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Voters will consider in the coming weeks whether to approve a $367.7 million bond package from the Pflugerville school district.

They also will consider a voter approval tax ratification election to approve four additional pennies to the district's maintenance and operations tax rate, and an attendance credit election that would allow the district to make mandatory recapture payments to the state due to the dramatic increase in its property tax wealth.

Early voting begins Oct. 24 and runs through Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 8.

During early voting, voters can cast a ballot at any polling location. You can look up locations at teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do beginning Oct. 22 by entering your name, county, date of birth and ZIP code. Hours of operation vary by location.

Most counties in Central Texas — including Travis and Williamson counties — allow you to vote at any polling location on Election Day. Polling locations are open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Election Day.

District officials said that although ballot language says there will be a tax increase, the actual tax rate homeowners will pay will decrease by 12 cents if the tax ratification is approved, and 16 cents if it fails. Neither the bond nor the attendance credit election will have an impact on this year's tax rate, district officials said.

More:Here is what you need to know about casting your ballot in Pflugerville

Bond package

The $367.7 million bond package is divided into six propositions, C through H, that voters will see on their ballot in November.

The six propositions are:

If approved, the package would make safety and security improvements throughout the district, repair maintenance deficiencies and make technology upgrades and improvements to stadiums and at the Performing Arts Center. It also would fund teacher housing.

Pflugerville district officials said the bond package will help accommodate safety and security needs, growth in student enrollment, aging conditions, evolving student programs and equity across campuses.

The largest piece of the package, Proposition C, is valued at $190 million and would fund district-wide safety and security upgrades, renovations to multiple campuses, including Mott and Pflugerville elementaries, Dessau Middle School and all high school campuses. The proposition also would fund the purchase of land for future projects.

Proposition H would provide 100 units of affordable housing on 6 to 10 acres of land that would only be available for teachers.

Superintendent Doug Killian, who proposed the proposition, said this is another way to attract and retain teachers, especially from out of the Central Texas area, as the cost of living here has become unaffordable.

"This is not a new idea, it's just a new idea for this part of the state," he said.

Killian has said that if the proposition is approved district still would have to work out the selection process of who would live there.

"With the affordability of our communities in the Austin metroplex area, I don't see how we can't do something," Killian said in August.

The bond is not expected to increase the district's debt service tax rate, said spokesperson Tamra Spence.

VATRE and ACE

Voters will see the voter approval tax ratification election, or VATRE, as Proposition B on their ballot.

In August, the school board adopted a proposed tax rate of $1.264 per $100 home valuation for the 2022-23 school year. With that tax rate, district officials said, property owners will see a $161.81 tax increase per $100 valuation because of a rise in home values.

This year's tax rate is lower than last year's rate of $1.388. The lower rate would allow for the district to use "golden and copper pennies" — funds that would not be subject to recapture and bring more money for the district, Land has said.

The rate will result in a $21.37% increase in tax revenue for an approximate additional $38 million for the district.

District officials said the VOTRE is needed as revenue from the proposed tax rate exceeds what the state allows through Senate Bill 2. Senate Bill 2 does not allow property revenue to exceed 3.5% from revenue from the previous year.

If approved, the VATRE will allow for four additional pennies to be added to the maintenance and operations tax rate. Additionally if the VATRE passes, voters will see a 12 cent decrease on their overall tax rate, which will result in an additional $6.9 million in revenue for the district.

If it fails, voters will see a 16-cent decrease in their tax rate.

The maintenance and operations budget is used for teacher and staff, salaries, books, classrooms supplies, utilities, educational resources, custodial and insurance, according to the district's website.

The district proposed a VATRE last year, but it was defeated by voters.

The attendance credit election, or ACE, is a required one-time election that will ask voters to allow the district to make its recapture payments through the purchase of attendance credit.

The election will help the district offset an anticipated $11 million in recapture payments to the state. District officials said the election is needed because the amount of recapture the district is expected to pay is greater than the state aid the district will receive.

