After last week’s confusing and concerning audit report on Travis County’s health care district Central Health, the Commissioners Court this week put off voting on the district’s budget and a 6.5 percent tax rate increase for Fiscal Year 2025 amid more concerns from the community – including from Central Health’s own board of managers and […]
Budget
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Central Health sends 2025 fiscal year budget to Travis County for final approval
Central Health leadership gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a $884 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The budget will go before Travis County commissioners for a final vote in September. As Travis County’s public hospital district, Central Health is tasked with funding health care for low-income and indigent residents, primarily through tax revenue. The […]
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Taxes are rising, as are charges for city services
Money paid by city of Austin taxpayers and Austin residents who pay monthly bills for water and wastewater, electricity, trash and recycling collection (as well as a drainage utility fee and a clean community fee) will see their cost-of-living increase starting in October. That’s pretty much the case every year, and this year the city […]
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Council OKs raising property tax, adding funds for homeless services in new $5.9 billion budget
Austin taxpayers will see an increase in their property tax bills next year, but not so much that it will require their approval. Taxpayers will be charged $0.4776 per $100 taxable value, with a homestead exemption of $154,000 for homeowners 65 years of age and older. Child care facilities will also be exempt from city […]
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Parks, pools, trees – and dogs – get a boost in new city budget
The new city budget City Council passed Wednesday delivered good news for parks and park lovers with the creation of a land acquisition fund, improved parks maintenance, additional funding for tree-planting projects and a dog park in Southwest Austin. Additionally, the Parks and Recreation Department withdrew its unpopular proposal to increase entry fees at specialty […]
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Council budget requests include weatherization expansion, despite Austin Energy reservations
City Council has many possible budget amendments to consider this week. Although city staff has made clear that the city’s growth has not been sufficiently robust to support many expensive changes to the city’s budget, Council will still move forward with what they see as important additions when they meet on Wednesday. The Austin Monitor […]
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Central Health board gives first OK to new tax rate, considers future revenue options
Central Health’s Board of Managers is preparing to set a higher tax rate. Its new property tax rate will be almost 10.8 cents per $100 of taxable value, which will translate to an increase of $66 per year for owners of homes with a taxable value of just over $500,000. The board gave approval at […]
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Council lays out budget priorities for a lean year
In a nearly three-hour session on Thursday, Mayor Kirk Watson and City Council members offered support for a lengthy variety of amendments to the budget they will vote on next Wednesday, and possibly on Thursday and Friday. With a lengthy list of proposed amendments, almost all of which would increase the General Fund budget, Chief […]
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Message board shows some of Council’s budget wish list
Although Tuesday’s City Council work session focused almost exclusively on gaps in the city’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget for services related to homelessness, Council members have highlighted a variety of needs in their message board posts. Today, Council will once again talk about its proposed changes to the budget. Here is a selective list of […]
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Budget work session on homelessness spending shows gaps in funding
City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes requested a briefing to help her and other Council members understand the intricacies of funding shelter for Austin’s homeless population. She said it was clear from town hall meetings and budget hearings that Austinites are concerned about people without reliable places to stay and the city’s response to the problem. […]
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Music Commission asks city to find space, assistance for Texas Music Museum
The Music Commission has asked the city to step in quickly to provide storage space for the archives of the Texas Music Museum, with $850,000 sought in the near future to help the nonprofit organization remain viable and secure a permanent home. The recommendation approved unanimously on Monday asks City Council to quickly approve a […]
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Resource Recovery proposes slight uptick in trash fees
Austin residents may see a small increase in their trash bill next fiscal year if City Council approves the Austin Resource Recovery budget proposal. The Clean Community Fee for residents would increase by 45 cents from $5 to $5.45 a month, with no change for commercial customers. The base customer fee for residential users would […]