ATX-CTA: Impact 5/21/2026

Good Morning, Central Austin!

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As Austin officials debate 2026 bond election, city staff suggest 2-year delay

City Council is continuing to weigh whether to put a bond measure to Austin voters this fall, while city staff have recommended pushing the potential election to 2028.

The details: After over a year of bond development work, both city staff and a resident-led task force have recommended several potential bond packages to elected officials this year. While council launched the bond planning process and many elected officials believe the city has pressing project needs, it still remains to be seen if they'll opt to put a bond on the ballot this year.

City financial guidelines—including a "decision tree" for bonds recently adopted by council—led staff this month to suggest holding off for two years and instead plan for a 2028 election. That recommendation came with hundreds of millions of dollars from past bonds still unspent.

Going forward: Council will continue to debate the size and merits of a potential 2026 bond ahead of a mid-August deadline to call an election for the fall.

Read the full story.

On The Business Beat

Permit filing shows Urban Egg could bring brunch menu to North Austin

Brunch eatery Urban Egg could open its first Austin-area location in North Austin, per a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing. The TDLR filing lists a project cost of $400,000 with a completion date of December, but a representative for the business did not immediately respond to inquiries conforming this location or an expected open date.

The details: Urban Egg is known for its large menu of brunch offerings including omelets, eggs benedicts, cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting and bacon jam, pancakes, breakfast burritos, burgers and sandwiches. The menu also features mimosas, bloody marys, espresso martinis and a variety of coffees, teas and juice. The restaurant has other locations two other Texas locations in Dallas and Fort Worth.

7600 Burnet Road, Ste. 250, Austin

See more details.

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

7th Annual Austin Greek Festival

Summer Classic Film Series opening weekend

May 22-24, times vary
Austin

More info

Dripping Springs Fair and Rodeo 2026

7th Annual Antique Barn Sale & Artisan Show

May 22-24, 7:30 p.m. (daily rodeo performance)
Dripping Springs

May 23, 7:30 a.m.
Cedar Park

More info

To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas

Cost to prevent a Texas water crisis has more than doubled to $174B, state says

Texas officials released a draft of their next state water plan in April, projecting that state and local governments will need to spend $174 billion in the next 50 years to prevent a water crisis.

The details: The three-member Texas Water Development Board voted April 16 to publish an initial draft of the 2027 State Water Plan, laying out what is needed to prepare for a future “drought of record,” when water demands are highest and supplies are lowest.

The $174 billion price tag is more than twice the cost projected in Texas’ 2022 state water plan, which was $80 billion.

The context: As Texas’ population continues to grow, water restrictions and shortages are becoming more common in areas throughout the state. At the same time, major companies are moving to Texas and communities are contemplating large data center projects, with some residents expressing concerns about high water use in the already drought-prone state.

The proposed plan includes 3,000 proposed water management projects and 6,700 strategies to increase Texas' water supplies through 2080.

Explore the full story.

Your local team

Elle Bent
Editor

Krista Box
General Manager

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

Good Morning, Central Austin!

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