"Due to the increase in property values seen in Central Texas,Pflugerville ISD is now deemed a property-wealthy district by state standards and is required to send funds back to the state through the state funding system commonly called, Robin Hood," according to the district website.

If passed, the district will be able to make its recapture payments. If it does not pass, officials said, the Texas Education Agency will identify a portion of land within the district to detach and send to another district to reduce the district's value.

Any students living in this annexed area will attend the new school district and the detached property will be taxed by the new school district.

At this time, district officials do not know which portion of land could be chosen by TEA for detachment, district officials said.

To learn more about the three measures, visit pfisd.net/election2022.

The 127,000-square-foot store, which is slated to open in fall 2024, will have amenities such as a True Texas BBQ restaurant

H-E-B has officially started construction on a new store in Pflugerville. The store, which is expected to open in fall 2024, will showcase all the quality products and innovative services H-E-B customers have come to love and expect.

At 127,000 square feet in size, the new H-E-B store will be located at Pflugerville Parkway and State Highway 130. Upon its completion, it will become the third H-E-B store in Pflugerville, a community north of Austin.

“We are thrilled to start construction our third store in Pflugerville, a growing community we’ve proudly been a part of for 35 years,” said Cathy Harm, H-E-B Senior Vice President Central Texas. “We look forward to serving our dedicated customers in this part of Travis County with a new store that offers a wide assortment of quality products, innovative services, and the best of what H-E-B has to offer.”

Details about the project were shared during a groundbreaking ceremony on July 12. The store’s exterior boasts a modern and distinctive design, featuring neutral tones and various materials. Among the stores many exciting highlights are a True Texas BBQ restaurant, full-service Pharmacy with two-lane drive-thru, Curbside and Home Delivery services with dedicated parking for Curbside customers, as well as a new fuel station and car wash.

The thoughtfully designed H-E-B store will offer a world-class shopping experience with an emphasis on fresh, top-quality food options at H-E-B’s celebrated everyday low prices.

With expansive product assortment and several convenient services customers come to expect from H-E-B, other amenities will include:

With this store, H-E-B continues its commitment to invest in Central Texas communities and support the local economy by providing jobs and career opportunities. For this new store, H-E-B plans to hire and employ more than 500 Partners in total.

Regularly recognized as a top employer in the nation, H-E-B will provide training, competitive pay, and a robust benefits package that includes 10 percent off H-E-B brand products, and career and leadership development. Once eligible, Partners can become a company owner through the H-E-B Partner Stock Plan, can participate in 401k with company match, and sign up for medical, dental and vision plans, among other benefits. Employment opportunities are available across H-E-B’s business. To search for job openings, visit heb.com/careers.

H-E-B is passionately committed to its customers beyond the four walls of its stores, weaving an undeniable Spirit of Giving into its business philosophy. In this spirit and in celebration of the new store’s groundbreaking, H-E-B donated a total of $25,000 with gifts of $5,000 each to American Legion Kerlin-Lyerly Post 154, Circle of Hope Community Center, For the Children Inc., Horse Empowered Learning Programs, and Pflugerville Education Foundation.

In Oct. 1987, the company opened its first Pflugerville H-E-B store at 1434 Wells Branch Pkwy. In June 2000, H-E-B opened its second location in Pflugerville at 201 N FM 685.

There are several Fourth of July events in Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto this year. From water parks to amphitheaters to baseball games, there’s an option for everyone.

