Lakeway council hears from school district, county on bond elections

Officials from Travis County and the Lake Travis school district went before the Lakeway City Council on Monday to give an update on their bond proposals that will go before voters on Nov. 7.

The Lake Travis school board has called a $143.1 million bond election to build athletic facilities at a planned second high school and to upgrade those at Lake Travis High School and the district's three middle schools.

Last fall, Lake Travis district voters approved $609.2 million in school-related bond projects, including the new high school and two new elementary schools, but a $93.8 million athletics proposal failed.

Officials told the City Council the district has used $300 million of the $609 million bond in 2022 to improve safety in schools — including the installation of cameras, window film, door hardware and increased lighting — as well as adding additional parking, a new gym and a fine arts center to Lake Travis High.

If approved in November, the district will use the $143.1 million to build facilities for the new high school, said Superintendent Paul Norton. He stressed the importance of ensuring equitable facilities for both high schools to limit overcrowding and to accommodate for growth. New facilities will focus on extracurricular activities, Norton said, such as football, soccer and marching band.

Norton said the district has renovated Lake Travis High four times since it was built in 1981, and the district is attempting to build the new high school in a more efficient manner.

The November bond’s funds would go toward updated turf on middle school tracks and renovations to baseball and football stadiums.

If this bond is approved by voters, it will be five to six years before the district proposes another bond, Norton said. He said the district’s bond would not increase property tax rates because community growth will account for the funds. He cited new housing development, new industry and a growing tax base as increased revenue that will accommodate for the bond’s funding.

“We feel very (confident) that there will be no tax increase associated with this bond for many, many years to come, because we know that we are a growing community,” Norton said.

Voters throughout Travis County will decide the fate of two bond propositions seeking more than $505 million for major capital improvements. Proposition A would authorize the county to issue $233.06 million in bonds for road and infrastructure improvements. Proposition B seeks approval for $276.44 million in bonds for parks and land acquisition.

County Commissioner Ann Howard referred to the bond propositions as “Travis Two-Step." She said Prop A focuses on roads, sidewalks and shared use pathways, and includes renovations to Bee Creek Road, Pyramid Drive and O’Reilly Drive in Lakeway. It also includes the funding for Texas Department of Transportation right-of-way acquisitions, which she said are needed to begin improvements to RM 620.

Prop B focuses on parks and amenities, and includes the construction of Bee Creek Sports Complex, which would include synthetic sports fields, a pavilion and walking trails.

Early voting begins Oct. 23 and ends Nov. 3, with Election Day on Nov. 7. Residents can vote at Bee Cave City Hall, the Lakeway Activity Center, and the Lake Travis school district’s development center.

In other action on Monday, the City Council approved an amendment to building and development regulations that will allow more xeriscape and eco-friendly landscaping. Some council members and residents took issue with the amendment’s allowance of turf, because of its chemical makeup, and subsequent health effects. Nevertheless, the motion carried on a 6-1 vote.

The council also denied a special use permit to Dr. Garrett Pratt, who hoped to run a medical practice out of his home. Pratt, a family physician, has 61 patients and was forced to leave his office on short notice this summer after the practice he worked with closed. He said he does not have the funds to rent a small office space, and because he has no nurse practitioners or desk workers, he feels comfortable seeing patients out of his home.

The Zoning and Planning Commission had recommended that the council deny Pratt a special use permit. Some council members took issue with Pratt’s request and expressed concern with the discard of medical waste in a neighborhood. However, a neighbor showed support for Pratt. Pratt said he sees most patients via tele-health, and so the flow of patients in and out of his house wouldn’t cause a stir.

The council voted 7-1 against Pratt’s special use permit.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Lakeway council hears from school district, county on bond elections