Austin ISD trustees voted 7-1 to adopt an $887 million budget for 2026-27, reversing an earlier plan that would have moved librarian positions to part-time at nearly two dozen campuses.

By the numbers: The district's reduction package totals $205 million, after its fund balance was projected to fall to roughly 10% of operating expenditures, below its standard policy.

Trustees restored full-time librarians by drawing $1.1 million from that reserve, with a plan to offset the cost in August.

What's next: The board formally adopts the district's tax rate by Sept. 30. The proposed rate would lower the median Austin homeowner's tax bill slightly, from $3,525 to $3,461.

Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously June 16 to continue the local disaster declaration County Judge Andy Brown issued June 12 over the threat of New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that can affect livestock, wildlife, pets and, in rare cases, people, according to the county's continuing order. 

The first U.S. case in a decade surfaced June 3 on a calf in La Pryor, in Zavala County near the Texas-Mexico border.

What it means: Brown emphasized the action was not a response to a confirmed local case, while Austin Public Health authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said the risk to humans remains low, although open wounds remain vulnerable. 

Residents who suspect a screwworm case involving wildlife should contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; cases involving livestock and pets should go to the Texas Animal Health Commission, which is leading the state's response.

What to watch for: Residents concerned about a possible human infection should reach an on-call epidemiologist through Austin Public Health at 512-972-5555.

Tex-Mex restaurant On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina permanently closed all company-owned restaurants in mid-June, according to an emailed statement from OTB Hospitality.

The overview: The company made the decision through an “evaluation of the business,” according to the statement.

“On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina has made the difficult decision to move forward with a significant transition in its restaurant operations, which [included] the closing of company-owned locations by end of day Friday, June 12, 2026,” the statement read. “This decision follows a thorough evaluation of the business and was not made lightly.”

The statement added that the franchised locations will remain open.

Some background: A news release from Houston-based Pappas Restaurants, the parent company of Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and Pappasito’s Cantina, stated that the organization purchased On the Border May 1.

The restaurant offered nachos, quesadillas, fajitas and burritos, according to its menu.

• Company-owned locations closed June 12

Check out the latest Austin metro transportation project updates.

Upcoming projects
RM 1431 road and intersection improvements
Project: The project will span New Hope Drive to Bagdad Road, and the intersection of RM 1431/Whitestone Boulevard and 183A Toll in Cedar Park.
Update: Preliminary engineering and design of the intersection is next. 

• Timeline: TBD
• Cost: $11.9 million (road), $15.9 million (intersection)
• Funding source: city of Cedar Park, Mobility Authority, Surface Transportation Block Grant

• Timeline: total project completion expected in 2026
• Cost: $5.8 million
• Funding source: Type B sales tax

• Timeline: 2023-26
• Cost: $91.5 million
• Funding source: Waterloo Greenway, city of Austin Tax Increment funding, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers