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Dripping Springs officials consider significant increases to wastewater service prices

Dripping Springs residents may soon see an increase in their wastewater bills.

The Dripping Springs City Council discussed an item that would modify the city’s wastewater service rates at a May 5 meeting.

The big picture: The city is reviewing service rates to ensure they cover the cost to provide the services, according to People & Communications Director Lisa Sullivan. The last time the city adjusted wastewater rates was in 2022.

Deputy City Administrator Shawn Cox presented six options to the council, with varying contributions from the general fund, base fees and water usage fees. Based on the different funding scenarios presented, rates for a residential customer using an average of 5,262 gallons per month ranged from $103 to $133 for fiscal year 2025-26.

Looking ahead: The item will come back for further discussion at the next City Council meeting.

 
Latest City News
Austin outlines expanded approach to homeless encampment closures

Austin is increasing the scope and frequency of public homeless encampment clearings this spring.

The details: Public camping is illegal in Austin under both Proposition B, a local ban reinstated by city voters in 2021, and a Texas law passed the same year. The city still has a high number of public encampments and receives hundreds of service requests to address those sites every month. However, homeless strategy officials say current resources haven't allowed adequate response.

Going forward: Starting May 11, several dedicated encampment management teams will begin working citywide five days a week. Most will involve Austin Police Department officers and other city department staff, and one Austin Parks and Recreation-led team will focus on litter removal.

The city will track the number of site visits and timely response to requests, the number of people sheltered or connected to services, and monitor for repeat activity at encampment sites after each cleanup. Later this year, Austin will also launch a new 3-1-1 reporting option and public encampment management dashboard.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

ATX Fashion Week

Austin Psych Fest 2026

May 7-9, times vary
Austin

May 8-10, times vary
Austin

More info

More info

 

8th Annual Round Rock Donut Dash

Migratory Bird Day Festival

May 9, 6:45 a.m.
Round Rock

May 9, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
San Marcos

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

Statewide News
‘It’s not sustainable’: Texas House lawmakers study causes of rising health care costs

As health care costs continue rising in Texas and across the nation, state lawmakers are working to understand the factors that make health care unaffordable and what can be done to rein in prices.

The big picture: About 5.2 million Texans, or 16.7% of the state’s population, did not have health insurance in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

For years, advocates have called on Texas lawmakers to pass laws to drive down health care costs and improve access to health insurance. During a two-day hearing April 30 and May 1, a Texas House committee examined why health care costs are rising. Lawmakers will discuss potential policy solutions later this year, committee chair Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, said.

What's happening: Yale University professor Zack Cooper said that since 2000, U.S. health care spending has grown three times faster than inflation. The average health insurance premium for a family of four is $27,000 per year, he said.

“Every family is basically buying a new Toyota Corolla worth of health insurance," Cooper told lawmakers.

 

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Sierra Martin
Senior Editor

Heather Demere
General Manager

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