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Southwest Austin Dripping Springs Edition VOLUME 19, ISSUE 1 APRIL 28 MAY 26, 2026
City spending under review Audit approval marks latest step in city policy shifts
BY BEN THOMPSON
Citywide audits, social spending cuts and reformed spending policies are just some of the changes Austin City Council is making in the wake of the failure of Proposition Q, a multimillion-dollar tax rate election in 2025. Several o cials have pointed to the tax election’s rejection by a nearly 2-to-1 margin as a referendum on City Hall’s spending, transparency and overall scal discipline. As such, Austin o cials authorized continual third-party audits of citywide operations and services in February, a process partly prompted by Proposition Q’s failure. Mayor Kirk Watson, who’s promoted a civic performance review since November’s election, acknowledged that o cials need to regain voters’ trust and said council’s vote for the concept Feb. 26 will make Austin better.
"It arises out of a determination for us to safeguard public con dence, to assure operational e ciency with continuous improvement and to deliver the best value for the services that we, as a city, provide."
CONTINUED ON 18
Also in this issue
Education
Page 14
Learn about out-of-district transfers to DSISD
Dining
Page 24
Mayor Kirk Watson attended a City Council workshop March 24. (Matthew Brooks/Community Impact)
Check out wine bar and cafe Golden Hour
Time to add another hidden gem to your list. Discover why Austin’s best-kept secret is an ER. It’s a better ER experience that flies under the radar and goes beyond your expectations. Available 24/7 with short wait times, free parking and a welcoming vibe. All part of our full-service hospital, and all right here in Southwest Austin.
Learn More
Oak Hill near 290 & Mopac
Photography may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients. Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2024 Baylor Scott & White Health. 09-AU-1099300-AMC ED 25
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TRAVIS COUNTY, TX • 2025 PROPERTY TAX DATA REPORT • PAID FOR BY OWNWELL
54% of Travis County residential properties didn’t protest their 2025 property taxes.
46%
54%
Protested 1
Didn’t Protest 1
177,605
204,405
residential properties
residential properties
$122.0M total missed potential savings
$160.2M total realized savings in 2025
Protestors won 89% of the time in Travis County1
WHY CHOOSE OWNWELL² 94%
IMPORTANT DATES
deadline for current & retroactive homestead exemption applications April 30, 2026 May 15, 2026
Travis County 2025 win rate
41,730
Travis County properties represented by Ownwell in 2025
property tax protest deadline
23% of Travis County residential protested properties chose Ownwell in 2025
$744 average annual property tax savings for Ownwell clients in 2025
PROTEST YOUR 2026 PROPERTY TAXES
or visit Ownwell.com/impact to get started today. Enter an address and see how much you’re overpaying →
25%
of your tax bill savings only. No savings? No fee. Guaranteed.
¹ ownwell.com/results/texas-protest-vs-non-protest • ² ownwell.com/insight/austin-area-property-tax-protest-results-agent-performance
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
austintx.watersmart.com
How to Sign Up in Three Easy Steps
The My ATX Water program Austin Water launched a new smart water meter program called My ATX Water across the city. This program involves upgrading traditional water meters to digital ones connected to a wireless network. Along with this, a new customer portal is being introduced, offering near real-time water use information, leak alerts, emergency notifications, water conservation tips, and customizable features.
1. Locate your account number. You can find this either on your utilities bill or call COA Utilities Customer Care 512-494-9400
2. Type your account number and zip code into this website: austintx.watersmart.com
3. Fill out your user profile and start saving!
austinwater.org
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
About Community Impact
Community Roots: Founded in 2005 by John and Jennifer Garrett, we remain a locally owned business today. Texas-Wide Reach: We deliver trusted news to 75+ communities across the Austin, Bryan-College Station, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio metros.
Market leaders & metro team
Reporters Brittany Anderson Katlynn Fox Jessica McLaren Bailey Meyers Michael Milliorn Jillian Nachtigal Hannah Norton Daniel Schwalm Hamera Shabbir Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Gracie Warhurst Sienna Wight Chloe Young Graphic Designers Abbey Eckhardt Alissa Foss
Heather Demere General Manager Hdemere@ communityimpact.com
Minh Nguyen Laura Patino Joseph Veloz Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Product Manager Gloria Amareth Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara Austin Market President Travis Baker
Elle Bent Editor ebent@ communityimpact.com
Adrian Martinez Account Executive Amartinez@ communityimpact.com
Contact us
16225 Impact Way, P ugerville, TX 78660 • 512 989 6808 Careers communityimpact.com/careers Press releases swanews@communityimpact.com Advertising swaads@communityimpact.com communityimpact.com/advertising
Proudly printed by
© 2026 Community Impact Co. All rights reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without written permission from the publisher.
Connect on social
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
Impacts
Impacts Southwest Austin
2 Dionysus Beer & Wine The stand is located at The Food Trucks at Circle Drive and features craft beers, a curated wine list and a full bar for specialty cocktails. • Opened in February
BARTON CREEK BLVD.
