Austin ISD trustees voted 7-1 to adopt an $887 million budget for 2026-27, reversing an earlier plan that would have moved librarian positions to part-time at nearly two dozen campuses.

By the numbers: The district's reduction package totals $205 million, after its fund balance was projected to fall to roughly 10% of operating expenditures, below its standard policy.

Trustees restored full-time librarians by drawing $1.1 million from that reserve, with a plan to offset the cost in August.

What's next: The board formally adopts the district's tax rate by Sept. 30. The proposed rate would lower the median Austin homeowner's tax bill slightly, from $3,525 to $3,461.

Voters will decide this fall whether to adopt a new requirement for citywide third-party audits, on the heels of City Council's approval of a separate recurring "efficiency assessment" program.

The details: The concept of wide-ranging external auditing was supported by officials in the wake of last November's failed tax rate election, and council adopted a citywide audit program as proposed by Mayor Kirk Watson earlier this year. However, calls for additional reviews continued from outside City Hall.

The political group Save Austin Now, a top donor against Proposition Q, had pushed for third-party city auditing since last year through a petition for an "Independent Affordability and Efficiency Initiative" of Austin's government, which it submitted it to the city for certification on June 2.

On June 22, the petition was certified with more than 20,000 registered voters in support and the measure will appear on Austin's November ballot. 

Mad Hippie’s first storefront opened in Austin on May 28, bringing a range of skincare products from its digital platform straight to customers. 

Owners Dana and Sam Stewart launched the store as “a space where people can slow down, take a deep breath, and connect with both the products and the community around them,” Sam Stewart, Mad Hippie’s co-founder said in a news release.

What they offer: The skincare brand sells a range of products including the Antioxidant Facial Oil, Vitamin C Serum, Luminizing Facial SPF and a range of creams and cleansers. 

In addition to Mad Hippie products, the store stocks a selection of products from local and small businesses, including ceramics, silk loungewear, Moroccan slippers and textiles. 

• 700 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin

Check out the latest Austin metro transportation project updates.

Upcoming projects
RM 1431 road and intersection improvements
Project: The project will span New Hope Drive to Bagdad Road, and the intersection of RM 1431/Whitestone Boulevard and 183A Toll in Cedar Park.
Update: Preliminary engineering and design of the intersection is next. 

• Timeline: TBD
• Cost: $11.9 million (road), $15.9 million (intersection)
• Funding source: city of Cedar Park, Mobility Authority, Surface Transportation Block Grant

• Timeline: total project completion expected in 2026
• Cost: $5.8 million
• Funding source: Type B sales tax

• Timeline: 2023-26
• Cost: $91.5 million
• Funding source: Waterloo Greenway, city of Austin Tax Increment funding, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers