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Austin ISD proposes $181 million in cuts to close 2026-27 budget shortfall

Austin ISD has released a package of recommended budget reductions totaling $181 million for the 2026-27 school year, affecting 558 positions districtwide and triggering community pushback.

The cuts: The proposed plan would eliminate or restructure positions across the district, including 215 teaching positions and 228 vacant roles.

About 55 counselor, assistant principal and librarian positions would also be affected, according to district budget documents.

The breakdown: The district’s proposed reductions span central departments, campus staffing and districtwide programs, according to the reductions table.

The plan includes $31 million in proposed savings through staffing reductions over the course of the school year, documents say, and plans to sell or monetize four surplus properties for approximately $60 million.

What’s next: The board will hold an information session June 11 before voting on the final budget June 18. Written comments can be submitted online.

 
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Caution advised in Austin waterways amid potentially toxic algae bloom

Austin Watershed Protection is advising caution on some city lakes due to reports of potentially hazardous algae.

What's happening: Mats of blue-green algae, which may be toxic, were recently observed by city staff on Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin, according to the watershed protection department. Samples have been taken from the lakes for testing.

The watershed department noted the algae may be present throughout both lakes and in other Austin waterways. Algae could spread amid hotter weather this summer. Residents and their pets should avoid any contact with algae mats, the city advised.

What else: Austin Watershed Protection previously initiated a five-year, $1.5 million pilot program to reduce algae growth, which involved applying lanthanum-modified clay to manage phosphorus in waterways' sediment. No treatments were applied this spring, as 2026 is a control year that'll be used to evaluate the pilot's effectiveness and cost benefits.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Bastrop Splash Bash

Juneteenth Celebration

June 12, 5-8 p.m.
Bastrop

June 13, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Georgetown

More info

More info

 

Bloom Block Party

28th Annual Driftwood Music Festival

June 13, 7 p.m.-midnight
Austin

June 13, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Driftwood

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas
Gov. Abbott tells PUC, ERCOT to ensure Texas consumers do not foot the bill for data center growth

Texas must protect residential consumers from paying for the infrastructure needed to power new data centers, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a June 10 order aimed at balancing the rapid growth of data centers with the needs of residents and communities.

The big picture: The governor directed state regulators to ensure data center companies do not pass infrastructure costs on to ratepayers, urging lawmakers to tighten regulations on data centers’ water use and repeal certain tax exemptions that benefit the industry.

Abbott’s order comes as Texas grapples with how to manage the data center boom amid climbing electric demand and looming water shortages. It is the first time the Republican governor has publicly called to restrict data center growth.

The context: As communities across Texas consider new data center projects, reporting shows that some residents are pushing back, raising concerns about the large facilities’ water usage, potential strain on the electric grid and impacts on local neighborhoods.

What they're saying: In response, state agencies called protecting consumers from rising electric costs "our top priority."

 

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General Manager

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