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THOMAS SPRINGS RD. 2
• 8907 Circle Drive, Austin • Instagram: @dionysusatx
S. CAPITAL OF TEXAS HWY.
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MOPAC
183 4 Phoebe’s Diner Phoebe’s Diner has opened its fourth location in Shady Hollow, offering brisket, biscuits and brunch cocktails. The first Phoebe’s opened in 2017 off Oltorf Street. The diner is owned by Aaron Rash, Robert Tran, Erick Tran and Quang Chau, alongside chef Camden Stuerzenberger. • Opened April 10 • 9901 Brodie Lane, Ste. 120, Austin • www.phoebesdiner.com 5 Pika Thai Bites Punphika “Pika” Galindo is the local owner behind Southwest Austin’s newest Thai food truck. Located at Nomadic Outpost, Pika offers Thai street food with authentic flavors and customizable spice levels. • Opened April 15 • 3505 Country White Lane, Austin • www.pikathaibites.com 3 Aura Island Grill Located outside Aura Island Hookah Lounge, the food truck serves a variety of Mediterranean cuisine, such as chicken and beef shawarma, Greek gyros, falafels, hummus and pita, and dolma. • Opened in March • 2621 Jones Road, Austin • Instagram: @aura.island.grill
290
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1826
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MOPAC
973
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Coming soon
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N TM; © 2026 COMMUNITY IMPACT CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
6 Fiber Golf The indoor golf course will include two private bays featuring simulator screens with a TrackMan radar system, as well as offer memberships, tournaments and league play. • Opening in May • 10509 Circle Drive, Austin • https://fibergolf.com
other spa services. • Opened in January • 9900 S. I-35 Frontage Road, Ste. P100, Austin • www.ruvenailspatx.com
Now open
1 Ruvé Nail Spa The nail salon offers manicures and pedicures featuring Gel-X, dipping powder and more, as well as waxing and
®️
+ +
$0 tuition at Austin Community College (ACC). High school graduates from the class of 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 & 2028 in ACC’s service area may qualify.
+
No income restrictions. No GPA requirements.
Santana G. & Apollo F.
LEARN MORE & APPLY FOR FREE AT austincc.edu/freetuition
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
7 QuikTrip The location will be QuikTrip’s first Generation 4 store in the Austin market, featuring the company’s new store design and expanded QT Kitchens offerings. The convenience store sells snacks, drinks, hot food items, lottery tickets, tobacco products, grocery and automotive products, and has gasoline pumps. • Opening June 2027 • 620 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin • www.quiktrip.com 8 Sakura Sushi & Mongolian Grill The restaurant will offer Japanese cuisine, including meat stir fry, fried rice, noodle dishes and a variety of sushi rolls such as maki, tempura, nigiri, sashimi and specialty rolls. • Opening this summer • 9900 S. I-35 Frontage Road, Ste. M100, Austin • www.sakuramongolian.com
Coming soon
Worth the trip
12 Chubby Cattle The Japanese-inspired restaurant specializes in serving Wagyu barbecue, along with a variety of sushi and other sides included in the all-you-can- eat experience. • Opening this summer • 2901 S. Capital of Texas Highway, Unit J01B, Austin • www.chubbycattle.com
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice The shop offers 30 flavors of housemade Italian ice and creamy soft serve with rotating flavors. The two treats can be layered to create the brand’s “jelati”, which customers can decorate with mix-ins such as Oreo crumbles and Rainbow Nerds. • Opened March 31 • 150 Heroes Memorial Drive, Bldg. A-100, Kyle • www.jeremiahsice.com
PERMITS FILED WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION
What’s next
9 AAA Storage The storage facility is slated to open a new storage park in Southwest Austin, per a TDLR filing. The facility offers drive-up, climate-controlled units in a variety of sizes with 24/7 video surveillance and security fences. • 9111 US 183 South, Austin • www.aaastorage.com 10 Tanglewood Forest Limited District The residential community is building a recreational complex and upgrading its swimming pool, per a TDLR filing. • 9809 Curlew Drive, Austin • www.tanglewoodforestlimiteddistrict.com
• 3421 W. William Cannon Drive, Ste. 101, Austin • www.meconbistro.com
Closings
15 Painted Tree Boutiques The store hosted a variety of small business owners under one roof, offering gifts, decor, clothing and more. Shop owners were able to customize their space, and Painted Tree retail staff supported the owners by handling daily transactions. • Closed April 14 • 5400 Brodie Lane, Ste. 300, Austin • www.paintedtree.com
13 Madam Mam’s Thai Cuisine The Thai restaurant is celebrating 10 years in Southwest Austin. The menu features a selection of appetizers, wings, curries, rice dishes, soups and Thai drinks. • 9911 Brodie Lane, Ste. 600, Austin • www.madammam.com 14 Taurus Detailing The locally owned auto detailing shop offers detailing, ceramic coatings, paint protection film and window tint. The business is celebrating 10 years in May. Owner Sean Hutchisson opened it in 2016. • 10421 Old Manchaca Road, Ste. 200, Austin • www.taurusautodetailing.com
In the news
11 Me Con Bistro Me Con Bistro is marking its 10th anniversary. The restaurant opened in Southwest Austin in 2016 and offers a range of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes, from pho to noodles.
