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Most Popular Stories
- Austin is increasing security at city parks and greenbelts following string of car break-ins
- Save Austin Now to get rehearing on enforcement of Prop B
- Documentary film highlights the history of an 1870s-era home and the story of Clarksville
- Environmental Commission weighs Project Connect’s environmental impact and federal funding
- Austin scrambles to assess local impact of federal grant freeze
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- YMCA to operate new Dove Springs early education center opening in March
- DAA accepting nominees for Future of Downtown Awards
- Housing survey focuses on those with autism, intellectual disabilities
- Austin United Way names Ingrid Taylor new CEO
- Edwards Aquifer group wants balance in housing growth, water protection
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Budget
Expanded health insurance may cost too much
A memorandum prepared by City of Austin staff reveals that a potential plan to expand health insurance coverage to temporary and contract employees could cost close to $13 million. Human Resources and Civil Service Director Mark Washington sent the memo…
Budget • By Caleb Pritchard • May 14, 2015
Council mulls smaller homestead exemption
As candidates, many of the current City Council members promised constituents a 20 percent homestead exemption. As Council members, they looked at the numbers Wednesday and weighed the benefits of a more cautious approach. At a budget work session, Mayor…
Budget • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 7, 2015
Council begins to define budget priorities
Despite needing to fill a 5 to 6 percent hole to bring the city’s revenue in line with what it spends, City Council members continued to bat around a mix of ideas Wednesday about how to generate that money. At…
Budget • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 7, 2015
AISD, others ask state for $3 billion in new funding
Three members from the Austin Independent School District board stood with more than 20 other school districts at the State Capitol on Wednesday to ask legislators for $3 billion in additional statewide school funding. “For AISD, this figure is vital,”…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • May 7, 2015
Council wades into 2016 city budget
City Council took its first look at next year’s budget Wednesday and got a glimpse of how its members’ campaign promises might cause some complications. The city forecasts that in 2016, the average homeowner will be paying $6.63 more in…
Budget • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 23, 2015
Council staff proposal up in the air ahead of vote
Despite committee efforts and new cost projections, a conversation among City Council members Tuesday revealed that they still have some work to do on a proposal to increase staffing and resources for the mayor and Council offices ahead of a…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Apr 1, 2015
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Committee tweaks, approves Council staff boost
This Thursday, City Council members will once again take up the issue of increasing their own staff. Last week, the Council Audit and Finance Committee considered the proposal for a second time. Members voted unanimously to recommend adding 12 full-time…
Budget • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 31, 2015
Explainer: The Austin Energy-CoA funds transfer
The Explainer takes a deeper look at stories we have been following. This week, we tackle the annual transfer from Austin Energy to the City of Austin’s General Fund. The annual transfer of what has historically been many millions of…
Austin • By Michael Kanin • Mar 23, 2015
Council funds AISD software, debates relationship
When it comes to using tax dollars to serve children in the Austin community, there can be a fine line between education and health and human services. Before passing an agreement Thursday to help fund truancy tracking software for the…
Budget • By Tyler Whitson • Mar 13, 2015
Committee reaches few conclusions on new staff
The City Council Audit and Finance Committee had a wide-ranging discussion Monday about the possibility of hiring more staff to help Council, but arrived at no conclusions. The conversation was sparked by an attempt by Mayor Steve Adler to add…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Mar 10, 2015
Commissioners back new vehicle registration fee
The Travis County Commissioners Court has endorsed a proposal to raise vehicle registration fees to bolster funding for transportation projects. At their regular voting session Tuesday, the commissioners unanimously backed two bills at the Texas Legislature that would charge county…
Budget • By Caleb Pritchard • Mar 9, 2015
Council assesses potential Onion Creek buyout
While the Halloween 2013 flood continues to impact lives near Onion Creek, City Council will likely decide Thursday whether the city should chip in up to $60 million to help ensure that history does not repeat itself. Council members considered…
