CivicIn7 Austin — Final Publication Draft
Friday, November 14, 2025
Subject: Three Budget Crises, One Week: Council, AISD, County Face Critical Votes
TL;DR
Austin’s amended FY26 budget drops Wednesday: $109.5M shortfall, EMS cut by $6.3M, and homeowners still see $100–$150 annual city tax increases despite Prop Q’s defeat.
AISD votes Thursday on closing 10 schools (down from 13), saving ≈$20M toward a $19.7M deficit; boundary changes largely delayed to 2026.
Travis County sued over a 9.12% “disaster tax” generating ≈$42.2M off about $20M in July flood costs; could affect refunds or spending limits.
Transit: ATP finalizes 27 light-rail stations; CapMetro’s Transit Plan 2035 shifts service citywide.
Water: Austin remains in Conservation Stage watering rules.
Justice system: County invests $3.5M in a diversion center pilot and over $80M in broader prevention/jail diversion programs.
Safety: APD traffic citations up 14% YoY.
LEAD STORY
City Council to Hold Wednesday Budget Hearing on $109.5M Shortfall
Austin City Council will convene a special called meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a public hearing at 3:00 p.m. to review the City Manager’s amended FY 2025-26 budget. Prop Q’s defeat means the city must now close a $109.5M gap in its $6.3B budget while operating at the voter-approval tax rate.
Staff propose cuts across multiple departments, including ≈$6.3M from EMS, raising concerns about response times and overtime demand. Even without Prop Q, the typical Austin homeowner still sees a city tax increase of ≈$100–$150 per year, driven by valuation growth under state caps.
The Nov. 19 hearing follows controversy over a canceled Nov. 13 budget session, after attorneys alleged the city failed to attach required documents under the Texas Open Meetings Act. The city denies wrongdoing but canceled to avoid legal risk.
How this affects you
Austin will adopt a final budget within days; Wednesday’s hearing is likely the last opportunity to influence departmental cuts.
EMS, parks, libraries, homelessness services, and public safety contracts all sit on the table.
City taxes are still rising for most homeowners — even as cuts deepen.
How to engage
Register to speak at the Nov. 19 public hearing (3:00 p.m.).
Review the amended budget, taxpayer-impact statement, and department comparison charts before Wednesday.
Email your Council Member with specific priorities (public safety, parks, EMS, homelessness response, etc.).
THE RUNDOWN
1) AISD Votes Thursday on Closing 10 Schools Amid $19.7M Deficit
Thursday, Nov. 20 — 6:00 p.m. | AISD Board Auditorium
AISD Trustees vote Thursday on closing 10 campuses (down from 13), relocating dual-language programs, and applying savings to a $19.7M deficit. The latest plan projects ≈$20M in savings — reaffirmed as the current estimate after early figures ranged between $25M–$25.6M.
After concerns about data integrity, Superintendent Matias Segura removed Bryker Woods, Maplewood, and Palm elementaries from the closure list and delayed most boundary changes to Fall 2026.
AISD logged 24,888 public-input items, including 7,257 comment cards.
How this affects you
Students at closing campuses will shift to receiving schools next fall, with added staffing and academic supports.
Dual-language relocations affect where emergent bilingual services are available.
Most families citywide get an extra year before boundary changes take effect.
How to engage
Submit Comment Card feedback by Nov. 19.
Attend or watch the Nov. 20 vote.
Email trustees directly with concerns or suggested amendments.
2) Travis County Sued Over 9.12% “Disaster Tax” Increase After July Floods
A lawsuit filed Nov. 5 challenges Travis County’s use of the Texas Disaster Tax Law following the July 4–5 floods. Plaintiffs argue the county’s reported ≈$20M in disaster costs do not justify an estimated 9.12% tax increase generating ≈$42.2M in revenue.
Travis County’s FY2025 adopted budget is $1.97B, and early discussions indicate FY2026 estimates approach ~$2.2B, reflecting increased investment in flood mitigation, public safety, mental-health response, and reserve rebuilding.
