motal said.
LISD early childhood center named after city founder Leander ISD’s early childhood center will be named the Ada Mae Faubion School for Early Childhood. The big picture Ada Mae Faubion was a member of one of the founding families of the Leander and Cedar Park areas and a lifelong educator.
The Ada Mae Faubion School for Early Childhood is scheduled to open this fall. The school will serve 3- and 4-year-old students in prekindergarten and early childhood special education who are currently zoned to Bagdad, Larkspur, North, Plain and Tarvin elementary schools.
The name was approved by the board of trustees March 12. Ocials noted that the building will carry on the legacy of Faubion Elementary School, which will close at the end of the 2025-26 school year.
Soon-to-be-repurposed Faubion Elementary School will now serve as the district’s early childhood center.
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Education
BY HANNAH NORTON
Texas to correct 4,200 errors in state- developed Bluebonnet textbooks
The framework
The Bluebonnet curriculum has been criticized for frequent biblical references in the reading materials, which critics have said are inappropriate for public schools and could isolate students with dierent religious beliefs. Proponents of the materials have said they will help close student achievement gaps and reduce teacher workloads, Community Impact previously reported. Board members noted that Texas taxpayers will ultimately cover the costs of reprinting the updated materials, since they were developed with state funds. TEA ocial Colin Dempsey did not provide an estimate of costs to taxpayers, telling board members that the TEA planned to calculate reprinting costs after the changes were approved.
The Texas Education Agency must correct roughly 4,200 errors in its elementary and middle school curriculum, the State Board of Education ruled Feb. 25. The changes to the Bluebonnet Learning materials, a set of state-developed textbooks approved by the SBOE in late 2024, include replacing improperly licensed images, xing formatting errors or typos and correcting factual errors. SBOE members voted 9-6 to require the TEA’s publishing division to update its digital curriculum materials within 30 days. The agency will also replace textbooks, teacher guides and other physical materials purchased by school districts. Before approving the changes, several
“If this is a product [schools] have been using because they believe it was a high- quality instructional material, we have failed our students this school year.” TIFFANY CLARK, SBOE MEMBER, D DESOTO board members expressed concerns about the “unprecedented” number of issues with the state-developed textbooks, telling TEA sta that the errors should have been caught before the materials were approved for classroom use. Use of the state textbooks, which became available ahead of the 2025-26 school year, is optional, but districts that do so receive $60 per student to purchase and print them.
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Election
Voter Guide
2026
Dates to know
Where to vote
April 20: First day of early voting April 20: Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) April 28: Last day of early voting May 2: Election day and the last day to receive ballot by mail
Williamson County residents can visit www.wilcotx.gov/elections for early voting and election day polling locations.
Only candidates in contested elections are included. Go to county election websites for information on uncontested races.
Liberty Hill special election Voters in Liberty Hill will decide May 2 whether to reauthorize the city’s 0.25% street maintenance sales tax, which funds repairs and upkeep of municipal streets. The tax is set to expire Sept. 30, 2026, unless voters approve extending it.
KEY: *Incumbent
Kevin J. Weber Albert Kennedy Board of trustees, Place 4 Jamie Etzkorn*
Sample ballot
Liberty Hill ISD Board of trustees, Place 1 Chris Neighbors*
Sharon Yager Antonio Canas
SOURCES: CITY OF LIBERTY HILL LIBERTY HILL ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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BY HALEY MCLEOD
Liberty Hill ISD board of trustees, Place 1
KEY : *Incumbent
Albert Kennedy Occupation & experience:
Chris Neighbors* Occupation & experience: Two successful local businesses; Three years board experience; Degree in Political Science; Community Volunteer ...
Kevin Weber Occupation & experience: Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Environmental Engineer; School nance expert, problem solver, consensus builder, eective communicator, attentive listener, dedicated family ... Facebook: Albert Kennedy for LHISD School Board Place 1
Ensuring transparency with the community, improving pay to retain and attract the highest quality teachers, ensuring maximum eciency and responsible use of taxpayer dollars, constantly seeking feedback and listening to the concerns of teachers, sta, and families, and ensuring the safest learning environment for our next generation to thrive. What will be your top priorities if you are elected?
