The Council Audit and Finance Committee meets at 11 am Wednesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The city hosts a copy at its website. Items of interest for Wednesday’s meeting include: 3. Staff presentations on financial planning for each taxing jurisdiction in the City of Austin […]
Mark Richardson
Mark Richardson is a multimedia journalist, editor and writer who has worked in digital, print and broadcast media for three decades. He is a nationally recognized editor and reporter who has covered government, politics and the environment. A journalism graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, he was recently awarded a Foundation for Investigative Journalism grant and has three Associated Press Managing Editors awards for excellence in reporting.
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Hays Commissioners post tax rate, budget
Hays County Commissioners have proposed a tax rate of 0.4690 per $100 of assessed valuation for Fiscal Year 2015 and a county budget of $157 million, and have set hearing dates for public comment on both. The proposed tax rate is the same as the current tax year, but since more improved property is on […]
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Clerk’s office to draw for ballot order
The Austin City Clerk’s office will conduct the much-anticipated 2014 Ballot Draw on Wednesday afternoon at City Hall. The drawing will determine the order of candidates’ names on the November ballot for the mayoral and City Council elections. City Clerk Jannette Goodall will do the honors by randomly drawing candidate names by district. Officials expect […]
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Environmental Democrats set to endorse
The Austin Environmental Democrats are holding an endorsement meeting today. The group will be reviewing and voting on candidates in City Council Districts 1, 2 and 3. Candidates’ answers to questionnaires were distributed to members via the club’s website. Only members whose dues are current will be allowed to vote. The group will hold endorsement […]
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Tree Folks hires Thais Perkins as director
Tree Folks, the Central Texas nonprofit that promotes urban forests, has hired Thais Perkins as its executive director. Perkins, with 10 years of experience in environmental research, policy, and organizational management, was most recently a project coordinator with Austin’s Watershed Protection Department. At the city, Perkins managed environmental commissioning and environmental impact monitoring for Water […]
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Let’s Go Austin PAC plans rally
The Let’s Go Austin Political Action Committee, formed to campaign for Austin’s November rail and roads bond proposition, will formally kick off its campaign Wednesday with a noon rally on the plaza at Austin City Hall. Let’s Go Austin campaign manager Lynda Rife said the event is the beginning of a three-month effort to educate […]
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Council candidate forums scheduled
The city’s Ethics Review Commission and the League of Women Voters of the Austin Area are co-hosting a series of public City Council candidate forums in September, as well as a forum for mayoral candidates in October. All candidates for mayor and each of Austin’s 10 geographic districts have been invited to participate. The dates, […]
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Manchaca Fire Chief gets top honor
The International Association of Fire Chiefs has named Chief Chris Barron of the Manchaca Volunteer Fire Department as the 2014 winner of the Fire Chief of the Year awards. Barron has served as volunteer fire chief of Manchaca Fire/Rescue and executive director of the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association of Texas, both since 2006. […]
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TipSheet: Zoning and Platting Commission
The Zoning and Platting Commission meets in its regular session Tuesday and will consider more than 20 zoning cases brought by developers and homeowners. Zoning & Platting Commission One Texas Center, Room 325, 505 Barton Springs Rd. 6 p.m. August 19, 2014 AGENDA A. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION The first four (4) speakers signed up prior to […]
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TipSheet: Travis County Commissioners Court
After an entire week of budget hearings, Travis County Commissioners aren’t too interested in dealing with any heavy duty issues this week. But there are a couple of items on the agenda that piqued our interest: Item 27. Commissioners will finalize comprehensive changes to the parking plan for Travis County employees. Item 35. Commissioners will […]
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TipSheet: Lower Colorado River Authority
The LCRA board meets Wednesday. On the agenda is a report on the condition of the Highland Lakes, amendments to Downstream Water Rights and possible amendments to a pending water management plan. Lower Colorado River Authority Board 10 a.m. August 20, 2014 LCRA Board Room, 3700 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin Items from the Chair […]
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TipSheet: Austin City Council Budget Work Session
The Austin City Council meets Tuesday morning for another Budget Work Session. Highlights on this week’s agenda: Council members will consider adopting the maximum tax rate of 49.22 cents per $100 taxable value and set the date to adopt the FY2015 tax rate. The Council will also set public hearings on the tax rate and […]