October 20, 2025

Hello Anderson Mill Neighbors,

October’s half way gone, and the neighborhood’s looking delightfully haunted! From glowing pumpkins to sneaky skeletons, there’s plenty to enjoy—whether you’re decking out your porch or just here for the candy. Grab your pumpkin spice and check out what’s brewing around Anderson Mill this month! 🍂🕸️

AMLD Candy Crawl and Monster Mash and Splash

October 25, 2025 at 11500 El Salido Parkway 

🍬6:00–7:00 PM (Candy Crawl & Festivities)

🎞️7:30–9:00 PM (Movie at the Pool)

Get ready for a spooktacular evening of Halloween fun for the whole family! The Monster Mash and Splash is a two-part event packed with treats, thrills, and splashy chills! For more information see: https://amld.org/monster-mash-splash.

Registration is required.

AMNA Garden Club

Sunday, October 26 at 4 PM, El Salido Park and Pavilion

This month, Kindra and Mandy B. are hosting a fun “Repot Your Indoor Plants” event—so bring those houseplants that need a little TLC, along with pots and soil if you have them.

As always, bring any seeds or plants you’d like to share. Mandy H. is also collecting donated plants and seeds to help spruce up the median near CVS/Majic Mart, so it’s a perfect chance to give back and keep our neighborhood looking great!

AMNA Garden Tool Sharpening Workshop

Sunday, November 16, 2025 | 2–4 PM | El Salido Pavilion

Ready to give your garden tools a little TLC? Join us for this hands-on workshop led by Williamson County Master Gardeners. You’ll learn how to sharpen, clean, and care for your tools so they stay in great shape all year long.

💚 Free for AMNA members!

🏠Not a member yet? It’s just $20 per household per year — join at andersonmillna.org/join-join and enjoy free workshops like this one while supporting our neighborhood.

💵For everyone else, it’s $10 at the door or come and join on the spot.

Have a question or need to change your registration? Just email us at greenspaces@andersonmillna.com.

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AM Limited District Town Hall Wrap Up

The October 8 Anderson Mill Limited District Town Hall brought community members and local agencies together to discuss ongoing transportation, safety, and neighborhood tax rate and improvement projects.

• 🛑Safe Routes to School will start collecting traffic data around Westwood High School to plan for improvements on cross walks for students.
• 🚧Austin Mobility reported that the improvements to 183 from Mopac to 620 will be completed by the spring of 2026. Woo Hoo the end is in sight!
• 💹AM Limited District Board President Katherine Hogle gave a presentation explaining why the District is asking residents to approve a tax increase on November 4. The AMLD October Newsletter (page 2) provides additional details—read it here: amld.org/monthly-newsletter.

The Anderson Mill Limited District Board has called an election for voters to consider a 2025 property tax rate of $0.13434 per $100 valuation. If approved, the average homeowner would pay about $45 more per year to help cover rising costs for security, utilities, insurance, and legal services.

To balance the 2025–26 budget, the District plans to combine the added tax revenue with investment income and expense reductions. Planned projects include a new roof for the admin building, bridge replacement on El Salido Trail, parking lot and trail repairs, and park equipment upgrades.

Editorial Opinion: Potential 2025 Total Tax Decrease for Seniors over 65 with a Homestead Exemption based on the possible results of the November Election

Opinion by John Hall, AMLD Resident over 65 with a household exemption, not a tax expert

After the unanimous passage of SB4 earlier this year, the average homeowner in Texas claiming a homeowner exemption should save an average of $363.44. However, in my analysis, it looks like for a typical house (~$423,000) in AMLD owned by a senior over 65 with a homestead exemption the total tax will go down in the range of ~$750.  This is due largely to an increase in the senior over 65 exemption and a lower Round Rock ISD tax rate for 2025.  

While the proposed AMLD tax rate increase would add about $44 for these residents, that small amount would be more than offset by the overall reduction in total property taxes. The AMLD increase is essential to maintain the district’s parks, recreation programs, and community services.

AMLD Cardboard Boat Races

The Annual Cardboard Boat Races were held on Saturday, the 11th, and everyone had a blast! Spectators from the neighborhood cheered from the sidelines as some boats triumphantly crossed the finish line and others went under almost immediately. Each boat was a one-of-a-kind creation, designed and built by its captain.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4

Early Voting starts Monday, October 20!

It's time to make your voice heard—Texans will be voting on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution.

One of the most impactful ballot measures could be Proposition Q, which would raise the City of Austin tax rate. While groups such as the Austin / Travis County EMS PAC and Foundation Communities strongly advocate for passage to improve 911 response time and help solve homelessness in our city, groups such as the Frontier Bank of Texas and the Austin Chamber Commerce are opposed due to pressure on homeowners and local businesses.

Important dates:

• ⏰Oct. 20–31: Early Voting
• 📨Oct. 24: Last day to apply to vote by mail
• 🗳️Nov. 4: Election Day

Want to understand what’s on the ballot? Check out the League of Women Voters’ Nonpartisan Voters Guide — it breaks down each amendment with clear explanations and the pros and cons (no politics, just facts!).

📘 Find print copies at your local library, or read it online here: LWV Austin Voters Guide

What to bring: Voters must bring one of seven forms of identification to the polls:

• A Texas driver license (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety)
• A Texas personal ID card (issued by the DPS)
• A Texas handgun license (issued by the DPS)
• A Texas election ID certificate (issued by the DPS)
• A U.S. military ID card with the voter’s photograph
• A U.S. citizenship certificate with the voter’s photograph
• A U.S. passport

Voters may bring written materials, such as notes and sample ballots, to the polls to help them cast their votes, according to the secretary of state’s office.

About the Anderson Mill Neighborhood Association

The Anderson Mill Neighborhood Association (AMNA) is a nonprofit made up of neighbors just like you—folks who care about keeping our community connected, welcoming, and thriving. We work to improve the quality of life in Anderson Mill through fun events, helpful programs, and by serving as a collective voice for residents.

AMNA has been part of our neighborhood since 2004, when it was founded by residents Phil Denny, Ram Sriram, and Marie Salisbury. AMNA flourished until Phil moved out of state and the pandemic hit. Treasurer Susan Reed teamed up with Carol Feist to revive the group, reaching out to neighbors and rebuilding a fantastic board of eight hardworking volunteers.

Over the past few years, AMNA has really come back to life — here are just a few things we’ve accomplished together:

• Established the AMNA Garden Club and hosted hands-on workshops and plant swaps.
• Supports and organizes National Night Out block parties, helping neighbors reconnect each year.
• Created neighborhood events like the annual Anderson Mill Community Wide Yard Sale and Dinner in the Park.
• AMNA and AMLD have been working together to plant trees in our greenspaces and parks with funds from an Urban Forest Grant from the City of Austin.
• Publishes a bimonthly newsletter full of neighborhood events, news and important information for neighborhood residents.

We’re always looking for new members and volunteers! Whether you’d like to join as a member, help on a committee, or even serve on the board, there’s a place for you to get involved.

Your 2025 AMNA Board

• President: Carol Feist
• Vice President & Green Spaces Chair: Mandy Henke
• Treasurer: John Hall
• Secretary: Kathi Murphy
• Communications: Drew Castillo
• National Night Out Chair: Susan Reed
• Courts Committee: Gail Harris & Rhonda Harrington

Other VIPs on our team: Bertold Kolics (Webmaster), Heather Podlipny, and Katina Bohrer (Green Space Committee members)