Top priorities will be to restore cuts made from budget shortfall. Continue to navigate the budget challenges facing the district with the state funding not looking optimistic in the future. Continue to nd ways to plan and build for coming growth. Continue our push towards academic excellence.
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Lack of transparency. The latest example was the 16- day delay in informing the community of TEA’s denial of a [professional development] waiver, which resulted in teachers, sta, and families being blindsided when Fridays suddenly had to be added back. The community should be informed of things like this immediately. What do you see as the greatest challenge for the school district, and how will you improve it?
Greatest challenge is probably state funding. I have committed to increasing our fund balance to make sure we can weather future funding issues and that’s one great place to start. Another is making sure we add back positions strategically to be scally responsible.
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Liberty Hill ISD board of trustees, Place 4
Antonio Canas Occupation & experience: Military Retiree and state employee, with over 20 years of experience in administration and supervision ... Facebook: Liberty Hill ISD parents with a vision forward
Jamie Etzhorn* Occupation & experience:
Sharon Yager Occupation & experience: Retired School Employee 32 years in education, worked with Asst. Superintendent on Insurance committee, hiring ... Facebook: Sharon Yager for Liberty Hill ISD Board of trustees - Place 4
Attorney, Prior Volunteer with Education Connection, Served on CEIC at Rancho Sienna Elementary, Served on ...
What will your top priorities be if you are elected?
My priority is to anticipate sta and teachers’ needs early to proactively meet the school district’s requirements. Plan for the upcoming school year to support teachers, students, and the community. Ensure educators focus on preparing students academically and fostering future leaders.
My top priorities are making sure that every child in LHISD receives the best academic education for them to go forth from high school on their chosen path and be successful, for our students and sta to be safe on LHISD properties, to attract and retain the best educators for ...
Prioritize academic excellence, responsible growth planning, scal responsibility, teacher recruitment and retention, student safety and transparent communication. The focus must remain on improving student outcomes while managing rapid growth, supporting sta, protecting taxpayers, and building strong partnerships with families and the community. The greatest challenge is managing rapid growth amid ongoing budget shortfalls. Enrollment is rising faster than funding, straining stang and programs. Improvement required strategic growth planning, strong nancial stewardship, competitive sta support, state funding advocacy, and transparent community engagement to maintain academic quality and student services.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for the school district, and how will you improve it?
Public schools play a vital role in shaping future leaders and oering opportunities to all children. Yet certain groups aim to weaken and privatize the system, risking harm to everyone’s interests. It’s essential to support and defend our public educational institutions and safeguard children’s education from those who favor failure …
I see the greatest challenge for the district as growth and with that comes a challenge to keep the unity of Liberty Hill as one town. I think the District is doing a good job addressing the growth and looking to the future with growth. To keep the District united ...
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Election
BY HANNAH NORTON
Races to watch Some races at the top of the Republican runo ballot include: U.S. Senate: Incumbent John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton Texas attorney general: State Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin Texas railroad commissioner: Incumbent Jim Wright and former Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French Texas’ new 9th Congressional District: Army veteran Alex Mealer and state Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park Texas’ new 35th Congressional District: State Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, and Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz Some runo contests on the Democratic side are: Texas attorney general: State Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski Texas lieutenant governor: State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, and union leader Marcos Velez Texas’ new 18th Congressional District: Incumbent Christian Menefee, D-Houston, and U.S. Rep. Al Green, who currently represents District 9 Texas’ new 33rd Congressional District: Former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, and U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, who currently represents District 32
Texas held its primary elections March 3, with Republican and Democratic voters selecting their parties’ nominees for scores of federal, state and local seats. Yet some candidates aren’t done campaigning— dozens of primary races are headed to runo elections May 26. In Texas primaries, state law requires that a candidate receive more than 50% of the vote to win their race outright. When no one meets that threshold, the two highest- performing candidates advance to a runo. The winner of each runo election will appear on the November ballot. What to know about May 26 runo elections
More details
Texans who voted in a political party’s primary this March can only cast ballots in the same party’s runo, per state law. Those who did not participate in the primaries can vote in either party’s runo. Individuals who participate in third-party nominating conventions may not vote in another party’s primary or runo.