Promote your business
Coming Soon! Community Impact’s Home Guide
Scan, call 512.989.1000 or email ads@communityimpact.com
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Impacts
Dripping Springs
BY SIENNA WIGHT
Coming soon
1
3 Zen Nail Lounge Danny Nguyen is the local owner of Zen Nail Lounge, which will offer over 30 pedicure chairs, over 20 nail stations and non-toxic, odor-free services. • Opening in April • 12680 Hwy. 290, Ste. 100, Austin • www.zennaillounge.net
FITZHUGH RD.
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Closings
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4 Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room The Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room in Dripping Springs is closing its doors after over a decade. The distillery in Buda will remain open, and the company will continue to attend local events in Austin, according to the website. Goodnight Loving Vodka will move into the space in August, which will serve as their headquarters, production line, offices and tasting room. • Closing June 13 • 2250 Hwy. 290, Dripping Springs • www.deepeddyvodka.com
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N TM; © 2026 COMMUNITY IMPACT CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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2 Suds Brothers Express Car Wash The business is now offering car washes, polishes, wheel cleaner, bug prep, rim brightener, free mat cleans and more. Customers can purchase single washes or a monthly package, ranging from $27 to $40 per month. • Opened April 11 • 610 W Hwy. 290, Dripping Springs • www.sudsbrosds.com
Now open
1 Dripping Springs Sports Club Warehouse Local owner and CEO Drew Rose opened a new sports facility this spring. The facility offers volleyball courts, basketball courts and a weight room. The warehouse is just a few miles down the road from the DSSC Flex facility that opened last fall. • Opened in March • 15113 Fitzhugh Road, Ste. 1400, Austin • www.drippingsports.com
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Government
BY MICHAEL MILLIORN, BEN THOMPSON & CHLOE YOUNG
Travis County to withhold some of Tesla tax rebate Travis County is lowering its tax rebate to Tesla due to “partial noncompliance” with a perfor- mance-based local incentive agreement. Since 2020, the county promised Tesla tax breaks to build the 10-million-square-foot Giga Texas car manufacturing plant near Del Valle. On April 7, Travis County commissioners voted to withhold 9% of funds for 2020-22 after receiving “incomplete documentation” from the Colorado River Project, a Tesla subsidiary, County Judge Andy Brown said. “We have to continue to demand accountability in future compliance conversations,” Commissioner Ann Howard said. “I’m grateful for the work and the good, but it comes with a price, and we need to be accountable to the people for that.” The overview Under the agreement, Tesla would receive a 70% rebate on its maintenance and operations property taxes for the rst $1.09 billion invested through Giga Texas. The company could receive a 75% rebate for investments beyond $1.09 billion and up to an 80% rebate for investments beyond $2 billion. Tesla was projected to receive a $14.65 million rebate over 10 years, according to initial county estimates from 2020. A Travis County spokesperson said the county has not yet calculated how much of a rebate Tesla will receive for 2020-22. To acquire these rebates, the company was required to create at least 5,001 new full-time jobs—50% of which had to be lled by Travis County residents—among other requirements. All employees had to receive a minimum base wage of $15 per hour and at least $47,147 a year for full-time jobs, according to county documents.
Austin moves to expand mixed zoning City Council took the rst step toward broadening the types of multiunit housing that can be built in Austin neighborhoods and allowing more mixed-use development citywide. What happened On March 26, council advanced the creation of two new zoning categories over the year ahead meant to support: • Multi-unit “missing middle” housing at scales in between single-family homes and bigger apartment complexes • Transit- and pedestrian-oriented develop- ments blending residential and commercial space, from smaller corner stores to larger mixed-use buildings Council member Paige Ellis said improved mixed-use zones can support a wide variety of development, from denser apartment proj- ects desired near downtown and transit lines to smaller businesses near neighborhoods. And Mayor Kirk Watson called missing middle a “logical step” toward improving housing a ordability and choice. “Having a well-rounded, robust, and active housing market means addressing what’s missing, and these mid-density developments are what’s missing,” he said. The two concepts, laid out in a resolution from Ellis, will now be worked into new zon- ing in the year ahead. Her measure built on a recent city study into Austin’s current housing stock and recommending policy changes.
Tesla tax breaks Travis County extended tax relief to Tesla for the development of its Giga Texas plant.
