A new way to save Lions?

A new option for how to preserve and pay for Lions Municipal Golf Course emerged last week from the desk of state Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin. Senate Bill 2553, which was filed on April 23, would make a taxing district out of much of West Austin, with the goal of keeping the historically registered golf course in its current state. For years the University of Texas, which owns the land that the 141-acre course sits on, has sought options for using the property for a mixed-use development. That goal has clashed with the wishes of longtime fans of the course, which is operated by the city under a lease agreement with the university. The fate of Watson’s legislation is uncertain, but the city and UT recently agreed to extend the lease for another year to May 25, 2020.