A $5 million package of third-party consulting contracts was pulled from City Council consideration after the item drew scrutiny from some elected officials over its cost and lack of clarity.

What happened: It's the second time action on contracting with the same group of 17 consultants was withdrawn ahead of an authorization vote this year. Council member Mike Siegel, who'd asked for more oversight of both items, said the update was a positive for transparency and that he'll continue to monitor Austin's extensive consultant spending.

The background: The scrutiny follows the release of an internal audit that found city departments don't regularly justify the need for third-party support they seek, and often don't monitor or evaluate the work of their consultants. That reporting led council members to vote for a wide-ranging review of Austin's contracts and grants this spring, work that remains in progress.

Austin's City Council District 8 will soon elect a new representative at City Hall for the first time in nearly a decade. Voters can check their council district online.

The details: Southwest Austin voters have a choice between two candidates, Jeffery Bowen and Selena Xie, in the November 2026 election. Longtime council member Paige Ellis will leave office in January 2027 after reaching her term limit and unsuccessfully petitioning to run for a third term. Ellis was first voted into office in a 2018 runoff and was re-elected in 2022.

Keep in mind: Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

The Pecan Street Festival is back for its 50th biannual event on Sept. 12 and 13 at the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave.

The event: The Pecan Street Festival is a free two-day art festival showcasing a variety of local vendors and over 300 artists.

Beyond the assortment of local vendors, the festival features live music, food and activities for kids and adults. Guests will find carnival rides, art workshops, interactive pop-ups, street magicians, face painting and more.

The details:

• Admission: Free

• When: Sept. 12, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sept. 13, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Across Texas, the taxes that homeowners pay to their local school districts went down by about 13.6% in 2025, one state senator found.

The overview: Across the board, many Texas counties mailed out reduced property tax bills for the 2025 tax year, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, reported. During a Sept. 1 hearing of the Senate Local Government Committee, he said the average homeowner's property tax bill went down by about $140 last year, falling from $1,037 per year in 2024 to $896 per year in 2025.

Texas' 2026-27 budget includes $51 billion in property tax relief, previous Community Impact reporting shows. Unless the legislature rolls back existing tax exemptions, the state will be required to spend that much or more on tax relief in future bienniums.

How it works: The state does not charge property taxes, meaning homeowners are taxed by local entities such as school districts, cities, counties and municipal utility districts. The Texas Legislature, however, can place limits on how much local governments raise taxes annually and require tax exemptions for certain groups.