The Week’s Biggest News in Brief: April 2-8

AISD Budget Deficit Continues to Soar: Austin ISD has a ballooning budget deficit problem. Last projected to sit around $50 million by the end of this school year, the district is now projecting a potential deficit of $181 million by next school year, the Statesman reported. AISD has been hopeful that the sale or lease of six of its 10 campuses set to close this summer, in addition to closing sales on the previously closed Rosedale and Brooke campuses, will help alleviate its budget deficit. But now that the Rosedale sale will likely not close until the next fiscal year, additional cuts on district expenses are being recommended. On Tuesday, April 7, district officials proposed cutting $5.7 million in special education teacher stipends, $40.9 million to staff positions, $16 million to secondary planning periods, $6 million to elementary physical education, arts, and music programs, and $2 million to librarians.

Over 2,000 Attend Big Bend Rally: The Save Big Bend Rally garnered more than 2,000 attendees at the Capitol on Saturday, April 4, opposing the federal government’s move to build over 150 miles of border walls throughout the Big Bend region, according to No Big Bend Wall. While the U.S. Border Patrol said that the state park was removed from its physical wall plans, advocates are still concerned with the implementation of “detection technology” within the park. Ahead of the $3 billion project’s launch, state and city leaders, both Republicans and Democrats, gathered with advocates to voice their concerns at the state Capitol. 

Travis County Burn Ban Lifted: On Tuesday, April 7, Travis County Chief Fire Marshal Gary Howell lifted the county’s burn ban that was extended on March 24, originally set to be in place through April 28. The ban’s lift comes after the county finally received beneficial rainfall, improving moisture levels and conditions throughout the area. While outdoor burning is now permitted in unincorporated areas, the Fire Marshal’s Office encourages community members to remain cautious and aware when conducting burns.

Final Wildfire Public Input Meetings: Prior to updating its Community Wildfire Protection Plan, the Austin-Travis County Wildfire Coalition hosted the first of two final community input meetings on Wednesday, April 8, Austin Emergency Management announced. The organization’s goal is to give the public access to an overview of the project, hear from experts, and take public feedback. The second meeting will be held today from 6-8pm at St. Luke’s on the Lake Episcopal Church. Those hoping to attend are asked to register at publicinput.com/cwpprsvp.

Donald Trump Credit: Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0

PSL Protest Against Trump’s War Crimes: The Party for Socialism and Liberation organized a rally at Republic Square on Wednesday, April 8, protesting the war in Iran. Following increasingly extreme, unhinged rhetoric from the president – including a threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran did not agree to a peace deal by his Tuesday deadline – the two countries reached a two-week ceasefire agreement. “These disgusting, genocidal statements threaten to continue targeting of vital civilian infrastructure on which millions of people depend. Trump has already bombed universities, a bridge, and residential areas in Iran this week,” the Austin organization wrote.

Travis County Withholding Tesla Incentives: According to the Statesman, Travis County is withholding partial Tesla incentives that were granted for Gigafactory Texas after the company failed to meet terms outlined in a 2020 performance agreement. While Commissioner Margaret Gómez abstained, the other commissioners in the county voted 4-0, refusing to pay 9% of scheduled rebates for 2020, 2021, and 2022. Travis County Judge Andy Brown said that the company provided “significant but incomplete documentation” regarding employees’ minimum hourly wage, compensation for contractors for janitorial and food services, and its green building initiative.

TCUP Expansion Enters Second Phase: The Department of Public Safety announced that it launched the second phase of the Texas Compassionate Use Program expansion on Wednesday, April 1. Three new operators have been chosen to move forward in the program, adding to nine businesses that were selected in the first phase last December.

Credit: Getty Images

Waymo Remains Under Investigation: According to KVUE, the National Transportation Safety Board announced on Friday, April 3, that it had launched an investigation into Waymo due to another incident of one of the company’s autonomous vehicles illegally passing a parked AISD school bus. This comes after the company’s driverless vehicles have faced increasing scrutiny for blocking an ambulance during the Sixth Street shootings, along with pushback from AISD for similar instances. The most recent occurrence took place on March 25, which will be included as one part of a larger investigation into Waymo illegally passing school buses, according to the NTSB.

Austin Expands Court Services Access with Community Grant Program: A new Austin Community Court grant program is helping educate the public about court services and programs, according to Austin Communications and Engagement. The Court Navigation Mini-Grant program awarded 14 grants of $2,500 to local service providers and organizations who work closely with people experiencing homelessness and others with outstanding cases and warrants for court navigation training, client case checks, and assistance, the release said. “This program gave service providers another tool to support their clients while extending the reach of Austin Community Court far beyond our doors,” said Robert Kingham, administrator at Austin Community Court. Developed by Austin Budget and Organizational Excellence following a 2024 resolution, the pilot program aims to foster partnerships with small community organizations that the city hopes to expand in the future.  