County grant percentage:
• 70% in all payment years for irst $1.1 billion invested • 75% for investments over $1.1 billion up to $2 billion • 80% for investments over $2 billion
As of 2022, Tesla:
Invested over $5.8 billion
Created 12,300 new jobs
Jobs averaged hourly pay of $39.72 , and $26.53 for construction contractors
SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT
“We are holding Tesla accountable,” Commis- sioner Brigid Shea said. “They have also met and signi cantly exceeded the key requirements in the contract of creating a very large number of very good paying jobs for people who have less than a college degree.” The update Tesla provided incomplete documentation on its building standards, construction site safety, mini- mum hourly wage, and janitorial and food contrac- tors. Tesla also exceeded many of the agreement’s provisions, Christy Mo ett, the county’s director of economic development and strategic investments, said. As of 2022, Tesla invested over $5.8 billion into the property, surpassing the original target of nearly $178 million.
Hays County OKs funds to ght housing insecurity
"The population is higher, the economy is more di cult, and more people are reaching out to Southside because they are the hub for everyone
Southside Community Center is getting a $100,000 boost to support housing security in Hays County, following approval from Hays County Commissioners Court in March. The overview County commissioners approved the one-time stipend, nanced by the Texas Department of State Health Services’ Tobacco Settlement Fund, March 24. The move will support Southside Com- munity Center’s home stabilization program.
Diving deeper While commissioners showed support for the new funding, they also raised questions about the organization’s sustainability moving forward. They emphasized the $100,000 is one-time spend- ing, and won’t set a new precedent for annual county funding. The county’s original contract with Southside provided $25,000, on top of $25,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds committed by the county.
who needs those kinds of services." MICHELLE COHEN, HAYS COUNTY PRECINCT 2 COMMISSIONER
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
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Election
BY HANNAH NORTON
Races to watch Some races at the top of the Republican runoff ballot include: U.S. Senate: Incumbent John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton Texas attorney general: State Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin Texas railroad commissioner: Incumbent Jim Wright and former Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French Texas’ new 9th Congressional District: Army veteran Alex Mealer and state Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park Texas’ new 35th Congressional District: State Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, and Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz Some runoff contests on the Democratic side are: Texas attorney general: State Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski Texas lieutenant governor: State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, and union leader Marcos Velez Texas’ new 18th Congressional District: Incumbent Christian Menefee, D-Houston, and U.S. Rep. Al Green, who currently represents District 9 Texas’ new 33rd Congressional District: Former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, and U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, who currently represents District 32
Texas held its primary elections March 3, with Republican and Democratic voters selecting their parties’ nominees for scores of federal, state and local seats. Yet some candidates aren’t done campaigning— dozens of primary races are headed to runoff elections May 26. In Texas primaries, state law requires that a candidate receive more than 50% of the vote to win their race outright. When no one meets that threshold, the two highest- performing candidates advance to a runoff. The winner of each runoff election will appear on the November ballot. What to know about May 26 runoff elections
More details
Texans who voted in a political party’s primary this March can only cast ballots in the same party’s runoff, per state law. Those who did not participate in the primaries can vote in either party’s runoff. Individuals who participate in third-party nominating conventions may not vote in another party’s primary or runoff.
Dates to know
Deadline to register to vote in the runoffs
April 27
May 15
Last day to apply to vote by mail
May 18
Early voting begins
May 22
Early voting ends
May 26
Runoff election day
SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
Education
BY SIENNA WIGHT
DSISD opens out- of-district transfer applications
Starting April 1, Texas families will be able to apply for an out-of-district transfer to Dripping Springs ISD. Public school funding is calculated on the average daily attendance of enrolled students. By o ering out-of-district transfers for grades K-6, where the district has “extra seats,” they aim to increase funding without increasing operating costs.
One more thing
The district will not provide transportation for out-of-district transfers. Families out of district will need to reapply and pay the administrative fee every year. DSISD will have a clear estimate of available capacity in June after in-district students verify their 2026-27 enrollment.
