Austin officials are continuing to evaluate the city's social services spending through a reset process that could lead to broad changes by fiscal year 2027-28.

The details: Facing projected budgeting shortfalls, city leaders and finance staff previously anticipated cutting nearly $17 million of social services funding, but the upcoming fiscal year 2026-27 budget was eventually modified to avoid some of the deeper proposed reductions.

An ongoing review of Austin's annual social services spending is underway, driven by considerations like funding constraints and a desire for more oversight. The evaluation has so far involved:

• An assessment of more than 130 grants and contracts.

• A recommendation to modify several agreements.

• The identification of more than two dozen contracts with compliance or performance issues.

What's next: No immediate cuts are being rolled out, but the city anticipates restructuring some spending and re-soliciting most social services contracts in 2027.

Lobos Hospitality and Boardroom Hospitality launched Austin Sports Club in downtown on Sept. 10. Designed by PETERMAX Co., the club brings American sports history and flair to locals with brunch, dinner and craft cocktails.

On the menu: At Austin Sports Club, patrons can find American dishes such as:

• Chilled mini lobster rolls, served with dijonnaise, celery, chive and tarragon

• Cacio e pepe arancini, made with tomato jam, basil pesto and truffle

• ASC Burger, featuring 8 oz steak blend, oxtail jam, white American cheese, lettuce, confit garlic aioli, pickled shallot and shoestring fries.

The drink menu: The club offers a selection of original handcrafted cocktails, as well as drinks inspired by iconic moments. For handcrafted drinks, patrons can order the Wimbledon ‘75, which is made with Empress Indigo gin, peach, bergamot, lemon and sparkling wine.

One more thing: Austin Sports Club is open daily for dinner service and on Saturday-Sunday for weekend brunch. Patrons can head to the club’s website for reservations and premium game-day seating, which requires a food and beverage minimum.

• 205 E. 3rd St., Austin

Musical duo Brooks & Dunn and singer-songwriter Ella Langley will headline Georgetown's Two Step Inn country music festival April 17-18, 2027.

Presale tickets will be available to the public this Friday, Sept. 25, at noon.

The lineup: This year's festival will have 30 musical acts across three stages, according to the event website.

The lineup includes the two headliners, as well as notable musical acts such as:

• Parker McCollum

• Sheryl Crow

• Flatland Cavalry

• Whiskey Myers

About the event: One-day tickets start at $169, while two-day packages begin at $289, according to the event website.

Austin Transit Partnership voted to renew its current downtown Austin office lease, as well as expand into larger space next door, during its Sept. 21 meeting.

Remember this? In April, the ATP board postponed voting on a $32 million contract to lease 51,600 square feet of office space at the 100 Congress building, as well as another $15 million contract for building finish-out and improvements.

The update: The board approved a $13.5 million agreement to lease office space for 48 months at 203 Colorado St.—the agency's current office—as well as space next door at 201 Colorado St. The combined office space will total 54,000 square feet and allow for co-location of the agency's contractors, consultants and other partners including CapMetro and the city of Austin

What else? Additional Austin Light Rail contracts were approved during the meeting, including $122 million for design and construction services for the first portion of Phase 1B, and $44 million for design and construction services for the light rail operations and maintenance facility.