Credit: Getty Images

Data Center Tax Breaks: Over the next two years, the state is set to lose $3.2 billion in sales tax revenue due to exemptions for the data center industry, according to the Tribune. Over a decade ago, when data centers’ presence was much smaller and required less resources, lawmakers approved tax breaks for the industry. Between 2014 and 2022, those exemptions amounted to between $5 million and $30 million in lost revenue for the state per year. In 2023, that sum amounted to over $150 million. This year, the state will lose out on $1.3 billion. Three years ago, the comptroller’s office projected the breaks to be valued at about $180 million in the 2027-2028 biennial budget. Now, that projection is upward of $3 billion, with no signs of slowing down.

Texas Hospital Districts to Receive $11.8 Million for Opioid Response: The Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council has distributed a third round of settlement funds to Texas hospital districts to address opioid-related needs in their communities, acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced on Monday, April 6. The distributions are funded by statewide opioid settlement agreements with different companies to resolve legal claims against them for their role in the opioid crisis. The $11.8 million in funds are used to improve access to critical treatment and recovery services and will be distributed among local hospital districts based on several factors, including hospital size and estimated distribution amount from the settlement agreements, according to the press release. 

Austin Career Expo: On Wednesday, April 8, the Palmer Events Center hosted members of the community for the Austin Career Expo, where attendees had access to on-the-spot interviews for city occupations, with over 100 employers participating. Eighteen city departments extended contingent job offers at the event, hoping to fill around 90 eligible job titles.

Credit: Getty Images

Renaming Cesar Chavez Street: After a New York Times investigation revealed that late farmworker organizer and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez sexually abused young girls and women, Austin City Council is now planning to rename Cesar Chavez Street. Chavez’s East Austin mural was painted over last week, and Council members are discussing the best direction for renaming the street, tasking City Manager T.C. Broadnax with gathering public input to configure the best possible option. Some Austinites mentioned that they would like the street to be named after one of the surviving women, while others have said the street should be changed back to East First Street.

APD Victim Services Free Training: Austin Police Department Victim Services will provide free training to counselors throughout the year into 2027, APD announced. The law enforcement agency said that it has $50,000 available for training local mental health counselors, from both nonprofit and private sectors, to provide counseling to trauma survivors. The goal, APD said, is to get counselors up to speed with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a form of therapy that concentrates on disturbing emotions and symptoms that have resulted from traumatic experiences. Participating counselors will be trained for free in exchange for agreement to partner with the department to provide trauma survivors with 50 pro bono sessions over the next three years.

Completion of Flood Risk Reduction Project: Austin Watershed Protection completed the January Drive Flood Risk Reduction project – an initiative aimed to reduce local flooding and improve drainage in the Four Seasons neighborhood. The city completed the installment of over 1,700 feet of new storm drain pipe, erosion controls, outfall improvements, and landscape restoration that will defend homes, streets, and creeks from flooding. The $1.93 million project, funded by 2018 voter-approved bonds, was brought forward after 2015 storms caused heavy flooding within the neighborhood, where homeowners reported multiple instances of water entering homes.

New Affordable Housing Community: A new affordable housing community opened in East Austin on Wednesday, April 8. The 156-unit rental housing community, Norman Commons, “serves households at or below 30%, 50%, and 60% of the median family income,” according to a city of Austin press release. Units are available for individuals and families, with select units set aside for individuals with disabilities and sensory impairments. “This community reflects Austin’s continued commitment to creating housing opportunities that meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents,” said Deletta Dean, director of Austin Housing. 

Deer Creek Substandard Road Projects: On, Monday, April 13, Travis County is holding an open house at the Travis County Parks West Facility to gather community feedback on proposed renovations to substandard roads within the Deer Creek neighborhood. The improvements are a part of a countywide initiative to enhance substandard roads, including several residential roads that need safety improvements and are not currently maintained by the county. Some of the county’s proposals involve reconstructing existing roadways and improving drainage. A virtual open house will also be available for community feedback from the 13th to Friday, April 24. 

Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion: Austin Water announced that the department will break ground on the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion next Tuesday, April 14. The public is invited to join Mayor Kirk Watson and other city leaders to learn more about the $1.5 billion project, which will increase capacity by 25 million gallons per day. According to Austin Water’s press release, the project marks “key upgrades to critical infrastructure that will improve the treatment process and protect the environmental health of the Colorado River downstream of Austin.”

Credit: doggett.house.gov QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Big Bend is such a unique place. It’s critical that Trump’s desire to build walls everywhere not tear it up. This is an opportunity to bring people of all political persuasions together who just treasure this area.”

Congressman Lloyd Doggett regarding Big Bend border wall construction

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