ATX-NNW: Impact 10/1/2025

Austin ISD homeowners may see a decrease in their property tax bill as the district adopted a slightly lower tax rate for fiscal year 2025-26.

What happened: The AISD board of trustees approved a tax rate of $0.9252 per $100 valuation at a Sept. 25 meeting. Additionally, the board voted to continue offering a partial tax exemption for historical landmarks.

The overview: The board approved a maintenance and operations, or M&O, tax rate of $0.8022 per $100 valuation, which is $0.0253 lower than the FY 2024-25 M&O tax rate of $0.8275 per $100 valuation.

The interest and sinking, or I&S, tax rate will remain at $0.123 per $100 valuation, making for a combined tax rate of $0.9252 per $100 valuation.

The impact: In a Nov. 4 election, Texas voters will decide whether to raise the statewide homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000.

If approved, an AISD homeowner with an average taxable value of $517,514 would be expected to pay $3,493 in annual property taxes, which is a $864 decrease from the previous fiscal year.

Velocity Credit Union announced in a news release Sept. 22 it would be refreshing its brand and offering a new checking account service to its members. 

The details: Per the release, Velocity's new Rewards Checking account features:

• Rewards earned with each card swipe, with the ability to automatically round up and grow savings
• No-cost access to direct deposits up to two days earlier
• Money management services, such as mobile and online banking, Zelle, credit score monitoring and instant transfers
• Built-in benefits, such as cell phone insurance, 24/7 telehealth services and identity theft protection

Classical Music For the World is hosting its fall festival, which will bring 26 students and teachers from the Robert Schumann Konservatorium in Zwickau, Germany. The festival will feature a series of free events open to the public.

The details: Happening Sept. 28-Oct. 5, the festival celebrates global cultures through a variety of music. The festival will host six public events, four community outreach events at local schools and a music party at Austin Saengerrunde Hall.

“This festival is built on the keystones of healing, peace, and music,” said Younnie Wall, CMFW CEO, founder and festival director. “We hope that everyone who attends will feel a sense of peace and carry the beauty of our shared sounds in their hearts long after the final note.”

Some background: CMFW and Robert Schumann Konservatorium have maintained a musical exchange for 13 years with CMFW Austin students and teachers visiting Zwickau, Germany.

Residents arrested in Austin-Travis County will now have stronger legal protections with the full rollout of the Counsel at First Appearance, or CAFA, initiative.

The program ensures individuals who cannot afford an attorney are provided legal representation during their first court appearance, a change phased in after a 2024 lawsuit argued arrestees were being left to defend themselves.

The update: To support CAFA, Travis County approved more than $15 million in funding, hiring 86 new employees including defense attorneys, clerks, and translators. The city of Austin recently approved contracts Sept. 25, committing over $16 million to county magistration services, with $6 million specifically tied to CAFA.

The outlook: While officials say the program strengthens due process rights and improves booking operations, some concerns remain over city-level misdemeanor cases, where people may still face overnight holds.

County leaders also view central booking as a step toward establishing a permanent mental health diversion center, offering law enforcement one streamlined site for intake and services.

According to a Sept. 26 press release, Target has launched a first-of-its-kind accessible self-checkout experience designed for guests with disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision.

The self-checkouts will roll out nationwide beginning this holiday season and in early 2026 as part of Target's ongoing checkout improvements, according to the release.

What to expect: Per the release, the innovation is a guest-first design that primarily supports people who are visually impaired while supporting those with motor disabilities.

The technology works with Target’s existing self-checkout system and includes:

• Braille and high-contrast button icons
• A headphone jack with adjustable volume controls
• Physical navigation buttons and a dedicated information key

The Nov. 4 election is coming up, and so is the deadline to register to vote. Eligible Texans must register by Oct. 6 to cast votes in various local races and weigh in on 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.

What to know: Texans who need to register to vote must submit a paper application. The application is available here and must be printed, signed and mailed to the election office in the voter’s county of residence.

Texas does not allow online voter registration, unless residents are updating, renewing or replacing a Texas driver’s license or ID card.

Zooming in: To be eligible to register to vote, an individual must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Reside in the county they apply to vote in
• Be at least 18 years old by Election Day
• Not have been declared mentally incapacitated without the right to vote by a court