Dripping Springs ISD enrollment projections
Historic enrollment
10 year forecast
Projected high enrollment
Projected low enrollment
Eligibility requirements
Reside in Texas
15K
10K
Pay a $150 administrative fee per family
5K
Meet the academic requirements
0
For a full list of requirements, visit the districts website
School year
SOURCE: DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
Village Grove is now open from the high $300s Find your new home with America’s Most Trusted ® Home Builder in Dripping Springs, TX
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*Taylor Morrison received the highest numerical score in the proprietary Lifestory Research 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 America’s Most Trusted® Home Builder study. Study results are based on experiences and perceptions of people surveyed. Your experiences may vary. Visit www.lifestoryresearch.com. All information (including, but not limited to prices, views, availability, school assignments and ratings, incentives, floor plans, elevations, site plans, features, standards and options, assessments and fees, planned amenities, programs, conceptual artists’ renderings and community development plans) is not guaranteed and remains subject to change, availability or delay without notice. Any community improvements, recreational features and amenities described are based upon current development plans, which are subject to change and under no obligation to be completed. Maps and plans are not to scale, are not intended to show specific detailing and all dimensions are approximate. Offer void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. This is not an offering in any state where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. Please see a Taylor Morrison Community Sales Manager for details and visit www. taylormorrison.com for additional state and community specific disclaimers, licensing information and other details (as applicable). © April 2026, Taylor Morrison of Texas, Inc. and WLH Communities – Texas LLC, each the “Selling Entity” as applicable to client’s transaction. All rights reserved. 04/07/26 9182 taylormorrison.com | 737.216.0856
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY SIENNA WIGHT & CHLOE YOUNG
Austin ISD officials weighing $117M-plus in cuts Austin ISD may make more than $100 million in budget cuts to staffing, academic programs and other operational expenses. What’s happening
Dripping Springs high school breaks ground Dripping Springs ISD officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for High School No. 2 on April 13. The details The new campus will have the capacity to serve 2,500 students and is the largest construction project in the district’s history. How we got here The district has been planning for a second high school for several years as a response to growing enrollment.
expenses, officials discussed four scenarios that could involve making anywhere from $117 million-$132 million in budget cuts. Additionally, the district may save $9 million-$10 million by removing vacant positions and receive $50 mil- lion from monetizing three district properties, Chief Financial Officer Katrina Montgomery said.
The cuts come as the district aims to reduce a budget shortfall of $181 million. To reduce
FY 2026-27 preliminary
Scenario A Scenario B Scenario C Scenario D
Revenue (+) Recapture (-)
$1.45B
$1.45B
$1.45B
$1.45B
$1.45B
$604M $604M $604M $604M $604M
Operating expenditures (-)
$1.03B ($181M)
$1.03B ($181M)
$1.03B ($181M)
$1.03B ($181M)
$1.03B ($181M) $10M $50M $132M
Net change
Vacancy savings (+)
$16M
$9M
$10M $50M $117M ($4M)
$10M $50M $131M $10M
SAWYER RANCH RD.
Property monetization (+)
TBD TBD
$50M $131M
Strategies (+)
Adjusted net change
($165M)
$9M
$11M
162
Unassigned fund balance percentage
ENCHANTED OAKS DR.
-2.4% +16.8% +15% +16.8% +17%
N
SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
Transportation
Development
BY SIENNA WIGHT
BY BEN THOMPSON
Luxury estates launch near Dripping Springs Builder Platinum Ranches announced the launch of its Maddalena Ranch luxury residential development in March. The details The 23-site project is located off Prochnow Road about 7 miles southwest of Dripping Springs. Ten-acre lots are priced from $800,000-$1.2 million and based around a 25-acre private recreational preserve. “Maddalena Ranch represents a shift back to what makes the Hill Country so special— space, silence, and stewardship,” Compass Austin marketing agent Nicole Kessler said in a statement. Maddalena Ranch is Platinum Ranches’ latest Hill Country community following developments like Hye Ranch, Mesa del Arroyo and Buckspring Ranch.
Bond dollars fund South Austin affordable housing More than $50 million for affordable housing was approved April 9, including several existing and planned South Austin complexes. The overview Units at those facilities are set aside for tenants earning a percentage of the local median family income, or MFI. Funding from Austin’s 2018 and 2022 housing bonds included: • $8 million for Journeyman Group’s Verbena Flats, with studio to three-bedroom units avail- able to tenants earning up to 30%-60% MFI • $4.7 million for the 47-home Goodnight Ranch ownership community from Austin Habitat for Humanity, with three-bedroom homes to be sold to 80% MFI buyers for $230,000 • $4.95 million to rehabilitate Narrow Road Group’s existing Arts at Turtle Creek and Cherry
Rehabilitation 1 Cherry Hill Lofts 2 Arts at Turtle Creek New development 3 Verbena Flats 4 Goodnight Ranch
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Upcoming project
Ongoing project
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Hill Lofts apartments, with 125 units available to those earning 30%-60% MFI What else? Almost $22 million was also reserved for the city’s local housing voucher program to subsidize rental units for tenants exiting homelessness. “I continue to believe that the state and federal governments should step up and serve the people. But I’m proud of our city for continuing to invest in projects and programs like this,” council mem- ber Mike Siegel said.
