The Austin ISD board of trustees voted to close 10 campuses next school year at a Nov. 20 meeting.

What's happening: The board’s vote comes nine months after the district began discussing consolidating campuses to address failed state ratings, reduce a $110 budget shortfall and combat an ongoing decline in enrollment.

The board also approved turnaround plans to provide intervention at 14 additional failing campuses, which may involve restaffing the schools with new teachers and principals as well as providing extra support staff and academic resources.

What you need to know: AISD will close eight elementary schools and two middle schools next school year. Seven of these campuses have received three consecutive F ratings from the Texas Education Agency and require state-mandated intervention through turnaround plans.

The school-wide dual language programs at Becker and Ridgetop elementaries, which are closing, and Reilly Elementary will relocate and be introduced as two-way dual language programs at Sanchez, Pickle and Wooten elementaries.

In total, 3,796 students will be reassigned, and 6,319 vacant seats will be eliminated.

Austin officials unanimously approved a reduced $6.3 billion budget and tax rate for the city's fiscal year 2025-26, weeks after voters rejected a tax hike under Proposition Q and prompted the budget revision process.

The details: The proposition's failure in the Nov. 4 election automatically dropped the city's tax rate from the level set under Proposition Q, removing about $100 million from Austin's general fund. Taxes and other city fees will still rise for the typical homeowner, and are projected to increase further next year.

This fall's budget revisions largely centered around the nearly $1.5 billion general fund supporting public safety departments; public health; homelessness and housing programs; and parks, library, animal services, and arts and culture operations. Council members had advanced the overturned tax increase to support most of those areas given concerns about state and federal funding cuts, and to expand higher profile city services.

Council members' final amendments to the revised budget approved Nov. 20 also involved those topics, with a focus on supporting emergency medical services and some homelessness initiatives.

Dripping Springs residents can expect new amenities, trails and community programming over the next decade.

On Nov. 4, the city of Dripping Springs adopted a Parks, Recreation and Open Space 2026 master plan, which will guide the city’s park development, recreational programming and open space preservation.

The big picture: Parks and Community Services director Andrew Binz said the plan was created over 12 months using input from thousands of Dripping Springs residents, with community priorities serving as its foundation.

“Dripping Springs residents value their parks and natural spaces, and this plan was truly built from their voices,” Binz said in a news release.

The community outreach process included a survey, two open-house events, stakeholder meetings, engagement booths at festivals and a parks visioning tour.

Based on community input, the city identified some top priorities for projects and investment, including:

• Facilities and amenities: indoor community center, trails, restrooms
• Program investments: outdoor adventure, special events and performances, environmental education
• Trail feature investments: trails connecting destinations, nature trails, restrooms

Fear-free veterinary practice Star of Texas Veterinary Hospital recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in October.

The details: The business opened its doors to the South Austin community in September 2005. Owned by John Samon, the center offers services such as customizable exams, acupuncture, nutritional consults, preventative care, surgery, dermatology, cardiology and more.

• 10706 Brodie Lane, Austin