Dates to know
Deadline to register to vote in the runos
April 27
May 15
Last day to apply to vote by mail
May 18
Early voting begins
May 22
Early voting ends
May 26
Runo election day
SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATECOMMUNITY IMPACT
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Government
WilCo adopts oodplain mapping study to guide development Williamson County commissioners adopted the Atlas 14 Floodplain Mapping Study on March 24, which identies ood-prone areas to guide development in the county to help reduce ood risk, according to county documents. How it works The Atlas 14 study identies ood-prone areas using updated scientic rainfall data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion, along with topographic information. Williamson County will use the study for drain- age and oodplain management in the county’s unincorporated areas, according to a news release. The Texas Water Development Board accepted the study in 2025, and with recent court approval, the study can be used to regulate the oodplains
New disc golf course coming to Devine Lake Park in Leander The city of Leander will build a new disc golf course at Devine Lake Park in partnership with the Hill Country Hyzers Disc Golf Club. City Council approved an updated agree- ment with the nonprot March 19. The city currently operates an existing disc golf course at Benbrook Ranch Park in partnership with the Hill Country Hyzers. However, the Benbrook Ranch Park will be disrupted by construction of the North Brushy Creek Interceptor—a project to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in the area—according to city documents. The new “beginner-friendly” course at Devine Lake Park will allow players to continue to play disc golf in Leander while that construction is underway.
Williamson County 100-year event precipitation
The county’s 24-hour rainfall range has increased from 8-10 to 10-12 inches. In a worst-case type storm, this is about how much rain could fall in a single day. 10-11 inches 11-12 inches 12-13 inches
Williamson County
35
183
29
95
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
N
and enforce permits for encroachment. The impact
In the past decade, Williamson County has expe- rienced severe ooding, including in 2010, 2015 and 2017. Most recently, deadly oods over the July 4, 2025 weekend devastated parts of the county. The initiative to update countywide oodplain information dates back to 2021.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
Travis County to withhold part of Tesla tax rebate Electric car manufacturer Tesla will receive less of a tax rebate than initially expected from Travis County due to “partial noncompliance” with the performance-based agreement. Since 2020, the county has promised Tesla
$5M wastewater treatment facility contract approved Liberty Hill is moving forward with new infrastructure to treat wastewater that will be reused for irrigation within Santa Rita Ranch. The details City Council approved a $5 million contract Feb. 25 with engineering rm Garver for nal design and construction of the North Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant. Funding for the nal design and build-out will come from the city’s wastewater impact fees and a 2026 special revenue bond, accord- ing to city documents. Construction of the facility is scheduled to be completed by spring 2029. Director of Public Works Jacob Parsons said he expects it will serve other developments in the future.
millions in tax incentives to build Giga Texas—a 10-million-square-foot electric car manufacturing plant near Del Valle. At an April 7 meeting, the Travis County Com- missioners Court voted to withhold 9% of funds allocated for 2020-22 after receiving “incomplete documentation” from the Colorado River Project, a subsidiary company of Tesla, County Judge Andy
Tesla ocially moved its headquarters to the Austin- area gigafactory in December 2021.
COURTESY FALCON SKY PHOTOGRAPHY
Brown said. The details
and up to an 80% rebate for investments beyond $2 billion. Tesla was projected to receive a $14.65 million rebate over 10 years, according to initial county estimates from 2020. A Travis County spokesperson said the county has not yet calculated how much of a rebate Tesla will receive for 2020-22.
