During a Tuesday meeting, Travis County employees raised grievances related to staff’s presentation of possible adjustments to the county’s pay scale in the FY25-26 budget, including a “modernization” proposal that would designate employees either exempt or non-exempt. Staff says this structural change is necessary to address the county’s issues retaining talent. The difference between exempt […]
Lina Fisher
Posted inPublic Safety
As flood relief deadlines loom, Travis County response focuses on application assistance
Since the July flood disaster, Travis County has been coordinating relief efforts at Round Mountain Baptist Church. But as the summer nears its end, relief may be running out for flood survivors seeking financial assistance. The county may soon consider raising property taxes one time to assist with that relief, which some residents impacted by […]
Posted inBudget
Council passes budget, triggering tax rate election
After a long and often procedurally-confusing meeting that stretched into the better part of two days, Council passed a $6.3 billion budget for fiscal year 2026 based on a tax rate 5 cents above the state cap, triggering a tax rate election this November. Should Austinites approve that tax rate, the average homeowner’s property taxes […]
Posted inBudget
Council settles on tax rate election, with more amendments to come
After a marathon public comment session yesterday that lasted from 10am till 10pm, Council came to a consensus around a maximum 5-cent tax rate election (TRE) on top of the base budget, with more discussion on amendments to come today. Speakers were split between homeowners admonishing Council for past spending – and those specifically peeved […]
Posted inBudget
Council mulls budget priorities ahead of vote
As Austin City Council nears its Wednesday vote to approve a more than $6 billion budget, Council members laid out each of their spending priorities in a work session Thursday, landing on many points of consensus. Council members added their proposed amendments to the budget as laid out by City Manager T.C. Broadnax in July, […]
Posted inBudget
As state considers further constriction, Council wrestles with how high to go on tax rate election
Ahead of Thursday’s comprehensive budget discussion, there is almost no question that a tax rate election to fund essential city services will be on the ballot come November. At least nine City Council members have expressed support for some level of one, and Council’s Audit and Finance Committee voted unanimously to hold a tax rate […]
Posted inBudget
Council approves maximum tax rate increase in preparation for possible election
At a public hearing Thursday, City Council took the first step toward a possible tax rate election on the November ballot in order to plug Austin’s $33 million deficit and fund the proposed $6.3 billion budget, setting the maximum Council can ask voters to increase their property taxes at 8 cents, or an extra $421 […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County Establishes Flood Relief Fund, Volunteer Center
The tragic flooding on July 4 weekend in Central Texas has made the gutting of FEMA look even worse than it already did, throwing into high relief the unfortunate necessity of municipalities stepping up to plug the gaps in the wake of disaster. On July 15, Travis County established a new short-term relief fund and […]
Posted inAustin
Austin growth is slowing, increasingly driven by international migration, as Hispanic and Black residents leave
In 2022, Austin had just broken into the top 10 largest cities in America. It was the fastest-growing large metro area in the country, and had held that title for 12 years. Now, Austin has dipped to the 13th largest city, and the fourth fastest-growing region in the country. What happened in the last three […]
Posted inPolice
Still-nascent police oversight commission pushes for transparent review of all complaints
Since the passage of the voter-approved Austin Police Oversight Act two years ago, the mission of the Community Police Review Commission has been continually thwarted and delayed. It wasn’t until in August 2024 a judge ruled that APD must make public its secret “G file” of police misconduct that the Oversight Act outlawed and the […]
Posted inPublic Health
Travis County’s Mental Health Diversion Center takes another step
Last week, Travis County kicked off the design portion of its long-awaited mental health diversion center and central intake project. The lead architectural firms, Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects, Kirksey Architecture, and Pulitzer Bogard, will work with county staff and UT’s Dell Medical School to conceptualize the physical diversion center, which will take approximately 18 months […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Travis County calls for ‘constitutional and humane’ treatment of immigrants
Last week, amid nationwide protests against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, Hays County passed a resolution affirming its support for the “constitutional and humane treatment of migrants.” Travis County followed suit in its meeting this week, passing a resolution that reaffirms what the U.S. Supreme Court has already affirmed in cases such as Plyler v. […]