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Latest Headlines for Wednesday, April 9

City facing a $33 million deficit for 2026

Given current conditions, the city’s budget analysts are projecting a $33 million shortfall in the city’s General Fund in Fiscal Year 2026, with that number increasing to $79.9 million by FY 2030. City Council heard the bad news from City…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Apr 9, 2025

Public Safety Commission hears updates on APD staffing, wildfire readiness and EMS simulation lab

On Monday, the Public Safety Commission heard a quarterly report from the Austin Police Department, an update on wildfire readiness from the Austin Fire Department, a briefing on the Austin-Travis County EMS Simulation Lab, plus an update on the 2026…

Public Safety • By Mina Shekarchi • Apr 9, 2025

Infrastructure panelists ponder tactics for stretching Austin’s existing water supply

Facing limited prospects for new water sources, Austin officials are advancing a broad strategy centered on water reuse, conservation and storage to meet the city’s long-term needs. At a recent infrastructure summit hosted by the Austin Chamber of Commerce, water…

Water • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 9, 2025

front of City Hall

City looking to fill in gaps after spending or encumbering all ARPA funds

The city has spent or encumbered a total of $188.5 million that it received from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act. According to a memo to the mayor and City Council, the city met the Dec. 31,…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Apr 8, 2025

Urban Transportation Commission discusses, makes recommendations on CAMPO’s draft regional plan for 2050

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is cooking up a quinquennial update to its regional transportation plan, and for its part, the Urban Transportation Commission is urging CAMPO to reflect the city’s priorities – and trash some highway projects –…

Roads • By Miles Wall • Apr 8, 2025

Public Health Commission looks at curbing heat illnesses, promoting drug counselor training

The Austin-Travis County Public Health Commission is fine-tuning recommendations on two initiatives aimed at expanding harm reduction services and protecting outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses. During the latest meeting, commissioners reviewed draft recommendations on both issues but took no votes,…

Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 8, 2025

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Council gets early look at public health cuts caused by federal funding losses

Austin Public Health leaders are working to manage an ongoing budget crisis caused by federal funding cuts that have destabilized programs across the city. City Council’s Public Health Committee heard last week that APH has already lost approximately $15 million…

Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 7, 2025

Austin’s redemption arc: The embarrassing recent failures and hard-fought reforms in our city’s response to sexual assault

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. The city of Austin has garnered national attention for its prior failures to investigate cases and support survivors in their healing and, more recently, for its survivor-led reforms. The Austin Monitor took…

Public Safety • By Mina Shekarchi • Apr 7, 2025

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Two bills compete to reform firefighters retirement fund

Two competing bills in the Texas Legislature aim to tackle the issue of reforming the funding structure of the Austin Firefighters Retirement Fund. In a message on the City Council Message Board (posted by the mayor’s chief of staff, Colleen…

Fire • By Hunter Simmons • Apr 7, 2025

Staffing isn't the only thing to blame for Austin's slow 911 response times

When someone calls 911 for help in Austin, about 93 percent of those calls are answered within 15 seconds. But once those calls are answered, police, fire or EMS must then respond. And those public safety agencies are not responding…

Public Safety • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Apr 4, 2025

City Council expected to implement requirements for residential air conditioning

The city is revising its technical building codes. As part of this process, City Council is slated to adopt changes to Austin’s version of the International Property Maintenance Code on April 10. Most notably, these changes will include a requirement…

City Council • By Mina Shekarchi • Apr 4, 2025

Workshops helping city gear up business expansion, place-based incentive programs

Ahead of a planned rollout in May, the city is hoping a series of workshops this month will generate interest in its updated business expansion and upcoming place-based enhancement incentive programs. The programs, which were recently approved by City Council,…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 4, 2025

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Nonprofit spotlight: Four questions for American Gateways

American Gateways ensures access to the justice system for low-income immigrants. We serve 23 counties in Central Texas and provide high-quality legal representation and accurate information about what is happening in our immigration system. What is the mission of American…