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1 Darden Hill Road/CR 162 Phase 2 Project: Hays County will construct a four-lane divided roadway spanning 1.7 miles from the Sawyer Ranch roundabout to RM 1826. Update: A partially executed utility coordination public service announcement and work authorization is expected to be presented to the Hays County Commissioners Court on April 14. • Timeline: slated to complete summer 2027 • Cost: $51.79 million • Funding source: the 2016 road bond funded the schematic design 45 MOPAC
2 Oak Hill Parkway Project: The 7-mile stretch of highway has been undergoing a $677 million facelift since 2021. The four-lane, undivided roadway will become a six- lane divided highway with new frontage roads and 14 miles of shared-use paths. Update: As early as April, the Convict Hill cross- street bridge will open. • Timeline: 2022-26 (total project) • Cost: $677 million allocated for the entire project • Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation
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Austin spending under review From the cover
Social services
How it works
process of being determined but are expected to total about $16.8 million in FY 2026-27. “That was heartbreaking for me personally, to know that subsequent to [the] failure of Prop Q that we essentially balanced our budget on the backs of our social safety net,” council member Vanessa Fuentes said. The city is also looking to cut down its informa- tion technology department to reduce expenses by eliminating duplicated systems and centralizing operations. But the public employees’ union AFSCME Local 1624 opposed this and asked Austin to find other ways to roll out improvements.
Last year, City Council originally passed a $6.34 billion fiscal year 2025-26 budget with significant investments in social services. However, most of the funding anticipated by council was stripped away in a budget rewrite after voters rejected the Proposition Q tax measure, which would have generated about $100 million for the FY 2025-26 budget. After the election, City Manager T.C. Broadnax outlined how those millions of dollars would be removed. Further cuts are on the horizon as Austin works toward what several officials have called a social services “reset.” The exact cuts are in the Top spending The city expects to cut almost $17 million from social spending in FY 2026-27. Of the $74 million currently budgeted for social services, the top spending categories include: $34.9M Homelessness strategy and operations Crisis response (court diversion, case management) $10.5M $9.2M Children and youth (early childhood, youth development programs)
As part of the audit process, the city auditor’s office is tasked with starting an ongoing “comprehensive efficiency assessment” program. City Auditor Jason Hadavi will oversee the initiative, to be handled independently by an external consultant. The audit will analyze Austin’s overall city government organization, public programs and services, third-party contracting practices, and financial comparisons to peer cities. Public progress reports will be made at least semiannually, and all project recommendations, results and other information will be posted online. As improvements are suggested throughout the review, city management and department leaders will have to detail how those changes will be made—or why they disagree. Given the broad scope of a citywide assessment, Hadavi said a multiyear process would likely yield the best results. The work is set to repeat indefinitely into the future, although the council-approved ordinance calls for at least three-year gaps between each full audit cycle. The audit doesn’t have a set price tag, and Hadavi said early cost estimates likely wouldn’t be released to keep bidding competitive. The Save Austin Now political action committee, which contributed to anti- Proposition Q efforts last fall, is now running a petition campaign for a ballot measure to mandate third-party city auditing. Its petition calls to enshrine that requirement in Austin’s charter, which would eventually require voter approval if the petition gains enough signatures.
Spending comparison Austin’s general fund pays for more social services than other cities, which tend to rely more on grants or taxes.
Social spending from general fund Grants/tax
Totals $0 $20M $40M $60M $80M $100M
$83.9M $30.5M $63.4M $52M
85%
Dallas 52%
Houston 5%
San Antonio 66%
Austin
Contractors
Nearly $300 million was spent on city consultant services across nearly every department over less than three years. Consultant costs
Auditing process The city’s program will be handled internally by the city auditor’s office with support from an outside consultant to conduct:
A new city audit in March also revealed issues with Austin’s frequent use of third-party contrac- tors, including unclear justifications and reporting on work that recently cost nearly $300 million and increased by about 25% in less than three years. “The city may not be able to show why consultant services were needed or how they were used,” Audit Manager Keith Salas said. Contracting with consultants is common in Austin, with Salas noting that “virtually all” city departments are spending on third-party support. The practice grew increasingly expensive in the less- than-three-year period covered by the March audit. The finance department plans to update its processes in line with new recommendations by October, according to the audit. Financial Services Director Kim Olivares said the adjustments tie in well with other citywide
$120M
$102.6M
$100M
An overall analysis of Austin’s organization, programs, services, policies and operations
$81.9M
$94.7M
$80M
$0
A review of city contracting practices
2022-23
2023-24 2024-25
Fiscal year
Cost savings and performance improvement recommendations
NOTE: CITY FISCAL YEARS RUN FROM OCTOBER-SEPTEMBER. FY 2024-25 DATA IS THROUGH JULY ONLY.
Comparisons to peer cities on efficiency and financial benchmarks
efficiency updates, including the new audit program.
