Travis County commissioners approved an $875 million annual budget for local public hospital district Central Health, along with an increased tax rate that local officials said was influenced by federal funding changes. Around 5% of a Travis County homeowner’s property tax bill goes to Central Health. Those taxes must support health care for low-income and […]
Budget
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Proposed Travis County pay draws equity questions
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 […]
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City fees will be higher for almost everything this year
Like so many other costs, city rates and fees are going up in the upcoming fiscal year, which starts in October. Overall, the projected yearly impact of all the fee increases will be $417 for the average homeowner in Austin. Those increases include fees for water, trash service, drainage, the Clean Community Fee and the […]
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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 […]
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Duchen tries (but fails) to raise Austin Energy bills
Council Member Marc Duchen opposed or abstained on the majority of his colleagues’ amendments to next year’s city budget and voted against the overall budget. However, did try to raise Austin Energy’s income by proposing to increase its rates and fees. His proposal would have added up to $63 million in revenues. Neither the Mayor […]
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Austin spends millions on overtime pay for police officers. The city is scaling that back.
For Austin’s fire, police and emergency medical professionals, overtime is just a fact of life. In the last budget year, overtime spending on those three departments was $84 million, according to city payroll data. But after years of ballooning overtime payouts, Austin is throttling back some of that spending, asking its fire and police departments […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Travis County proposes raising property taxes to pay for flood repairs
The Travis County Commissioners Court is expected to raise property taxes to pay for damage caused by the flooding on July 5. Commissioners have until Oct. 1 to decide on the 9.12% tax hike. If approved, the average Travis County homeowner can expect to pay $200 more than what they paid the previous year, according […]
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Recycled Reads Bookstore could close central location as city looks at budget cuts
Recycled Reads, the Austin Public Library used bookstore on Burnet Road, will close by next spring if the proposed city budget is approved. The store opened in 2009 as a way to help raise money for Austin’s library system. Anna Paola Ferate-Soto has worked at the store since 2021. She said the concept has also […]