Cibolo council approves $72M budget, tax rate increase for 2025-26 fiscal year
The city of Cibolo now has an approved $72.07 million budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. At the Sept. 18 Cibolo city council meeting, council approved the budget 5-2, with council members Joel Hicks and Norma Sanchez-Stephens dissenting.
What you need to know: The city’s FY 2025-26 general fund has $24.56 million in revenues and $24.89 million in expenses, with the majority of revenue coming from property taxes.
At the meeting, council also approved the city tax rate of $0.5226 per $100 valuation, which is a 4.72% increase from the FY 2024-25 rate of $0.4490 per $100 valuation. According to Director of Finance Anna Miranda, the average homeowner will pay $13.78 more on an annual tax bill from the prior fiscal year.
Crepeccino now offering crêpes and coffee in Cibolo
A local crêperie and coffee shop has opened its second official restaurant in Northeast San Antonio.
What’s happening: Crepeccino opened on Sept. 13 at 857 Cibolo Valley Drive, Ste. 208. This is the coffee shop's second location in the region, with another located at 5500 Babcock Road, Ste. 104 in San Antonio proper. Owner Bara Ekhlayel said their goal from the beginning was to expand.
"When searching for a new brick-and-mortar, we fell in love with the community of Cibolo,” Ekhlayel said in an email to Community Impact.
Main course: Crepeccino specializes in homemade crepes and waffles. The eatery also offers an assortment of specialty coffees and savory sandwiches.
Universal City to seek bids for solid waste services
The future of trash and recycling services in Universal City will be changing in 2026.
The details: On Sept. 2, City Council voted 5-1 to approve a contract with Solid Waste Specialists to provide procurement services for solid waste services in the city. Solid Waste Specialists will help focus a request for proposals on specific needs, goals and objectives to ensure a consistent and an unbiased process for evaluating proposals from various entities, agenda documents state.
Council member Bernard Rubal was the lone dissenting vote.
The contract will cost $41,630, but the fee will be repaid to the city by the company that wins the waste services deal, according to agenda documents. Funding will come from the fiscal year 2025-26 general fund budget under nondepartmental other contract services.
Eligible K-12 students receive free school meals after legislature approves funding
This school year, students who are eligible for reduced-price meals can receive free breakfast and lunch at public schools across Texas.
The overview: During the recent legislative session, state lawmakers approved $19.8 million to cover the cost of reduced-price meals for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.
What parents should know: Eligibility for free school meals is determined based on a family’s income through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
Families can contact their school district to fill out an application for free or reduced-price meals at any time during the school year. Students who are deemed eligible for reduced-price meals will receive them at no cost through the 2026-27 school year.
What they're saying: “Kids who would have paid a small fee for meals will now receive them at no cost,” said Stacie Sanchez Hare, director of No Kid Hungry Texas. “[School] is where we know so many kids get their meals—it is a guaranteed place for kids to have access to free and nutritional meals.”
20 years strong: Community Impact celebrates anniversary through state-wide company gathering
Since 2005, Community Impact has delivered trusted news and local information to communities across Texas. Privately owned by John and Jennifer Garrett of Round Rock, it now reaches 2.5 million mailboxes and 270,000 inboxes in 40 markets.
As it celebrates its 20th anniversary, Community Impact is looking back on two decades built on passion, integrity and innovation—while also focusing forward on deeper reader connections and future growth.
The framework: To recognize 20 years of success, Community Impact held a conference and celebration called The Gathering. The event united employees from across the company for two days of training, collaboration and connection.
“Our belief is that leadership from internal top performers and external experts helps us be the modern local news company we want to be,” Founder and CEO John Garrett said.