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY BEN THOMPSON
Bonds
Next steps
A contractor for the auditing process could be approved after this summer’s budgeting process and before the current 2025-26 fiscal year ends in September. Initial program costs were not available as of press time. It remains to be seen if Save Austin Now will earn enough support to prompt an election to integrate the audit requirement into the city’s charter. The group originally targeted this May’s ballot, but its petition wasn’t completed and submitted before the February filing deadline. PAC co-Chair Matt Mackowiak said he believes the charter measure will make it to the November ballot. As for the possible November bond, the bond advisory task force continues to meet and is expected to produce its own project list by early May. Grace Dickens contributed to this report. Spending review timeline 2025 • November: Proposition Q fails 2026 • February: citywide audit process approved • Spring: planned employee transitions for IT department begin • Summer-early fall: audit contractor approved; auditing continues indefinitely • October: consulting guidelines updated • November: potential $700 million bond and Save Austin Now charter amendment may appear on ballot
scaled-down $700 million list has just over two dozen initiatives. Debt like public improvement bonds is paid for through a portion of city property taxes. The owner of a median-valued home in Austin will pay about $450 in debt service taxes this year, a total expected to rise to about $615 by 2030 based on current conditions with the city’s existing debt. The city, Austin ISD and Austin Community College had nearly $3.6 billion in combined bond propositions approved in 2022, including Austin’s $350 million affordable housing bond, with that debt adding to those entities’ tax bills for years. And last fall, voters passed separate tax rate elections for Travis County-led child care programming and AISD district staff raises and operations.
In the midst of spending discussions, city leaders are weighing whether to put a bond package before voters this November. A $700 million bond package to fund mobility, watershed protection, parks and public facility projects was recommended by city staff in January after months of review. The outline may not represent Austin’s final 2026 bond—if an election is called this year—as a public task force will also weigh in with its own project proposals this spring. Austin hasn’t called a compre- hensive bond election since 2018, although stand- alone packages were approved for transportation in 2020 and affordable housing in 2022. The $3.87 billion project wish list released last year included 66 programs or projects from more than a dozen public-facing city departments. The
2026 recommended bond projects
Tax impacts
Current debt projections show Austinites will pay more taxes by 2030. Additionally, this shows how a $500 million or $750 million bond would impact taxes.
An initial list of projects to be funded by Austin’s 2026 bond was proposed within a $700 million cap recommended by city staff.
Current and authorized debt With $500 million 2026 bond With $750 million 2026 bond
2026 initial recommendation
Transportation: $251M
Debt service taxes
Parks and Recreation: $140M Watershed protection: $160M
$0 $200 $400 $600 $800
Police: $62M
Community facilities*: $58M Fire/EMS: $29M
*ANIMAL SERVICES CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS, LIBRARY RENOVATION, FLEET PROPERTY ACQUISITION, NEW HOMELESS SHELTER
Year
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Events
BY KATLYNN FOX
Mother’s Day Saturday: Mini Goat Snuggles Families can visit Vista Brewing for a meet and greet with mini goats and brews purchased separately from the brewery. • May 9, 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. • $10 (children’s ticket), $16 (adult ticket) • 13551 FM 150, Driftwood • www.goatshenanigans.com Pioneer Day 2026 Dripping Springs community members can gather at The Pound House Farmstead to celebrate Pioneer Day. . Visitors can expect to see soap making, blacksmithing, food vendors and a vintage rummage sale. • May 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • $12 (adult tickets), $6 (youth tickets) • 419-B Founders Park Road, Dripping Springs • www.phfmuseum.org/pioneer-day-2026 Dripping Springs Fair and Rodeo 2026 Dripping Springs residents can gather for a weekend of bull riding, bronc riding, tie down and breakaway roping, steer wrestling and mutton busting. • May 22-24, 7:30 p.m. (daily rodeo performance) • $15-20 (adult tickets), $10-15 (youth tickets) • 1042 Event Center Drive, Dripping Springs • www.cityofdrippingsprings.com/fair-rodeo
May
Golden Bloom Festival Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center is celebrating half a century of operations with self-guided tours, archery, music, face painting and crafts. • May 2; 8:30 a.m.-noon, 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m. • $5 (vehicle fee) • 24814 Hamilton Pool Road, Round Mountain • https://bit.ly/4tyVxFC BookSpring Fest A literacy nonprofit is hosting its fourth annual free reading festival featuring community leaders, musical performances and family friendly activities. • May 2, noon-5 p.m. • Free • 1807 W. Slaughter Lane, Bldg. 1, Austin • www.bookspringfest.org Forest Bathing Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will host a class on forest bathing, where attendees will learn how to meditate and connect with nature. • May 3, 10-11 a.m. • $45 (tickets)
Austin Psych Fest 2026 The Far Out Lounge will host a three-day music festival featuring The Flaming Lips, Thee Sacred Souls and The Black Angels. • May 8-10, times vary • Tickets starting at $92.02 • 8504 S. Congress Ave., Austin • https://bit.ly/4c7ueuX
• 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin • www.wildflower.org/event
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
Bleed
Bleed
Safe Area WaterWise Water Saving Rebates Keep all text and critical images inside this line. This is the final size of the double truck ad. WaterWise Landscape Rebate* Austin Water customers who replace a minimum of 200 sq feet of healthy turf grass with native plant beds may be eligible for $100 per 100 square feet, up to $3,000 in rebates. Landscape Survival Tools Rebates By using a combination of mulch, compost and core aeration of your lawn, you will be prepared for the damage that an Austin summer can do to your yard. These techniques will ensure that water stays on your yard, reducing the need for supplemental irrigation. 19.2 in x 11.25 in
Safe Area
19.2 in x 11.25 in
Keep all text and critical images inside this line. This is the final size of the double truck ad.
