ATX-SCA: Impact 10/28/2025

Deputy City Auditor Jason Hadavi was tapped to take over as Austin's next city auditor starting next year.

The details: Austin's city auditor is appointed by City Council to oversee internal reporting on a variety of government operations and financial issues. Recent audits have focused on Austin Police Department operations, the city's extensive nonprofit partnerships, infrastructure maintenance and ethics issues.

Hadavi was chosen by council members through a national recruitment process that resulted in three finalists for the role this fall. He'll take over for departing Auditor Corrie Stokes starting in January. His compensation and benefits package is currently being negotiated, and will be approved by city officials in November.

Mr. Pickles Candy has set up shop on Kerbey Lane, bringing community members a variety of sweet treats.

What to know: The latest candy store sells packaged gummies, Swedish candy, traditional candy and pup treats. A portion of each purchase will go toward animal charities, as stated on the business’s website. Featured charities are chosen monthly such as Pug Rescue of Austin and Friends of Austin Animal Center.

• 3703 Kerbey Lane, Austin

From July to October, downtown Austin has welcomed several new dining options and coffee experiences. This list is not comprehensive. 

Luby’s
The Texas-founded restaurant has crafted a cafeteria-style dining experience since 1947 with nearly 40 locations throughout the state. The eatery offers fried fish, roasted chicken, chicken fried steak, meatloaf and more homestyle meals which can be paired with macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes.

• Opened Aug. 28
• 314 W. 11th St., Ste. 163, Austin

• Opening 2026
• 600 Congress Ave., Austin

Texas is home to about 3.5 million small businesses, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Estimates show that the average Texas small-business owner could save about $2,500 per year if voters approve an expanded business tax exemption on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The details: State Proposition 9 would exempt up to $125,000 of a business’s personal property, such as equipment, furniture and vehicles, from taxation. Texas business owners currently receive a tax exemption on property worth $2,500 or less.

“At $2,500, virtually everyone's paying this tax,” NFIB Texas Director Jeff Burdett said in an Oct. 24 interview. “If you have a desk, a computer and a chair, you're probably over $2,500 [in inventory]. … It makes no difference for almost any business.”

At the polls: Early voting in the Nov. 4 election began Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. For more information about the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

The overview: As Community Impact enters its third decade, it’s returning to its roots of growth and deeper reader connections. The “Patron” program, which began in 2020 by reader demand, has relaunched as the InCIder.

“This relaunch represents our renewed commitment to readers who support our local news,” CEO John Garrett said. “Beyond funding great journalism, we also want to reward our InCIders and build deeper connections with them, creating a true sense of community around the work we do.”

Event details: As part of the relaunch, Community Impact will host its first-ever InCIder Hour, a new event aimed at celebrating and engaging the company’s supporters.

The event, open to InCIders only, will take place Nov. 12 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Community Impact Headquarters, 16225 Impact Way, Pflugerville.

Guests will have the opportunity to network with fellow InCIders, meet Community Impact staff and attend a featured conversation with legislative reporter Hannah Norton, moderated by CEO John Garrett.

“Our first event needed to start where all the hard work is put together,” Garrett said. “People are blown away when they see our operation. To be able to sit and chat with the best legislative reporter in Texas, Hannah Norton, makes it an event our InCIder friends deserve and hopefully will enjoy.”