City and state officials gathered Dec. 12 to mark Southwest Airlines' planned expansion at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, a day after City Council signed off on a $5.5 million economic incentive deal with the airline.

What's happening: Southwest will add 2,000 local jobs and establish a new crew base at the airport by mid-2027 through the expansion that's also expected to support thousands more related jobs throughout the community. The initiative comes amid ABIA's own facility expansion project, including a second concourse, where Southwest is expected to lease a majority of the new gates to be added.

In addition to Austin's local incentive deal approved Dec. 11, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Texas will be contributing $14 million to the project at ABIA.

Austin ISD may select charter schools to operate Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools next school year.

The big picture: This summer, AISD restarted the campuses by hiring new principals and staff to improve academic outcomes for students amid multiple failed state ratings. This fall, the campuses have seen a decline in test scores while enrollment has dropped, according to district data shared at a Dec. 11 board meeting.

The update: Across all three campuses, student test scores declined in reading and math from last school year to the beginning of this school year, according to data from MAP Growth testing administered Sept. 2. The MAP Growth test is intended to project how well students will perform on the upcoming State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, in the spring, said Mary Ann Maxwell, assistant superintendent of academics.

What else? This school year, Burnet lost the greatest number of students at 143 followed by 110 students who left Dobie and a loss of 88 students at Webb.

The University of Texas at Austin is bringing a new multipurpose arena and student housing complex to its downtown campus next to the Moody Center.

The details: The new 6,000-capacity arena will serve as the home for UT women's volleyball, with room to expand for other types of events. The residential project will be geared toward university student-athletes. 

“This is a unique development that will enhance the University’s athletics facilities and housing portfolio and benefit students, Longhorn fans and our city for years to come," UT President Jim Davis said in a statement.

UT issued a solicitation for the project's development under a public-private partnership in December, and responses are due in February. Further project details including a construction timeline will be finalized after that point.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveiled a plan Dec. 9 to further raise property tax exemptions for Texas homeowners and lower the age at which Texans qualify for additional tax relief during the 2027 state legislative session.

The details: Deemed “Operation Double Nickel,” Patrick’s three-part plan asks state lawmakers to:

• Raise the property tax exemption on a Texas homeowner’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, by $40,000
• Allow homeowners who are at least 55 years old to qualify for a larger exemption reserved for seniors and people with disabilities
• Pass legislation to drive down property taxes charged by local governments

Check out the top trending Community Impact stories Dec. 8-11. 

1. Dozens of Lake Austin properties move to disannex; city to lose nearly $300M value

2. Buffalo Wild Wings closes its doors in Cedar Park

3. New development to bring almost 400 homes to Georgetown

4. Kudos convenience store heads to Adelton in Bastrop

5. Local police coordination concerns arise for EISD following September incidents

6. $210M state library and archives building underway in Pflugerville