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. 6. Consider and take appropriate action regarding the appointment process for a judicial vacancy […]
Jack Craver
Posted inTravis County
County to advocates: Don’t just tell us where to spend, but where to cut
With revenue caps on the horizon, members of the Travis County Commissioners Court have the unenviable task of telling groups calling for increased funding of critical services, from social programs to law enforcement, that there simply may not be the money to meet their demands. On Tuesday representatives from One Voice Central Texas, a coalition […]
Posted inElections
Travis County asks voters to approve future hotel tax for expo center
Travis County isn’t giving up on getting a taste of the hotel tax. On Tuesday, the Commissioners Court voted to put a measure on the November ballot that, if approved, would authorize the county to levy a 2 percent tax on hotel stays to fund the redevelopment of the Travis County Exposition Center. Even if […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 8.20.19
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. 18. Consider and take appropriate action on soliciting public input on the draft restrictive […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County increases support for child care
Funding authorized Tuesday by the Travis County Commissioners Court will provide day care for 92 low-income children. The $285,000 funding was recommended by county staff to address a growing number of children on the waiting list for federal child care subsidies that are administered by a local workforce agency, Workforce Solutions. This year the federal […]
Posted inPublic Health
Despite sparse data, county court moves forward on mental health jail diversion program
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to enter into an agreement with Integral Care, the local mental health authority, aimed at getting criminal defendants with serious mental health problems out of jail and into treatment. The agreement will expand a pilot program that has been in place for the past three years. While the […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 8.13.19
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. Commissioners Margaret Gomez and Jeff Travillion will be absent today, so a number of […]
Posted inTravis County
City, county look to private investors to help on homelessness
Travis County commissioners are cautiously optimistic about the county’s participation in a multi-jurisdictional program aimed at helping some of the county’s most destitute residents. The program, Pay for Success, is a collaboration between the county, the city and a number of area nonprofits and health care providers. Under the model, Social Finance, a nonprofit that […]
Posted inWhispers
County commissioners hope to stop hotel tax increase
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt and the other four members of the Commissioners Court will be at City Hall today in the hopes of discouraging Council from approving a 2 percent increase in the Hotel Occupancy Tax. If Council approves the increase in order to fund an expansion of the convention center, total hotel taxes […]
Posted inBudget
Facing revenue caps, Travis County ponders how to raise employee pay
With lean years ahead due to state limits on property tax revenue, the Travis County Commissioners Court is grappling with how to effectively and responsibly boost pay for county employees. On Tuesday, the commissioners discussed what they would like to do when they approve the budget next month. The preliminary 2019-20 budget proposed by county […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 8.6.19
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. 8. Consider and take appropriate action on the grant application to the Texas Indigent Defense […]
Posted inAustin
Travis County, city of Austin ramp up census efforts
Travis County and the city of Austin are mounting an aggressive effort to make sure the 2020 U.S. census count is as complete and accurate as possible. The county and city are collaborating by jointly funding a temporary position “to energize and coordinate Census outreach and education efforts throughout our community,” according to a county […]