Austin ISD's bond-funded air-conditioning work is behind schedule at four campuses after a hot start to the school year. Meanwhile, property tax rates are shifting in Austin ISD and Dripping Springs ISD.
Here's a closer look at some of the latest education coverage in Southwest Austin.
Bond-funded air-conditioning upgrades delayed at 4 Austin ISD schools
Air-conditioning upgrades funded by Austin ISD's 2022 bond did not start as scheduled this summer at four schools, including three of the 11 campuses that reported air-conditioning problems as highs topped 100 degrees on 29 of the first 44 days of school.
Officials blamed long equipment delivery times, design requirements and coordination with other campus construction. Because major cooling work is done in summer, delays can push projects back a year.
The district's recommended 2026-27 budget also included a 10% cut to facilities maintenance, and parent Marie Lebron has asked trustees for a public tracker of each campus's bond spending and timeline. The Community Bond Oversight Committee meets at 6 p.m. Oct. 13 at the central office.
Read the full story.
Austin ISD's tax rate is set to drop slightly
The Austin ISD board adopted a rate of $0.9184 per $100 of taxable value on Sept. 24, down from $0.9252 last year. That is below the district's no-new-revenue rate of $0.9452, meaning AISD will collect less from existing property than it did last year.
The district projects the median homeowner's bill will fall from $3,525 to $3,461. Austin ISD makes up the largest share of a typical Austin homeowner's property tax bill, about 40%. Bills are due Feb. 1, 2027.
Get the full rundown.
Dripping Springs ISD taxpayers to see slightly higher tax bills
Trustees adopted a $1.0985 tax rate per $100 of valuation at a Sept. 28 meeting. That includes $0.7485 for maintenance and operations and $0.35 for debt service. The rate is $0.0067 lower than last year's but about $0.0044 above the no-new-revenue rate.
The average taxable value of a home in the district rose from $557,223 to $562,547, so the average homeowner will pay about $21 more.
More details here.
