Austin leaders approved a record $6.63 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2026-27. The spending plan was adopted alongside a higher tax rate that would increase the typical homeowner's property tax bill more than 8%.

The details: The new budget will be nearly 5% larger than the current $6.3 billion plan for FY 2025-26. Departments responsible for parks and libraries, public safety and health programs, and housing and homelessness services are included within the $1.54 billion general fund, which is growing about 3.6%.

Austin's FY 2026-27 tax rate was set at $0.579948 per $100 in property value, the maximum allowed under state law without seeking voter approval. The new rate will increase the typical annual property tax bill from $2,074 to about $2,250, based on the city's projected median homestead value of $484,907.

In a divided vote, officials also funded the start-up of a new joint emergency communications office to begin transitioning some of the city's 911 response system away from Austin Police oversight.

The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved adding the first phase of the UT Dell Medical Center to UT’s capital improvement program at an Aug. 12 meeting.

The CIP is the university’s approved list of major capital projects. Adding the project to the CIP allows the project to move forward with early design and development preparation work.

The background: The UT Dell Medical Center will be a 27-acre medical complex planned to be equipped with a hospital tower, outpatient facilities, an emergency department and 300-500 patient beds for specialized care, according to documents from the UT Board of Regents.

The details: Phase I of the project is expected to cost up to $1 billion and will be funded from the university’s revenue financing system bonds.

What they're saying: “Today is a very big day,” UT Austin President James Davis said. “[The medical complex] will establish the clinical foundation for a new academic health enterprise. It will advance research, education, health professionals and serve patients and serve Texas for generations to come.”

Round Rock ISD will welcome more than 45,000 students for the first day of the 2026-27 school year Aug. 19.

What to expect: Several campus improvement projects funded by the 2024 bond are underway in the district, including renovations to several of the district’s 55 schools.

Some campuses, such as Grisham Middle School, will see the first phase of renovations completed before the start of school.

Looking ahead: Here are some other important dates for RRISD students and families:

• Sept. 7: first student holiday
• Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving break
• Dec. 18: winter break starts
• Jan. 5: spring semester starts
• May 27: last day of school