The Travis County governmental structure is dysfunctional and needs to reorganize under one main administrator, according to a report by an independent consultant group hired to assess the county’s internal administrative system. However, some county officials, while not surprised by the report’s findings, are concerned about recommendations to consolidate and change departmental functions. PSPC Consultants […]
Beth Cortez-Neavel
Beth Cortez-Neavel is a contributing reporter covering Travis County for the Austin Monitor. Beth works in words, data, photography and radio. She's a long-time Austinite living in the District 1 area.
Posted inLocal Government
Travis Commissioners OK incentive deal for Charles Schwab
Travis County approved the $8.5 million economic incentive agreement with Charles Schwab Tuesday morning, ensuring an Austin expansion of their offices and an estimated 823 new jobs for Austin within the next ten years. Charles Schwab will also get $4.5 million in state investments from the Texas Enterprise Fund, as promised by Governor Rick Perry contingent […]
Posted inWhispers
Appraisal District seeks $2.9 million budget increase
The Travis Central Appraisal District is asking for an extra $2.9 million budget increase for Fiscal Year 2015 from the county. The Travis County Commissioners Court will discuss, and possibly vote on the increase at Tuesday’s regular session. The district’s board of directors asked that Chief Appraiser Marya Crigler provide recommendations to the court regarding […]
Posted inLocal Government, Uncategorized
Travis County spending for July 29
Here’s the Monitor’s weekly detailed rundown of Travis County’s spending and unbudgeted revenue, for the week of July 29, 2014 Tuesday, the County Commissioners approved $1,018,612.24 in expenditures: $710,444.24 for reimbursement to United Health Care for claims paid for participants in the Travis County Employee Health Care Fund for the period of July 11 to July 17, 2014. […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Travis County investigating appraisal inequities
Travis County is assembling work groups to investigate alleged inequities in the state property tax appraisal system. Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator Deece Eckstein has plans to fulfill the mandate from the court to create the working groups. They include getting an impartial analysis of the accuracy of commercial and industrial property appraisals in Travis County and […]
Posted inLocal Government
Charles Schwab wants $3.6 million tax rebate for Austin expansion
The Austin Chamber of Commerce urged Travis County Commissioners to enter an $8.5 million economic incentive agreement with Charles Schwab Corp., the San Francisco-based banking and brokerage corporation, at Tuesday’s regular session. The company is seeking $3.6 million in tax rebates from Travis County to expand its Austin operations. Some local taxpayer groups are already […]
Posted inLocal Government
Proposed Travis County budget would hike average tax bill by $46
Next year’s tax bills would be $46 higher for the average homeowner, an increase of about $3.83 per month, according to the preliminary Fiscal Year 2015 Travis County budget posted Monday afternoon. Overall Travis County spending is set to increase to $902 million, up from $857 million. According to Travis County budget officials, the owners […]
Posted inLocal Government, Transportation
Travis County Commissioners scold Capital Metro for lack of services
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking $160,000 annually in Travis County money to establish a flex bus route in East Austin, Vice President Todd Hemingson told Travis County Commissioners Tuesday. However, County Commissioners did not receive the news, or a briefing of current transit options, with open arms. Commissioners Margaret Gómez and Ron Davis […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Here’s the County’s fiscal picture for the week of July 22
The Travis County Commissioner’s Court approved $2,498,147.12 in expenditures July 22, 2014. Here is the breakdown of the expenses: $369,369 to QA Construction Services, Inc. for the El Rey Sidewalk Improvements Project. The project will install one sidewalk on El Rey Boulevard from Candelaria Drive to Espanola Trail. $234,561 for a Noble Assessment Platform from Noble Software […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Public Safety, Uncategorized
Austin Interfaith petitions county to aid unaccompanied migrant minors
Austin Interfaith seeks Travis County aid for migrant minors By Beth Cortez-Neavel Members of Austin Interfaith called on Travis County Commissioners Tuesday to provide social and legal services to the thousands of unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S. border from Central America. However, County Judge Sam Biscoe said the county could not extend its governmental arm […]
Posted inLocal Government
Travis County expenses, revenues for week of July 15
Each week the Monitor reports on Travis County’s spending habits. For the week of July 15, the Travis County Commissioners approved expenditures totaling $3,999,952.09. The County approved three different grant applications from the Transportation and Natural Resources Department to the Capital Metropolitan Planning Organization for the allocation of future Surface Transportation Program Metropolitan Mobility funds […]
Posted inElections, Local Government
Travis County developing first electronic/paper ballot voting system
The Travis County Elections Office is developing a new dual electronic and paper ballot voting system with an estimated price tag of $8.1 million. Despite County Commissioners’ cost concerns, County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir, who is heading the effort, said Tuesday that it’s not the price tag that matters. The concern should be about getting other […]