Hutto

The city of Hutto will host a Fourth of July celebration that will include live music, several local food trucks, kids’ activities and a large scale fireworks show. 5-9:15 p.m. Free. Brushy Creek Amphitheater, 1001 CR 137, Hutto. www.huttotx.gov

Pflugerville

The city of Pflugerville will partner with Typhoon Texas to host a Fourth of July fireworks show. Attendees not visiting the water park may park and view the show from several other Pflugerville locations, including the parking lots of Hendrickson High School, 19201 Colorado Sand Drive; Stone Hill Town Center, 500 Limestone Commercial Drive; and Costco, 1901 Kelly Lane. People within the viewing area can also tune the radio to 102.3 FM to listen to accompanying music that will be synchronized with the show. 9-9:30 p.m. Free. Typhoon Texas, 18500 SH 130, Pflugerville. www.pfugervilletx.gov

Round Rock

The Round Rock Express will host a post game fireworks show at the Dell Diamond. The fireworks will begin promptly after the Express game against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. 6:35 p.m. Tickets start at $49. Dell Diamond, 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. www.milb.com/round-rock

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions will host a signature KABOOM! Fourth of July celebration. The event includes live entertainment, a bounce house park, face painters, live animal encounters, balloon artists, a virtual reality game truck, food and drinks, and ends with a fireworks display. 5-10 p.m. Parking passes start at $20. Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, 3001 Kalahari Blvd., Round Rock. www.kalahariresorts.com

Round Rock Garden Center will host a homemade salsa contest to celebrate the Fourth of July. Attendees will sample salsa from 15 different entrants and decide which will take home the title of People’s Choice, and three judges select the ultimate winner. Noon-2 p.m. Free to attend. Round Rock Garden Center, 901 Sam Bass Road, Round Rock. www.roundrockgardens.com

In partnership with the Round Rock Sertoma chapter, the city of Round Rock will host the annual Independence Day Parade and Frontier Days festivities downtown and in Old Settlers Park. The 1.5-mile parade route will run from Mays Crossing to Hwy. 79, featuring many community organizations starting at 8:30 a.m. The Frontier Days event at Old Settlers Park will have food, drinks, carnival rides, live entertainment, pig racing and a pepper eating contest. Free admission. Parade starts at 8:30 a.m. Frontier Days starts at noon. Old Settlers Park, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. www.roundrocktexas.gov

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PFLUGERVILLE, Texas - A family in Pflugerville was surprised by new neighbors that moved in.

Video taken by the homeowner showed a bobcat looking a little too comfortable while lounging on the back deck.

"Their address kind of threw me off because we're in suburbia, there are homes everywhere," said Tony Sosa, a technician for A to Z Pest Control, who was called in to help.

Meme Styles, who lives at the home and has a toddler, said her neighbor first spotted one hanging around about a week ago.

"And then my husband came out, had his morning coffee, and said, 'You know, there's a mama bobcat and baby bobcats playing on the playground,’" said Styles. "We've literally been inside the house not letting the baby come out and play just because of the danger."

It appeared the mother and her cubs were living underneath their deck.

"We've had a hundred-degree weather and no rain. We have a lake back here," said Sosa, referring to nearby Lake Pflugerville. "And there are a lot of rabbits, so that's a big part of why I think she was here, there's a food source, water source and den."

They were able to block an opening on the side of the deck and leave a small hole for the bobcats to venture out into a cage trip. They were later released on a property outside of town.

"What was really important for me is that there was a conscious, intentional way of trapping them and making sure that they are safe," said Styles. "At the end of the day, we are building all of these beautiful homes on what is essentially the land of these animals."

Sosa said in his 13 years of working in the pest control industry, this is only the second bobcat interaction he has had in Central Texas. The first bobcat he captured in a trap that was set for a different animal.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, bobcats are found throughout Texas, but typically avoid people. They serve as important predators in urban areas by keeping other wildlife populations, like rodents, in check, according to a spokesperson for TPWD.

Below are recommendations from TPWD regarding bobcats:

As the Central Texas area becomes a hub for industrial megaprojects, including multibillion-dollar projects such as the Samsung semiconductor plant in Taylor and the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin, industrial development in the city of Pflugerville is taking a different shape.

Pflugerville is dotted with a multitude of smaller business parks and industrial developments, many of which are situated on or near the city’s largest thoroughfare, SH 130.

