CivicIn7 Austin | Wednesday, November 26, 2025
TL;DR
Austin utility bills increased by about $9.54 monthly starting Nov. 1 under new FY26 rates.
City Manager expanded the FY26 hiring freeze by 14 positions across Public Works, PARD, Housing, and Homeless Strategy.
AISD Board approved 10 school closures and multiple program restarts affecting ~3,800 students.
Travis County approved a federal settlement guaranteeing legal counsel at first court appearance.
CapMetro ridership is up ~7%, but on-time performance has dropped into the low-80s.
County social-service grants, City Auditor audit-request window, ABIA parking tracker, and ACC CDL expansion all launched new updates.
LEAD STORY
Austin Utility Bills Rise $9.54 Monthly as City Tightens FY26 Hiring Freeze
Austin households are now seeing higher utility bills following rate and fee adjustments effective November 1. Under the FY26 rate package, the average residential customer using Austin Energy, Austin Water, and Austin Resource Recovery services will see about $9.54 more per month, or roughly $115 per year.
What changed in your utility bill
Austin Water: ~$8.71/month increase for a typical household
Austin Resource Recovery: ~$2.90/month increase
Austin Energy: 5% base-rate increase, partially offset by a lower PSA (fuel charge) — down roughly 23% compared to last year
At the same time, the City Manager issued a new FY26 hiring freeze memo on Nov. 26, adding 14 positions to the freeze list:
Public Works: 5
Parks & Recreation: 4
Housing Department: 3
Homeless Strategy Office: 2
These changes follow Council’s adoption of a $6.3B FY25-26 budget and the removal of $95M in planned spending after voters rejected Proposition Q.
Why it matters
Higher bills: Most households will feel the increase immediately in December statements.
Service impacts:
Public Works: Slower permitting, longer traffic-signal repair cycles
PARD: Delayed trail and facility maintenance
Housing: Slower affordable-housing program administration
Homeless Strategy: Reduced case-management capacity
How to engage
Utility Assistance: Apply for the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) [link]
Rebates: Explore Austin Energy and Austin Water rebate programs [link]
City Council: Speak on FY26 implementation at the Dec. 5 meeting [link]
Neighborhood Impact: Email your Council member about service issues [link]
THE RUNDOWN
1. AISD Approves 10 School Closures; 3,800 Students Affected
AISD trustees voted on Nov. 21 to close 10 campuses beginning in the 2026–27 school year and to restart or significantly restructure several others. The closures eliminate 6,300+ seats and affect roughly 3,800 students, with projected annual savings of ~$21.5M against a $19.7M district deficit.
Impacts on families
New school assignments and transportation routes
Disruptions to dual-language and specialty programs
Uneven district impacts, with several East and North Austin neighborhoods affected most
How to engage
Watch for AISD reassignment notices
Attend campus-level transition meetings (dates pending)
Contact your trustee through the AISD Board directory [link]
2. Travis County Guarantees Counsel at First Court Appearance
Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a federal settlement ensuring defendants will now have legal counsel at their first court appearance. The change aims to prevent pre-trial incarceration driven by lack of representation during bail and condition-setting hearings.
Why it matters
Reduces the risk of job loss, housing instability, and coerced plea deals
Expected to lower unnecessary pre-trial detention
County will expand public defender staffing and protocols
How to engage
Follow Commissioners Court agendas for implementation updates [link]
Connect with local court-watch or criminal justice advocacy groups
3. CapMetro Ridership Up ~7%; On-Time Performance Drops
CapMetro’s latest performance update shows ridership continuing to rebound, growing roughly 7% year-over-year. However, on-time performance has slipped into the low-80% range, driven by operator shortages and corridor congestion.
Why it matters
Riders should expect more late buses during peak hours
High-frequency routes remain stable, but reliability varies by corridor
CapMetro’s tap-to-pay system launches March 2025, simplifying boarding and adding daily fare caps
How to engage
Monitor real-time updates via the CapMetro app or website
Submit route feedback on chronic delay corridors [link]
Attend Transit Advisory Committee and Board meetings [link]
BRIEF MENTIONS
New cycle posted: Jan. 15–Feb. 14, 2026 LOI window; awards in July 2026.
→ [Travis County HHS Grants Portal]
City Auditor Opens Audit-Request Window
Submit complaints or audit requests through Dec. 20. Info session: Nov. 27 at 3 PM.
→ [OCA Audit Request Portal]
ABIA Launches Holiday Parking Tracker
New real-time parking availability tool for holiday travel.
→ [ABIA Parking]
ACC Adds Weekend CDL Training Cohorts
January weekend CDL sessions now available through ACC Workforce.
→ [ACC CDL Programs]
BY THE NUMBERS
$9.54 — Monthly increase for average residential City utility bills
14 — New FY26 City positions frozen across PW, PARD, Housing, HSO
10 — AISD campuses closing
~3,800 — Students requiring reassignment
~7% — CapMetro year-over-year ridership growth
CIVIC CALENDAR
Wed, Nov. 27 | 3:00 PM — Office of City Auditor
Audit Request Info Session
→ [Event Info]
Tue, Dec. 3 | 1:00 PM — CapMetro Board Finance Committee
November financials and performance
→ [Agenda]
Thu, Dec. 5 | 10:00 AM — Austin City Council
Regular meeting; FY26 implementation discussion
→ [Council Agenda]
Thu, Dec. 5 | 6:00 PM — Austin Public Library (Central)
Local Government 101
→ [Event Link]
Tue, Dec. 10 | Time TBA — CapMetro Transit Advisory Committee
Ridership & reliability discussion
→ [Committee Info]
