In New Braunfels, city employees will receive a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, on Oct. 1, following City Council’s approval of its fiscal year 2026-27 budget.

In the general fund, revenue is projected to total $119.7 million with expenses at $121.7 million. City Council also adopted a tax rate of $0.4156 per $100 valuation for FY 2026-27.

The budget and tax rate were unanimously approved by the City Council on second and final reading Sept. 14. New Braunfels Mayor Michael French was absent from the meeting.

What you need to know: The approved budget includes:

• A 3% COLA for all city employees and step increases for eligible sworn personnel

• 25 additional positions

• Continued funding for 12 firefighter positions following the expiration of federal grant funding

• $300K annual increase for citywide street improvements to meet Americans with Disabilities Act modifications

The budget also includes funding for a maintenance partnership with Comal County to support the regional flood siren system and a West End local stormwater master plan.

Mayfair, a 1,900-acre master-planned community in New Braunfels, will have at least four new parks in the next three years.

The specifics: Southstar Communities Vice President Kristi Robinson said Mayfair will have two new pocket parks that will wrap up construction in 2027. The pocket parks are currently going through the permitting process with the city, with construction expected to begin this later this year.

Pocket parks are “small outdoor spaces tucked into residential neighborhoods designed for gathering and easy access for pedestrians from nearby homes,” Robinson said in an email to Community Impact.

The first pocket park will be located off Breezeway Drive and will be called Ridgeway. Ridgeway Park will have an inclusive playground for all ages. The second pocket park, Paw Park, will be located along Jim Vater Trailway and will have a dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs and shaded areas, Robinson said in the email.

Developers also have plans for a new community park called Prairie Park.

Ready to shake your skeleton this spooky season? Read about the upcoming live music shows happening in New Braunfels this October and November.

This list is not comprehensive, and performances are subject to change.

Duesy's Tavern

1190 Gruene Road, New Braunfels

• Oct. 16: Alli Mattice Band, 8:30 p.m.

• Oct. 17: Tommy T & the 210s, 8:30 p.m.

• Oct. 23: Andi Holleman Duo, 5 p.m.; Jesse Stratton Band, 8:30 p.m.

• Oct. 24: Two Ten Band, 8:30 p.m.

Krause’s Cafe

148 S. Castell Ave., New Braunfels

• Oct. 2: The Merles, 6 p.m.

• Oct. 3: George Marsh, 11:30 a.m.; San Antonio Transit (Chicago Tribute Band), 6:30 p.m.

• Oct. 7: Comal Community Band, 7 p.m.

• Oct. 9: Tausha Jackson, 6 p.m.

• Oct. 10: Bucksnort Boogie Boys, 11:30 a.m.; The Klocks, 6 p.m.

Gruene Hall

1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels

• Oct. 6: Slim Bawb, 6 p.m.

• Oct. 8: Robert Earl Keen: Then And Now Tour, 8 p.m.

• Oct. 9: Stars & Guitars with Shane Smith & The Saints, 5 p.m.; Shane Smith & The Saints, 9:30 p.m.

• Oct. 10: The SteelDrivers, 9 p.m.

• Oct. 12: Bret Graham, 6 p.m.

• Oct. 13: Ted Russel Kamp, 6 p.m.

• Oct. 14: The Georges, 7 p.m.

Austin Community College trustees unanimously approved a tax rate of $0.103643 per $100 of valuation, up from $0.1034 last year. Because property values fell, the average bill will drop about 2.2%, and the average homestead bill will drop about 1%. The owner of an average home will pay about $557, down from $562 last year.

The details: The new rate is below the college's no-new-revenue rate, meaning it will collect less from existing property. District officials said the slight rate increase is tied to debt on a $770 million bond voters approved in 2022. Property taxes fund about 67% of the college's $583 million budget.

What's next: Tax bills typically go out in the fall. They are due Feb. 1, 2027, because Jan. 31 falls on a Sunday.