📰 CivicIn7 Austin | November 12 2025
Be the best-informed neighbor in Austin.
TL;DR
📋 City Budget: Thu Nov 13 @ 9 a.m. briefing | Thu Nov 20 @ 10 a.m. adoption vote | Speaker signup opens Mon Nov 17 @ 10 a.m.
⚡ Austin Energy: 5 % base-rate increase effective Nov 1 2025 (~ $5.50 / month for avg home) ✅ Austin Energy
🏫 AISD: Comment Card 2 deadline Tue Nov 19 | Board votes Wed Nov 20 @ 5 : 30 p.m. on 10 elementary + 2 middle school consolidations
⚙️ This Week: PUCT meeting Fri Nov 14 @ 9 : 30 a.m. | CapMetro Board Mon Nov 17 @ 12 p.m.
LEAD STORY | City Budget Reset After Prop Q
Summary: After voters rejected Proposition Q (~ 63 % “No”), Council is re-balancing the FY 25-26 budget.
Thu Nov 13 @ 9 a.m. — Budget Briefing (Special Called)
Thu Nov 20 @ 10 a.m. — Budget Adoption Vote (Regular Meeting)
Draft agenda includes $27.6 M emergency radio modernization (APD/AFD/EMS) and $14.098 M Austin Water expansion (712 E. Huntland) ✅ City Clerk.
Manager’s revision (⚠ secondary): ≈ $6.2 M EMS cut, $5.2 M Parks cut, ≈ $38 M social-services reduction, and a $14.1 M reserve-fund draw for temporary relief — a one-time measure that adds future budget pressure.
Direct Austin Impact: Tax rate held at the 3.5 % cap but lower than Prop Q’s proposal (≈ $300 less for a $500 K home). Expect slower EMS response and reduced Parks maintenance while critical infrastructure continues.
Engage: Register to speak for Nov 20 (starting Mon Nov 17 @ 10 a.m.) via City Clerk portal.
THE RUNDOWN
1️⃣ Austin Energy Rate Increase Now in Effect | Confidence: High
Austin Energy implemented a 5 % base-rate increase effective Nov 1 2025, raising the fixed (non-fuel) portion of residential bills by ≈ $5.50 per month for 1 000 kWh usage. Approved by Council 9-2 on Nov 7 2025.
Direct Impact: Higher base charges on current bills; CAP discounts available for low-income households.
Engage: austinenergy.com/assistance .
2️⃣ AISD Board Vote Nov 20 | Confidence: High
AISD Board will vote Wed Nov 20 @ 5 : 30 p.m. on 10 elementary + 2 middle school consolidations (3 schools removed Nov 4). Scope limited to state turnaround-plan campuses and dual-language relocations; districtwide rezoning delayed to 2026.
Comment Card 2 deadline: Tue Nov 19 ✅ AISD.
Direct Impact: Families at affected schools will see reassignments for 2026-27; others remain unchanged.
Engage: austinisd.org/consolidate .
3️⃣ PUCT Open Meeting Fri Nov 14 | Confidence: High
PUCT meets Fri Nov 14 @ 9 : 30 a.m. on ERCOT market and transmission cost-recovery items affecting Austin utilities.
Engage: Watch live via AdminMonitor .
4️⃣ CapMetro Board Mon Nov 17 | Confidence: High
Meeting 12 p.m. (Rosa Parks Boardroom) to approve fleet-lease (up to 23 vehicles) and receive ATP/CAMPO updates.
Engage: CapMetro Legistar .
5️⃣ UT Austin AI Hub Expansion | Status: [VERIFY] ⚠ Secondary
Several tech media outlets report UT Austin’s Center for Generative AI is expanding to ≈ 1 000 GPUs with ≈ $20 M state funding, but no official UT News release confirms this.
Action: Await primary announcement before treating as verified.
BRIEF MENTIONS
Nov 20 Council Agenda: $27.6 M radios + $14.098 M Austin Water Huntland project ✅ City agenda.
TxDOT I-35 (Stassney Bridge): Night closures Nov 11–12 (10 p.m.–5 a.m.) ✅ TxDOT.
Development Services Dashboard: Public portal tracking permit review times ✅ austintexas.gov/dsd-dashboard.
BY THE NUMBERS
5 % — Austin Energy Base-Rate Increase: Effective Nov 1 2025; ≈ $5.50/mo impact ✅ Austin Energy.
≈ 63 % “No” — Prop Q Outcome: Unofficial media tallies; canvass pending ✅ KUT / Statesman.
24 888 — AISD Community Responses: Survey + comment cards since August ✅ AISD.
CIVIC CALENDAR
Thu Nov 13 | 9 a.m. | City Council (Special Called) — Budget Briefing Agenda Link ✅
Fri Nov 14 | 9 : 30 a.m. | PUCT Open Meeting — ERCOT / Transmission Agenda Link ✅
Mon Nov 17 | 12 p.m. | CapMetro Board — Fleet Contracts Agenda Link ✅
Thu Nov 20 | 10 a.m. | City Council (Regular) — Budget Adoption Agenda Link ✅
Wed Nov 20 | 5 : 30 p.m. | AISD Board — Consolidation Vote Agenda Link ✅
