CivicIn7 Austin — November 19, 2025
Subject Line: Budget Cuts & School Closures: Big Votes at City Hall and AISD This Thursday
TL;DR
City Budget Reset: Council votes Thursday to close a $109.5M shortfall and lower the tax rate back to the voter-approval level.
AISD Closures: Trustees vote at 6 p.m. Thursday on closing 10 schools and reassigning 3,796 students, with projected $20–$25M in annual savings.
Public Safety Investments: Council set to approve a four-year firefighter agreement, 22 new AFD positions, and a $27.6M radio upgrade across APD/AFD/EMS.
Utility Bills: New FY 2026 rates raise the typical utility bill about $9.54/month, largely from water/wastewater and fees.
Tesla Incentives: Travis County’s Tesla 381 agreement faces renewed scrutiny; no rebates issued to date.
LEAD STORY — HIGH PRIORITY
Austin Council to Close $109.5M Budget Gap After Prop Q Defeat
Austin City Council meets Thursday, Nov. 20, to adopt an amended FY 2025–26 budget and reduce the property tax rate to the voter-approval rate of $0.524017 per $100 valuation. This follows voters’ 63% rejection of Proposition Q on Nov. 4, which required the city to drop the previously adopted higher rate and account for approximately $109.5M less in General Fund capacity.
The General Fund remains roughly $1.48B of a $6.3B total city budget, but departments face significant tradeoffs as Council decides how to absorb the cut.
Key Data Points
Budget gap: $109.5M reduction from Prop-Q-level plan
Tax rate: Reduced to 0.524017 (voter-approval rate)
Prior year rate: 0.4776 (FY 2024–25)
Revenue vs last year: +$75.8M (+6.7%) despite lower rate
Draft cut concepts: ~$6.3M (EMS), ~$38M (social services), ~$5.2M (parks) — subject to change
Direct Impact
For a typical homeowner, the rate change is expected to add approximately $100–$110 annually to a median-value homestead’s city tax bill. Precise impacts vary by exemptions and appraisal.
The City’s amended Taxpayer Impact Statement, once posted, will provide exact examples.
More consequential: the service-level impacts.
EMS: Potentially fewer staffed units and slower peak responses
Social services & homelessness: Reduced nonprofit funding and contract reshaping
Parks, libraries, seniors: Shorter hours, delayed maintenance, trimmed programming
How to Engage
Review the amended budget: https://www.austintexas.gov/budget
Speak or attend:
Thu, Nov. 20 — 10:00 a.m. Regular Council Meeting
Register to speak:
https://www.austintexas.gov/department/city-council/council-meetingsEmail your council member: Ask which departments or contracts they intend to protect.
THE RUNDOWN — MEDIUM PRIORITY
1. AISD Trustees to Vote Thursday on Closing 10 Schools, Moving 3,796 Students
AISD votes Thursday, Nov. 20, at 6:00 p.m. on a consolidation plan that closes 10 schools, reassigns 3,796 students, and removes 6,319 vacant seats in 2026–27. The district has lost nearly 14,000 students over 10 years and faces a $19.7M operating deficit.
The plan includes projected annual savings of $20–$25M, which would address the deficit and provide modest additional capacity for academic and support priorities.
Key Data Points
10 campuses closing (8 elementary, 2 middle) + International High School program
3,796 students reassigned
6,319 vacant seats eliminated
$19.7M deficit
$20–$25M projected annual savings
TEA deadline: Turnaround plans due Nov. 21
Direct Impact
Families should prepare for:
New commutes and schedules
Larger class sizes in some receiving schools
Reapplication for Montessori, dual-language, or newcomer programs
Major neighborhood impacts, especially in East Austin
Bond accountability concerns continue, with $20M+ in recent bond projects tied to campuses now slated for closure.
How to Engage
Meeting:
Thu, Nov. 20 — 6:00 p.m.
AISD Board Auditorium, 4000 S IH-35 Frontage RdPlan & maps: https://www.austinisd.org/consolidate
Speak: Use AISD Board meeting signup portal
Submit written comments: Available via AISD consolidation site
2. Council to Approve Firefighter Agreement & $27.6M Public Safety Radio Upgrade
Council is expected Thursday to approve:
A 4-year firefighter CBA,
Funding for 22 new AFD positions, and
A $27.6M handheld radio modernization project for AFD/APD/EMS.
The AFD budget increase of $5.66M is funded by reallocating dollars from “Other Requirements.”
Direct Impact
Improved 911 staffing reliability
Reduced firefighter overtime strain
Modernized, interoperable radios for multi-agency response
Long-term debt service obligations for the radio upgrade
How to Engage
Speak on AFD CBA / radio agenda items at the Nov. 20 Council Meeting
Ask your district office:
How will new AFD staffing be allocated?
What is the debt-service impact from the radio project?
3. New Utility Rates: Electric Portion Down, Total Bill Up
City utility rates took effect Nov. 1.
Austin Energy’s 5% base-rate increase and $1.50 customer-charge increase are offset by a lower Power Supply Adjustment, making the electric portion cheaper than last year.
But water, wastewater, trash, transportation, and other fees rise—producing a net increase of about $9.54/month for the typical all-services household.
How to Engage
Apply for the Customer Assistance Program (CAP):
https://www.austinenergy.com/go/capReview your bill to identify water vs energy vs fees
Share affordability concerns with the Utility Oversight Committee
BRIEF MENTIONS — LOW PRIORITY
CapMetro North Burnet / Uptown Station
Construction expected soon on a $37.3M Red Line station serving the Domain area; costs now triple original estimates.
Food Establishment Permit Fees
Council voting on a risk-based, nine-tier system for restaurants and food trucks, raising $1.97M/year in revenue.
Tesla / Travis County 381 Agreement
Priority: Medium | Confidence: Medium-Low (ongoing investigation)
A 2020 rebate agreement offering Tesla up to 80% tax rebates remains under review. No rebates have been issued to date.
(Note: Tesla is not currently on the Nov. 20 Commissioners Court agenda.)
COMMUNITY EVENTS (Happening Near You)
Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting — Nov. 30, 6 p.m.
Live music, food vendors, and the first lighting of the 155-foot tree.
Texas Farmers' Market at Mueller — Sundays 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Local produce, ranchers, and makers at 2006 Philomena St.
Trail of Lights — Dec. 10–23
Tickets available; 2M+ lights and 70+ displays in Zilker Park.
📊 BY THE NUMBERS
63% — Voters who rejected Prop Q
$109.5M — City budget gap now being closed
3,796 — AISD students reassigned under the closure plan
$9.54/month — Typical increase in combined City utility bills
📅 CIVIC CALENDAR
Note: Meeting times confirmed as of 6:00 a.m. Nov. 19. Always recheck official agendas for last-minute changes.
Wed, Nov. 19 — 9:00 a.m.
City Council Special Called Meeting (budget-related items)Thu, Nov. 20 — 10:00 a.m.
Austin City Council Regular Meeting (budget amendment, tax rate, public safety, food permits)
▸ Speaker signup: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/city-council/council-meetingsThu, Nov. 20 — 6:00 p.m.
AISD Board Regular Voting Meeting (school consolidations)
▸ Plan & details: https://www.austinisd.org/consolidateThu, Nov. 20 — 10:00 a.m.
Travis County Commissioners Court Special Voting SessionMon, Nov. 24 — 10:00 a.m.
City Council Special Called Meeting (budget follow-up)
