Lakeway City Council approved $225,000 in hotel occupancy tax funds to TexArts Theatre & Academy at a Sept. 21 council meeting.

The overview: TexARTS offers year-round professional theater productions, youth productions, educational programming and community events.

The details: TexARTS requested $225,000 from Lakeway’s hotel occupancy tax fund.

Of that amount, $125,000 will help fund professional production expenses, artistic personnel and performance operations associated with the performing arts programming.

The remaining $100,000 will support advertising and promotional activities intended to increase regional awareness of TexARTS and Lakeway.

About 76% of patrons attending TexARTS shows dine at Lakeway restaurants, equating to roughly $300,000-$400,000 in economic impact to Lakeway, Sandy Cox, TexARTS board member and former Lakeway mayor said.

“I cannot tell you how thankful I am that you all have such a great vote of confidence in us and our effect on the community,” Cox said.

What else: TexARTS is currently showing the play, “Boeing Boeing” until Oct. 4, followed by “Beetlejuice Jr.” beginning Oct. 24.

Rollingwood City Council approved its fiscal year 2026-2027 budget and tax rate at a council meeting on Sept. 16.

The overview: The city approved the actual no new revenue tax rate of $0.196327 per $100 of assessed valuation, a slight decrease from the previous year’s rate at $0.202039 per $100.

Although the approved property tax rate has slightly decreased, some homeowners may pay more in property taxes than the previous year as the average homestead taxable value has increased.

The city is anticipating property taxes to contribute over $1.8 million to the budget, $69,000 more than the prior year, according to city documents.

By the numbers: The total revenue brought into the city’s general fund in the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget is listed at $3.98 million. Expenditures are listed at $5.22 million, leaving a projected shortfall of over $1.2 million.

Last fall, Gov. Greg Abbott deemed Texas "the epicenter of AI development" during an event about Google's data center investments in the state.

Since making that remark, the Republican governor has issued several directives aimed at regulating AI-powered data centers. Meanwhile, state agencies are expanding their use of artificial intelligence in government services.

The overview: At the state level, one of the primary uses of artificial intelligence is to improve government efficiency, said Tony Sauerhoff, who leads the Texas Department of Information Resources.

Down the road, that will likely mean reducing the number of staff members at state agencies, Sauerhoff said, noting that agency leaders are being "intentional" about those changes.

Zooming in: When asked which state agencies will be most impacted by AI in the coming years, Sauerhoff pointed to the Texas Department of Transportation.

TxDOT uses artificial intelligence in a variety of forms, including to analyze transportation infrastructure, determine which construction projects should be prioritized, optimize road safety plans and manage the flow of traffic, according to its AI strategic plan.

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Austin Transit Partnership approves lease for new downtown office: The ATP board approved a $13.5 million agreement to lease office space for 48 months at 203 Colorado St.—the agency's current office—as well as space next door at 201 Colorado St. Officials said this will help as the agency anticipates growing as Project Connect plans move forward.

Blakey Lane plan advances with Jessica Place connection: Bastrop is moving ahead with a Blakey Lane extension intended to connect the Sendero and Burleson Crossing shopping areas with businesses to the east. The plan has drawn opposition from Riverside Grove residents over opening a subdivision street called Jessica Place to through traffic.

State invests approximately $1.5B in Austin-area roadway improvements: Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Transportation recently announced a 10-year transportation plan that will invest almost $140 billion in roadway improvements across the state. The funding includes $95 billion for projects across the state and $43 billion for development and routine maintenance.