An audit of operations at the Austin Animal Shelter has found that the no-kill facility is often beyond its capacity and lacks the data, staff and processes to meet the city’s 95 percent live-release goal. A draft copy of the audit, which was called for last summer by City Council, produced four broad findings, including […]
City Hall
Posted inCity Council
Austin City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison takes temporary leave to address mental health
Austin City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison will temporarily step away from her position to address her mental health, she announced Monday. “This year has been extremely challenging for me,” she said. “I live with depression and anxiety. Thankfully these issues can be treated with focused care.” Her leave is effective immediately and will last 60 days. […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council approves incentives for NXP Semiconductors’ $290M planned investment
The city has agreed to its first major economic incentive package in six years, with just over $1 million for a variety of uses headed toward tech manufacturer NXP Semiconductors N.V. That package will allow NXP, which has two major facilities in Austin, to qualify for additional federal incentives as the company plans to spend […]
Posted inBudget
Commissioners question health care district contingency fund, postpone budget vote
The Travis County Commissioners Court took no action on the county health care district’s proposed budget and tax increase Tuesday after repeatedly questioning the wisdom of the district’s $379 million contingency fund. The controversial fund grew rapidly in recent years as the health care district, which serves low-income residents and is known as Central Health, […]
Posted inAustin
Starting next year, researchers will seek relatives of long-lost Oakwood Cemetery residents
City officials say genetic testing of 35 Austinites buried at Oakwood Cemetery more than a century and a half ago is done, and researchers could be ready to test possible descendants of those people as soon as next year. City staff discovered the bodies of 36 people under the Oakwood Chapel during a renovation in […]
Posted inTipSheets
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 9.21.23
It’s the second week in a row of City Council meetings, so it makes sense that this one might lack pizzazz. As usual, however, there are some standouts on the agenda, and we’ve compiled the things we’re keeping an eye on here. In November, voters approved a proposition intended to strengthen police oversight in the […]
Posted inCity Council
City, NXP to help fund child care through Chapter 380 agreement
City Council heard from more than a dozen people talking about the city’s proposed Chapter 380 agreement with NXP Semiconductors at Thursday’s meeting. Almost every one of them praised the company, which has been in Austin since 1974, operating two facilities. Mayor Kirk Watson called on Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, director of the Austin Economic Development Department, […]
Posted inTipSheets
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 9.14.23
At the risk of seeming optimistic and bad at defining “fun,” today’s City Council meeting seems like it could be just that. There are a few things in particular that caught our eye, and those are detailed below. The agenda (and backup) can also be read in its entirety here. As usual, most of the […]
Posted inCity Council
Council hears details of proposed $1M incentive package for NXP Semiconductors
A Dutch semiconductor manufacturer with two factories in Austin has applied to receive the city’s first major economic incentive package since 2017. City Council heard details at Tuesday’s work session about the proposed agreement with NXP Semiconductors N.V., which is looking to invest $290.8 million to remove and replace four of its five production lines […]
Posted inCity Council
Hotels adjust proposed new tax, giving city steady funds for homeless services
The city’s major hoteliers have agreed to adjust the terms of a proposed new tax that will provide the city consistent money to fund homelessness services even while tourism drops off during the forthcoming reconstruction of the Austin Convention Center. City Council members Ryan Alter and Vanessa Fuentes announced Monday they had reached an agreement […]
Posted inBudget
Central Health approves budget with a Hail Mary provision to halt layoffs at Integral Care
Travis County’s public hospital district, Central Health, voted Wednesday to approve its Fiscal Year 2024 budget, which includes a last-minute line item giving $7 million in emergency funding to Integral Care. Central Health’s budget still needs final approval from Travis County commissioners. Integral Care is the largest provider of mental health services in Travis County. […]
Posted inAustin
Life sciences, housing policy seen as keys for Austin’s five-year growth strategy
Business leaders see the life sciences sector as the next major piece of the Austin economy and expect it to grow quickly along with semiconductor and automotive manufacturing, financial services and national defense in the years to come. Focusing on those industries while addressing housing costs and the growing local labor pool were some of […]