New Braunfels ISD could be facing budget shortfalls in the near future.

The overview: NBISD is projecting a $7 million deficit for both fiscal years 2027-28 and 2028-29, according to a Sept. 15 board workshop presentation by NBISD Chief Financial Officer Paul McLarty. 

What we know: Representatives from NBISD said that there were several factors that led to the projected budget deficit, which include:

• Flat or decreased enrollment across the district 

• State funding not accounting for inflation, leading to lack of coverage for rising costs from the state

• No longer being eligible for the New Instructional Facility Allotment, which provided temporary additional state funding to help cover operating costs of new district campuses and instructional facilities 

• Losing a prior-year state funding adjustment which will reduce the revenue available to NBISD in the 2027-28 budget year

Arterbury said that the projected budget deficit was not the result of the board’s decisions. 

“This has nothing to do with mismanagement,” Arterbury said. “This is just our current reality.” 

Chipotle Mexican Grill's second New Braunfels location is opening soon.

What you need to know: The fast-casual chain restaurant will open Sept. 22 at 323 Creekside Crossing, Ste. 101, according to a news release.

Chipotle serves customizable burritos and bowls. The new location will feature the Chipotlane, a drive-thru pick-up lane that allows patrons to retrieve digital orders without leaving their vehicles, according to the release.

• 323 Creekside Crossing, Ste. 101, New Braunfels

A locally owned coffee truck has moved to a brick-and-mortar location in New Braunfels.

A closer look: Betty Lou Coffee Co. moved to the Town Creek neighborhood on Sept. 16, Owner Courtney Dallimore told Community Impact. The business, which opened as a coffee truck in October 2023 near Landa Park, is now located at 1147 N. Academy Ave., Ste. 1101 in New Braunfels.

Dallimore said they couldn't have asked for a better opening day.

"We never imagined ourselves being here, only three years in," Dallimore told Community Impact.

What they offer: Betty Lou Coffee Co. sells coffee, espresso drinks, matcha, pastries and grab-and-go meals. The coffee shop also offers seasonal menus.

• 1147 N. Academy Ave., Ste. 1101, New Braunfels

Some Texas Republican leaders have vowed to get rid of the property taxes that homeowners pay to their local public school districts, and lawmakers are analyzing how much it would cost to do so.

The big picture: Texas school districts collect about $29 billion per year in maintenance and operations taxes, which cover schools' daily expenses.

Of that $29 billion in school tax revenue, the state comptroller's office estimates that about $8.6 billion is paid by homeowners, and the rest comes from commercial and industrial property taxes.

This means the state would need to spend at least $8.6 billion annually to zero out homeowners' school property tax bills, officials said.

Quote of note: "Broadly speaking, you have a question about how much you want to fund schools, and then separately, where does that money come from?" Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said during a Sept. 15 legislative hearing. "If you have a target of how much you want to spend, you need to make sure you have enough variable revenue sources to reach that."