20.5 in x 12.5 in Bleed Area (0.25 in bleed) This is the final size of the PDF that gets sent through the job jacket and Automator. (equipment rental is acceptable) Rebate $30 Maximize your rebate by doing all three $120 WaterWise Rainscape Rebate* Compost: 2 cubic yards or 54 cubic feet Rebate $50 Mulch: 2 cubic yards or 54 cubic feet Rebate $40 Core aeration service for entire front and/or back lawn area
Bleed Area (0.25 in bleed)
20.5 in x 12.5 in
Gutter
This is the final size of the PDF that gets sent through the job jacket and Automator.
0.8326 in
The Rainscape Rebate Program helps residents install landscape features (berms, terraces, swales, rain gardens, porous pavement, etc.) to keep and beneficially use rainwater on the property. The rebate pays $0.50 for every square foot (100 sq. ft. minimum) converted, up to $1,500 per property. Rainwater Harvesting Rebate* Rebates of $0.50 per gallon capacity for non-pressurized systems or $1.00 per gallon capacity for pressurized systems up to a maximum rebate of $5,000 are available for rainwater harvesting systems. Irrigation Upgrade Rebate Customers may receive up to $1,000 in rebates for making improvements to their existing irrigation systems to increase water efficiency. New irrigation systems and expansions to existing systems are not eligible. *some rebates require pre-approval. Please check program guidelines.
Instructions: • Doubletruck needs to be designed within the safe area and exported with bleed • Avoid text in the gutter • Final specs with bleed should be 20.5 in x 12.5 in • Export PDF as a spread • For doubletrucks designed in-house, export the doubletruck at the CI – In Paper Ads preset (modified by selecting “Export as spread” instead of “as pages.”)
Conservation Rebates, Tools, Tips, and more
austinwater.org
Dining
BY KATLYNN FOX
NEW LOCATION OPEN SOON!!
Barclay Stratton worked as a chef in Italy after college, which is where he learned more about co ee culture, he said.
KATLYNN FOX COMMUNITY IMPACT
220 RALPH ABLANEDO
Where community fuels progress, and every visit brings you closer to your fitness goals.
Golden Hour Cafe and Wine Bar is located next to Perch, a South Austin apartment complex. Residents who visit receive a discount at Golden Hour.
The cafe menu features a selection of lattes served hot or iced, including the lavender and vanilla lattes ($6.50) .
COURTESY GOLDEN HOUR
KATLYNN FOX COMMUNITY IMPACT
GoldenHourCafe&WineBaro ersall-daydrinksanddining Golden Hour Cafe & Wine Bar serves patrons at two key hours of the day: the golden hours. Early morning visitors can stop in for fresh tea or co ee and a breakfast burrito. At 6 p.m., laptops disappear and natural wines are poured by the glass or presented by the bottle with marinated olives or a housemade focaccia slice. serves focaccia, cheese, crackers and hojicha tea basque cheesecake. The drink menu
By day, Golden Hour baristas are crafting cappucci- nos, miso panela lattes and ube violet iced matchas. Golden Hour also o ers a selection of natural spar- kling, white and red wines—as well as a few ciders. One more thing In the last four years, the cafe and wine bar has cultivated a community through events, discounts for residents at Perch apartments and a supportive sta . “I’m so grateful for our customers,” Stratton said. “They are people here [who] have been coming since the beginning, and they’re still here, and it’s amazing.”
For owner Barclay Stratton, the goal is to bring cus- tomers the highest-caliber ingredients for three meals a day at an everyday price point. “It’s really about service and about people and about meeting our guests where they are,” Stratton said. The background As a South Austinite, Stratton and his wife wanted a space to enjoy a glass of wine with chef-driven cuisine in their own backyard. When he couldn’t nd it, Strat- ton opened Golden Hour alongside business partner Evan Dunivan. What’s on the menu Golden Hour o ers breakfast classics such as home- made yogurt and granola and its famous breakfast burrito, made with potato, egg, cheese, chipotle and green onions. The lunch menu features a Paris ham melt and a chicken Caesar wrap before the kitchen closes to prepare for evening bites. After 3 p.m., Golden Hour
Rope Climbing • Bouldering • Yoga Studio • Locker Room With Saunas Strength Training • Climbing Training & Classes • Open Gym • Fitness Classes • Yoga Classes • Lounge • Kids Room • Coffee Shop & Food Trucks
W. WILLIAM CANNON DR.
W . D I T T
N
7731 Menchaca Road, Ste. 100, Austin www.goldenhouratx.com
VISIT US TODAY!
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