The Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a $1.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20 and a corresponding tax increase. The average Travis County homeowner will pay $126 more in county taxes this year as a result of the budget. The hike amounts to “less than one takeout pizza a month,” according […]
Jack Craver
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TipSheet: Travis County, 9.24.19
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available at the Travis County website. 1. Receive comments regarding the FY 2020 Proposed Budget. (Action Item 22) (Judge Eckhardt) […]
Posted inBudget
Commissioners Court dismisses pay pleas from disgruntled employees
On Tuesday, members of the Travis County Commissioners Court responded to claims from two groups of public safety workers who feel unappreciated due to the amount of pay they receive. In both cases, commissioners made it clear that they didn’t believe the claims were justified. First, there is the issue of pay for law enforcement […]
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TipSheet: Travis County, 9.17.19
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available at the Travis County website. 7. Consider and take appropriate action on an appointment to the Central Health Board […]
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TipSheet: Travis County, 9.10.19
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available at the Travis County website. 7. Consider and take appropriate action regarding: A. Outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas […]
Posted inBudget
Commissioners Court OKs small pay hikes for law enforcement
After approving raises for the county’s civilian workforce, the Travis County Commissioners Court wants to boost pay for the region’s 1,300 sheriff’s deputies, park rangers, jail guards and constable officers. However, members of the court are opting for a more modest pay raise than that sought by unions representing sheriff’s deputies. At a Thursday budget […]
Posted inWhispers
Commissioners Court moves toward maximum tax rate
The Travis County Commissioners Court took the first step toward implementing raising the maximum revenue allowed under state law. The court voted 3-0 (Commissioners Jeff Travillion and Gerald Daugherty were absent) to notify the public (through statutorily required newspaper advertisements) that the budget it plans to approve later this month will increase the “effective maintenance […]
Posted inCourts
Commissioners must find replacement to head family violence court
It’s probably not a position most voters spend time thinking about, but members of the Travis County Commissioners Court stressed the importance of County Court #4 as they discussed appointing somebody to fill the vacancy created by departing incumbent Judge Mike Denton. The court, which was set up 20 years ago, deals almost exclusively with […]
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TipSheet: Travis County, 9.3.19
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available at the Travis County website. 4. Receive briefing on duties and responsibilities of County Court at Law Number 4 […]
Posted inTravis County
Despite high arrest rate, county leaders give high marks to jail diversion program
A majority of criminal defendants who participated in a county pilot program aimed at getting people with mental illness out of jail and into treatment were rearrested within a year of their release. Yet, many involved in the criminal justice system say the program has been a success. For three and a half years, Travis […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Travis County agrees to take Hays County prisoners
Hays County has a prisoner problem, and it’s looking to its neighbor to the north, Travis County, for help. Hays is in the process of expanding its jail to house more inmates. In the meantime, it’s asked to send some of those it can’t accommodate to Travis County, which has some extra space due to […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Travis County considers nonpartisan redistricting
In contrast to most elected officials around the country, members of the Travis County Commissioners Court say they don’t want to be in charge of picking their voters. At their Aug. 20 meeting, the commissioners discussed setting up a nonpartisan redistricting commission similar to the city’s. The commission would be tasked with redrawing the four […]