How this affects you
County taxes are rising for most households; media estimates suggest the disaster-tax component adds ≈$200 per year to the average bill.
A court ruling could force refunds or restrict future disaster-tax spending.
A ruling for the county would affirm broad use of disaster authority for future floods/wildfires.
How to engage
Track Commissioners Court agendas for updates on flood spending and litigation.
Email your commissioner to ask how disaster-tax dollars are being prioritized.
Follow the District Court docket once the case number posts.
3) Austin Transit Partnership Finalizes 27 Light-Rail Station Locations
The ATP Board approved the final 27 stations for Project Connect’s first phase. This action locks in station locations for both the Orange Line (North Lamar → Stassney) and Blue Line (Airport → Downtown → Orange corridor), enabling ATP to finalize the Environmental Impact Statement and advance to 30% design.
How this affects you
Residents and businesses along the corridors now know exactly where rail will run, affecting redevelopment timelines, construction impacts, and property valuations.
Real “first/last mile” planning starts in 2026.
How to engage
Review the station map online.
Sign up for ATP’s 2026 design workshops.
Attend upcoming ATP Board meetings.
BRIEF MENTIONS
APD Contract Framework Under Negotiation
Council discussed labor-contract direction this week, but no confirmed Nov. 13 Council vote matching a new four-year contract framework appears in public records. Negotiations continue, and cost/oversight impacts will surface in early 2026 when final language returns to Council.
Travis County Approves $3.5M Diversion Center Pilot
Commissioners allocated $3.5M for a mental-health and substance-use diversion center pilot — a pre-arrest alternative to jail for low-level offenses. This is part of a broader $80M+ portfolio of prevention, crisis response, and justice-system investments in the upcoming fiscal cycle.
AISD “District of Innovation” Plan: Earlier August Start Proposed
AISD is considering a plan allowing school to start as early as the second Monday of August. A public hearing and districtwide survey run through early December.
CapMetro Transit Plan 2035
CapMetro approved Transit Plan 2035, reducing fixed routes from 61 → 55, boosting frequency, expanding rapid service, and preparing for Project Connect integration.
Austin in Conservation Stage Watering Rules
Austin Water remains in Conservation Stage, the city’s least restrictive watering level. Automatic irrigation remains limited to once per week by address.
APD Traffic Citations Up 14% YTD
APD issued 11,061 citations Jan–Sept vs. 9,693 during the same period last year — a 14% increase, mostly for speeding and failure to yield.
BY THE NUMBERS
$109.5M — Size of Austin’s FY26 shortfall after Prop Q’s defeat.
$100–$150 — New annual city tax burden for the typical homeowner this year, driven by valuation growth.
$20M — Expected AISD savings from closing 10 schools.
27 — Light-rail stations finalized for Project Connect’s first phase.
9.12% / ~$42.2M — Travis County’s disaster tax increase and corresponding revenue.
$3.5M — County funding for the new diversion center pilot.
14% — Increase in APD traffic citations year-to-date.
CIVIC CALENDAR
Wed, Nov. 19 | 10:00 a.m. — City Council Special Called Meeting (budget presentation)
Wed, Nov. 19 | 3:00 p.m. — City budget public hearing
Tue, Nov. 19 | Morning — Travis County Commissioners Court (regular meeting)
Thu, Nov. 20 | 6:00 p.m. — AISD Board vote on closures and dual-language relocation
Thu, Nov. 20 | Evening — Planning Commission meeting (zoning cases)
Fri, Nov. 21 | All day — AISD submits 24 TEA turnaround plans
HOW TO ENGAGE RIGHT NOW
City Budget: Register to speak on Wednesday; prioritize requests or oppose cuts before adoption.
AISD Closures: Submit Comment Card by Nov. 19; attend/watch Nov. 20 vote.
County Taxes: Ask your commissioner how disaster-tax dollars will be spent.
Transit: Review station maps and future route changes.
Water: Follow weekly irrigation limits under Conservation Stage.
