School bonds for Lake Travis, Lago Vista pass


Posted: Wed, 9 Nov 2011 06:50 AM - 14,561 Readers

By: Melissa B. Taboada


Voters approved bond proposals in two Travis County school districts on Tuesday.

Despite a growing opposition in the weeks before the election, the $158 million Lake Travis school bond - which would pay for two new schools and renovate others - passed with 58 percent of the vote, 3,659 to 2,675, with all precincts counted.

Supporters said the bond was needed to keep up with the growth expected for the 7,000-student district.

"Approval of this bond was critical to the long-term vitality of our exemplary Lake Travis community," school board President Jason Buddin said. "We applaud our voters, whose support clearly indicates this was indeed the right-sized bond at the right time."

Opponents had said the bond proposal was too large and said plans for future schools and expansions aren't compatible with enrollment projections. Members of the opposition group also said that Lake Travis has the highest overall debt amount from districts in Central Texas and that the district's technology spending is four times that of other school districts.

The district's tax rate will increase to $1.40 per $100 of property valuation. The owner of an average-value home of $284,196, after exemptions - which include the district's 20 percent exemption addition to the state's $15,000 homestead exemption - would pay $3,978.74, up $239 from the current annual bill.

In Lago Vista, a $29.6 million bond for a new high school passed with 67 percent of the vote, 1,177 to 574.

Officials with the 1,330-student district said the campus is needed to handle a boom among middle school students. The district's middle and high school students currently share cafeteria, library and gym space.

The district's plans include the current high school becoming the middle school campus. The new high school would have capacity for 600 students with the possibility of expanding to 1,200. The vacant middle school may be used for prekindergarten and kindergarten students or as a fifth-grade campus.

The tax rate will increase 14 cents to $1.32 per $100 of property valuation. The tax bill on the average-value home of $175,151, after exemptions, will increase $245 to about $2,312 annually.




Read Full Story at: Melissa B. Taboada



MORE IN BUSINESSMore Business news

Business

Good BBQ Company opens second location at Lake Travis Biergarten in Hudson Bend

Oct 19, 2026

Lake Travis has a new barbecue option. Good BBQ Company, which got its start as a food trailer on East 12th Street in Austin, is now open at its second location inside Lake Trav...

Read more →

Business

Pickleball Grove breaks ground on 15-court complex in Spicewood

Oct 17, 2026

Construction is underway on Pickleball Grove, a planned 15-court racquet sports complex at 5411 Reimers Peacock Road in Spicewood. Crews broke ground Oct. 12 on the first four o...

Read more →

Business

Canyon Ranch wellness resort in Spicewood set to welcome guests Oct. 22

Oct 16, 2026

Canyon Ranch's new Hill Country wellness resort in Spicewood is scheduled to open for overnight guests on Oct. 22, Community Impact reports. The 600-acre property will have 141...

Read more →

Business

Batting cages in Spicewood, new bank branch and Bee Cave restaurants among area business updates

Oct 15, 2026

Community Impact's latest roundup lists 14 business changes across the Lake Travis-Westlake area, including several near the lake. In Spicewood, Infinite Hitting - Lake Travis i...

Read more →