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- Austin is increasing security at city parks and greenbelts following string of car break-ins
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- Documentary film highlights the history of an 1870s-era home and the story of Clarksville
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Budget
Adler urges caution on budget
Despite Austin’s robust economy, City Council is facing budget season with difficult decisions ahead. Because of commitments made by Council when members voted on the current budget, there’s little room in the 2017 budget for increased spending or further property…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • May 5, 2016
Council kicks off budget season
At its budget season opener on Wednesday, City Council heard again of Austin’s two cities: one that suffers from widening economic divisions and another that is “an economic star.” “This is extraordinary growth,” economic consultant Jon Hockenyos told Council members…
Budget • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 28, 2016
Council explores reducing transfers from utilities
Members of City Council moved ahead Thursday on two initiatives aimed at scrutinizing the role that Austin’s two public utilities play in funding basic city services. Early in the day, the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee, which is composed of…
Budget • By Jack Craver • Feb 26, 2016
Troxclair wants to cut utility transfers
Wading into the affordability debate with a new tactic, City Council Member Ellen Troxclair is proposing to cut transfers from the Austin Water utility to the city’s General Fund. On Wednesday, members of Council’s Public Utilities Committee unanimously approved forwarding…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Feb 19, 2016
Budget chiefs still see financial picture as rosy
A trio of city financial managers told the Austin Monitor this week that Austin is still doing well financially, and, due to conservative fiscal planning at the city, Austin Energy and Austin Water both closed out 2015 with greater than…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Jan 29, 2016
Does Austin spend enough on parks?
The Parks and Recreation Department is growing. And, though the department’s funding is much larger now than in past years, department leaders say Austin isn’t spending nearly enough on parks to keep the city competitive with other parks systems across…
Budget • By Jack Craver • Nov 19, 2015
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County adopts new tax rate
The Travis County Commissioners Court formally adopted a brand new property tax rate on Tuesday. The unanimous vote marked the last major action in this year’s version of the annual budget dance. It was a relatively placid affair, given the…
Budget • By Caleb Pritchard • Oct 7, 2015
County approves budget, restores jail visitations
On the eve of Fiscal New Year’s Eve, Travis County commissioners voted to adopt a brand-new budget that will keep the lights on through 2016. Along the way, they managed to inject some last-minute drama into the proceedings by restoring…
Budget • By Caleb Pritchard • Sep 30, 2015
Jail visitation dominates county budget hearing
Travis County Commissioners Court held its first of three public hearings on the proposed tax rate for the next fiscal year on Tuesday evening, but instead of anxious property owners venting about affordability concerns, a determined group of inmates’ rights…
Budget • By Caleb Pritchard • Sep 23, 2015
Tax rate, transfers for parks, libraries, win approval
It was just a formality, but City Council voted 9-2 on Tuesday to adopt the Fiscal Year 2015-16 property tax rate of 45.89 cents per $100 of valuation, a 6.8 percent increase over last year. Council Members Ellen Troxclair and Don…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Sep 23, 2015
Austin Monitor Radio: Austin Mayor Steve Adler
Austin Mayor Steve Adler joins Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about the city of Austin’s fiscal year 2015-16 budget. The show is embedded below:
Austin • By Michael Kanin • Sep 21, 2015
Council adopts budget based on lower tax rate
By Jo Clifton and Tyler Whitson City Council adopted a balanced $3.5 billion Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget on Thursday that reduces the anticipated property tax burden for owners of median-valued homes by about $14. With an overall jump in utility…