During fiscal years 2020-22, the city confirmed 26 projects totaling 5.68 million square feet and an expected $1.06 billion investment, according to the Pflugerville Community Development Corp.

In FY 2019 the PCDC reported bringing in 9 projects for a total investment of $42 million.

The highway is one of several draws to the city for developers, said Amy Madison, PCDC Executive Director.

However, Madison said if the city is to make the most use of its valuable undeveloped land along SH 130, it must plan carefully.

“We’re blessed to have a superhighway that is contiguous with so many undeveloped acres,” Madison said. “It’s a rare sight, especially ... in the Austin [metro].”

Why Pflugerville?

One of the larger industrial developments underway in Pflugerville is 130 Crossing Industrial Park, located at the northeast corner of Pecan Street and SH 130.

Building materials supplier Wisenbaker Building Services moved into 130 Crossing in early 2023 and brought with it 245 industrial jobs. The project developer, Dallas-based Ironwood Realty Partners, broke ground on the last phase of the 130 Crossing development in April.

Completion on Phase 3 is expected in late 2023, after which 130 Crossing will have just over 1 million square feet of industrial space.

Ironwood President Bob Rice said SH 130 was the foremost reason for the development’s location.

“I’m a big fan of freeway frontage,” Rice said. “The tollway really creates an ability for these firms to get their products through without getting the congestion of I-35.”

Madison said Pflugerville is in an advantageous position for attracting companies since the portion of SH 130 running through the city still has a wealth of undeveloped land along its length, despite all of the recent completed and ongoing development projects there.

Sam Owen, managing director at Stream Realty Partners, a firm involved in 130 Crossing as well as several other projects, said Pflugerville and the Central Texas region are likely to look very different a decade down the road because more industrial businesses want to call Central Texas home.

Ben Bufkin, managing principal at Endeavor Real Estate Group—an agency involved with several commercial and industrial projects in Pflugerville—said companies are choosing Pflugerville for its proximity to a variety of different companies, services and developments.

“[Pflugerville is] uniquely suited to attract the widest range of corporate users—whether it’s data centers, pure logistics, manufacturing or somebody who’s going to support Samsung [or] Tesla,” Bufkin said.

Subdividing space

One effort Pflugerville is making regarding industrial development is ensuring space exists for smaller industrial tenants seeking to support larger companies.

Madison said with many large companies considering moving to the area, often a single tenant will take up entire buildings or parks, leaving few options for smaller companies.

To that end, the PCDC has subdivided some of its industrial space so multiple tenants can occupy spaces in a single building.

Madison said that the strategy of subdividing space will be key to managing the finite space available for development along SH 130.

“Our stock in the city for facilities that are available is at an all-time low right now,” Madison said.

One example of this approach to industrial development is the Pecan 130 Business Park, located at the southwest corner of SH 130 and Pecan Street. The development is home to several industrial buildings, each with multiple tenants including 3D printing company Cumberland Additive and the North American headquarters of electric vehicle technology manufacturer REE Automotive.

Pecan 130 Business Park is also home to batting cage center D-BAT Austin. Cassie Simenson, D-BAT assistant general manager, said having space adjacent to the tollway is as beneficial for a business such as D-BAT as it is for larger manufacturing and distribution businesses because it provides visibility and ease of access.

The benefits of industrial

Rice said a major advantage of all the industrial development on the way is that it creates tax revenue with minimal need for further development such as houses and schools.

Industrial development can also bring jobs at a variety of skill levels, from warehouse and manufacturing labor to more specialized positions at facilities such as data centers.

The PCDC estimates that during fiscal years 2020-22, new industrial developments created 2,885 positions in Pflugerville, up from 539 new jobs created in 2019.

Rice said it is important for developers to partner with cities and residents to ensure those benefits do not come at the expense of the community.

“When you get into development, you’re getting married to the community, so you want to make sure you work together and that everybody’s goals are aligned,” Rice said.

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