Austin leaders are reviewing whether to create a standalone office for 911 calls.

The background: In August, City Council narrowly voted to move toward a civilian-led Office of Joint Emergency Communications and approved more than $1 million for its launch—against the advice of city management and public safety officials.

What's happening: A new report from public safety consultant Mission Critical Partners recommends keeping 911 call-taking under Austin Police, and advised city leaders to maintain the current structure while implementing modernization efforts. According to the study, the city's strongest path forward is to pair professional civilian leadership with targeted improvements rather than creating a standalone department.

Austin Community College trustees unanimously approved a tax rate of $0.103643 per $100 of valuation, up from $0.1034 last year. Because property values fell, the average bill will drop about 2.2%, and the average homestead bill will drop about 1%. The owner of an average home will pay about $557, down from $562 last year.

The details: The new rate is below the college's no-new-revenue rate, meaning it will collect less from existing property. District officials said the slight rate increase is tied to debt on a $770 million bond voters approved in 2022. Property taxes fund about 67% of the college's $583 million budget.

What's next: Tax bills typically go out in the fall. They are due Feb. 1, 2027, because Jan. 31 falls on a Sunday.

The 65th annual Wurstfest, New Braunfels’ 10-day “Salute to Sausage,” is upon us. Here is everything visitors and locals need to know for the event.

The festival takes place at Landa Park and will feature various food and drink vendors, live music, competitions, artisan shops and sausage-making.

What's new: A Weingarten will be available in the hydro plant, near Gate One and will feature German wine, as well as premium selections from the United States. Three new beers have also been added on tap: Modelo, Paulaner Pils and Weihenstephan, a beer from one of the oldest breweries in the world, Allen told Community Impact.

"In honor of our 65th anniversary, we are pulling out all the stops to ensure our patrons have the best of the wurst’ times," said 2026 Wurstfest President Marc Allen.