Under the agreement, Tesla would receive a 70% rebate on its maintenance and operations property taxes for the rst $1.09 billion invested through Giga Texas. The company could receive up to a 75% rebate for investments beyond $1.09 billion
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Big and bright From the cover
Some context
The big picture
environmental impact.” One way in which the organization encourages eorts to ght light pollution is by certifying communities, parks and other places as Interna- tional Dark Sky Places. Rymer said he sees dark sky certication as something undertaken not just by local governments but by residents as well. Several other communities in the greater Austin area are recognized as International Dark Sky Places, including Dripping Springs, Bee Cave and Jonestown. The average brightness of the night sky over Leander and Liberty Hill doubled from 2015 to 2025. MPSAS scale: Magnitudes per square arcsecond, or MPSAS, measures sky brightness. 21 19 Darker sky More light pollution
DarkSky International is a nonprot organiza- tion founded in 1988 whose stated mission is “to restore the nighttime environment and protect communities and wildlife from light pollution.” Michael Rymer, communities program manager for DarkSky International, said the group’s work is “all to improve outdoor lighting used at night, to reduce light pollution not just for a better view of the stars, but to cut costs on energy—cut waste in the energy used to illuminate our surround- ings at night when we don’t need to—and for
In February, Leander began the process of applying for recognition as an International Dark Sky Place by nonprot DarkSky International. Liberty Hill was named an International Dark Sky Place in July 2025. Both Leander and Liberty Hill currently have outdoor lighting ordinances that include stipulations such as warmer light colors, shielded xtures that direct light downward, limited brightness, restrictions on when outdoor lights may be on, and limits on light that intrudes on neighboring properties. Organized eorts to ght light pollution in Liberty Hill began in 2020 with the formation of a community group called Save Our Stars. The city then adopted a dark skies ordinance, and recognition by DarkSky International followed in 2025. Thompson said Leander rst enacted its ordinance to limit light pollution in 2005, updated it in 2016, and could be revised again as part of the Dark Sky Place application process the city is currently pursuing.
Central Texas Dark Sky Communities Leander aims to join several other Central Texas communities with ocial recognition from Dark Sky International.
1 Bee Cave 2 Blanco
8 Lost Creek 9 Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site 10 Milton Reimers Ranch Park 11 Liberty Hill 12 Leander*
Santa Rita Ranch
3 Dripping Springs 4 Enchanted Rock State Natural Area 5 Fredericksburg 6 Horseshoe Bay 7 Jonestown
Liberty Hill
183
2025
29
Leander light xture requirements
1 Light xture with shield 2 Cone of direct light 3 The public street area or home’s property line
183A
29
11
Leander
N
71
Santa Rita Ranch
12
6
Liberty Hill
183
4
2015
7
29
281
1
10
8
5
9
290
1
3
71
Austin
3
2
183A
2
35
Leander
N
N
SOURCE: CITY OF LEANDERCOMMUNITY IMPACT
*LEANDER IS CURRENTLY SEEKING A DARK SKY PLACE DESIGNATION. SOURCE: DARKSKY INTERNATIONAL, NASA, LIGHT POLLUTION MAPCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Diving in deeper
According to DarkSky International, research suggests that light pollution may also have detrimental eects on human health, primarily by shifting sleep cycles and disrupting chemical signals like melatonin, a hormone that signals to the body that it’s time to sleep. DarkSky International maintains an extensive database online with thousands of scientic research papers that explore how articial light at night impacts wildlife, ecosystems and human health.
articial light can bring them out of their natural habitats. This can kill large numbers of insects, disrupting both the food chain for larger animals and the pollination of native plants. Also, when insects move toward articially lit areas, larger animals that prey on them often follow, leading more and more animals out of the wild and into potentially dangerous developed areas. Nighttime lighting also harms birds by disrupting migration patterns and confusing them, leading to collisions with buildings.
Scientic research shows that light pollution can have complex and far-reaching eects on the environment and may also aect human health. “A lot of species travel, reproduce, migrate [and] hunt at night, so our introduction of excessive light at night into their environment is detrimental to their survival,” Rymer said. According to DarkSky International, one of the most signicant environmental impacts of light pollution begins with drawing insects out of wild areas. Because many insects are drawn to light,
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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