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Austin faces shrinking tax rolls with budget cuts ahead

Austin anticipates declining value on its tax rolls to support city operations this year, thanks to a slowdown in local development activity and rising property tax challenges or exemptions.

The details: Overall taxable value is now in line to decline for the second straight year as city officials expect to face another challenging budgeting cycle this summer. Slower than expected construction, increased business tax exemptions and widespread property appraisal appeals are among the factors cited by the city for the changes.

What's next: Coming up, City Council will be discussing other aspects of city finances and potential tax increases as the fiscal year 2026-27 budgeting process gets underway.

 
Market Story
From oysters to coffee: Check out these business updates in East Austin

Check out these businesses that are now open, coming soon or in the news in East Austin. This list is not comprehensive.

Now open

Austin Oyster Co.
East Austinites can now enjoy Maine-grown oysters in addition to a full seafood menu at the brick-and-mortar restaurant, which opened six years after the eatery's founding. A raw bar menu features rotating oysters, dressed clams, tuna tartare, shrimp cocktail and curated seafood platters, alongside nonseafood options and cocktails, wine and beer.

  • Opened March 31

  • 2502 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin

Stoney's Good Time Ranch
The new patio bar is now serving up drinks in East Austin. Stoney's features pool tables and food trucks, including Flyrite Chicken. The drinks menu features cocktails, beers and frozen drinks. Stoney's is named after a horse, Stoney, and has replaced what was Sunny's Backyard.

  • Opened April 4

  • 3526 E. Seventh St., Austin
 

Austin-area schools are more than the STAAR test

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Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Encore for the Palace: A Benefit Concert

Austin Reggae Festival

April 17-18, 7:30 p.m.
Georgetown

April 17-19
Austin

More info

More info

 

Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration

Springfest

April 18, 9 a.m.-noon
New Braunfels

April 18, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Bastrop

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas
Judge temporarily lifts Texas ban on smokable hemp sales

Texas retailers can resume selling smokable hemp products after a Travis County judge temporarily blocked some of the state’s sweeping new regulations on the hemp industry.

The background: On March 31, the state health department enacted rules changing how THC content is measured in consumable hemp, which industry experts said effectively outlawed most smokable hemp products.

The Texas Hemp Business Council, a federal hemp industry group, and several local hemp companies sued the state April 8, arguing that the state health department does not have the authority to reclassify legal THC levels. State officials have defended the rules, saying they are in line with a September executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott, who at the time called for stricter oversight of the multibillion-dollar hemp industry.

The latest: Travis County District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble sided with the hemp industry in an April 10 ruling, directing the state not to enforce the new THC testing requirement and a restriction on the transportation of hemp products between states. An additional hearing is scheduled for April 23.
 

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Elle Bent
Editor

Krista Box
General Manager

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