CivicIn7 Austin — November 24, 2025
Your weekly 7-minute briefing on the decisions shaping Austin.
TL;DR
AISD will close 10 schools, affecting 3,796 students and removing 6,319 empty seats.^1
Austin Water withdrew its Bastrop County aquifer storage plan, requiring revisions to Water Forward’s implementation strategy.^2
City Council adopted a tax rate of $0.524017 per $100 valuation and amended the FY 2025–26 budget.^3
Austin’s parks system faces a $33M annual maintenance funding gap, and Council ordered a study on dedicated funding tools.^4
CapMetro approved Transit Plan 2035, consolidating routes and increasing frequency on key lines.^5
Austin Energy base rates increased 5%, while a 23% decrease in the PSA reduces overall costs for many customers.^6
Whooping cough cases are up 58% year over year, per Austin Public Health.^7
Travis County is mailing 2025 property tax statements this week, due January 31, 2026.^8
LEAD STORY
AISD Board Votes to Close 10 Schools Affecting Nearly 3,800 Students
The AISD Board of Trustees voted in the early hours of November 21 to close 10 campuses before the 2026–27 school year and submit 24 turnaround plans to the Texas Education Agency.^1
Closures
Elementary: Barrington, Becker, Dawson, Oak Springs, Ridgetop, Sunset Valley, Widén, Winn Montessori
Middle: Bedichek, Martin
Programmatic: International High School
Key Numbers
3,796 students reassigned
6,319 empty seats removed
$21.5M estimated savings
Three campuses—Palm, Bryker Woods, and Maplewood—were removed from the original proposal following community input.
Program & Staffing Adjustments
Dual-language programs shift to Sánchez, Pickle, Wooten, and Odom elementary schools.
AISD will pause most external hiring beginning in January 2026 to prioritize displaced staff.
Transition Support
AISD staff will visit affected campuses after fall break as part of a Q&A and support series, with January enrollment clinics to follow.
How to Engage
Review school maps and details via AISD’s consolidation portal.^1
Contact your trustee with transition questions.
Attend district-led transition sessions in late November and early December.
THE RUNDOWN
1. Austin Water Withdraws Bastrop County Aquifer Storage Proposal
Austin Water has withdrawn its proposal for an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) facility in Bastrop County.^2
The decision followed lack of interlocal agreement and concerns raised by regional partners.
Why It Matters
The ASR facility had been one potential long-term drought-resilience tool. Austin Water will pursue alternative approaches including in-city storage, water reuse expansion, and conservation-focused strategies.
2. City Council Finalizes FY 2025–26 Budget Amendments
City Council adopted a tax rate of $0.524017 per $100 valuation and approved amendments to the FY 2025–26 budget on November 20.^3
Department Impacts
Adjustments span multiple General Fund departments.
Parks, homelessness service contracts, and administrative functions undergo reductions.
EMS receives targeted funding to support ambulance availability.
Engage
Residents can submit comments to Council or review details on the City’s budget portal.
3. Council Launches Parks Funding Study Amid Maintenance Gap
Austin’s park system totals 15,200 acres, an increase of over 1,500 acres in the past decade, while facing an estimated $33M annual maintenance funding gap.^4
Council directed staff to analyze potential funding mechanisms including:
Regional Park Improvement Districts
Structured user fees
Dedicated funding tools used in other Texas jurisdictions
An interim report is due in February 2026, with final recommendations due May 31, 2026.
4. CapMetro Approves Transit Plan 2035
CapMetro’s board approved Transit Plan 2035, a 10-year service redesign grounded in community input and ridership data.^5
Key Elements
Network shifts from 61 to 55 routes
19 routes receive improved frequency
6 new routes added
Rapid 800 and 837 target 10-minute intervals
North Burnet/Uptown Station under construction; opening expected mid-2027
Transit riders in Southwest Austin will see changes to flyer routes, while North Austin residents will gain expanded rail access.
5. DB240: Density Bonus Program for Commercial and Industrial Zones
City planning staff released final drafts for DB240, allowing residential uses and up to 120 feet of additional height in designated commercial highway and industrial areas.^9
The program includes a requirement that 15% of ownership units be income-restricted or that developers pay a fee-in-lieu.
Hearing
The Planning Commission will consider DB240 on December 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
6. Austin Energy Adjusts Rates
Austin Energy implemented the following changes effective November 1:^6
5% base rate increase
$1.50 increase in the residential Customer Charge
23% decrease in the Power Supply Adjustment (PSA)
The PSA reduction results in lower overall charges for many residential customers compared with November 2024.
7. Travis County Property Tax Statements Mailing This Week
The Travis County Tax Office is mailing 2025 property tax statements between November 25–29.^8
Payments made on or before January 31, 2026 incur no penalty or interest.
BRIEF MENTIONS
Southbridge Shelter RFP
The City issued an RFP on November 11 for an operator of the Southbridge low-barrier, housing-focused shelter. Capacity and contract terms appear in the RFP documentation.^10
HUD CAPER Public Comment
Residents may submit feedback on the City’s draft FY25 CAPER through December 3.^11
Travis County Civil Service Commission
Travis County is accepting applications for a seat on the Civil Service Commission, which oversees personnel appeals and related matters.^12
BY THE NUMBERS
3,796 — AISD students affected by campus closures^1
6,319 — Empty seats removed by consolidation^1
15,200 — Acres of parkland maintained by PARD^4
58% — Increase in pertussis cases year over year^7
CIVIC CALENDAR
November 24, 9:00 a.m. — Austin City Council Special Called Meeting (Budget Amendments)^3
November 25, 9:00 a.m. — Travis County Commissioners Court^8
November 30, 5:15 p.m. — Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting^13
December 9, 2025, 6:00 p.m. — Planning Commission: DB240 Hearing^9
Late November–Early December — AISD Campus Transition Sessions^1
HAPPENING NEAR YOU
Mozart’s Festival of Lights^14
Blue Genie Art Bazaar^15
Austin Trail of Lights^16
Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller^17
FOOTNOTES (Sources)
AISD Consolidation Hub; KUT; KVUE; CBS Austin
Austin Water Memorandum; Community Impact; Austin American-Statesman
City of Austin Budget Office; Austin American-Statesman
City of Austin Resolution 20241121-072; PARD Memos
CapMetro Transit Plan 2035; CapMetro Board Documents
Austin Energy FY 2025–26 Rate Schedules
Austin Public Health Advisory (November 21, 2025)
Travis County Tax Office – 2025 Statement Notice
DB240 Draft Ordinance; Planning Commission Agenda; SpeakUp Austin
City of Austin Procurement – Southbridge RFP
City of Austin – FY25 CAPER Draft
Travis County Intergovernmental Relations – Board Appointments
City of Austin Parks & Recreation – Zilker Tree Lighting
Mozart’s Coffee Roasters – Festival Information
Blue Genie Art Bazaar – Event Details
Trail of Lights Foundation
Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller
