City Hall
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…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 16, 2024
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…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 15, 2024
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,…
Budget • By Amy Smith • Aug 15, 2024
Intake at animal center continues to outpace adoptions
Animal intake at the Austin Animal Center continues to surpass the number of adoptions, according to a presentation at an Animal Advisory Commission meeting Monday. In July, the center took in 932 animals while 769 animals were adopted, according…
Austin • By Dylan Ebs • Aug 14, 2024
Animal advocates re-up calls for the closure of the Austin Aquarium
Animal rights advocates are calling for the Austin Aquarium to shut down. The new push comes after a high-level resignation at the aquarium’s parent company – and years of controversy surrounding the strip mall-based aquarium. In late 2013, the Austin Aquarium…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Aug 14, 2024
Animal Services Office turns to outside boarding to address shelter crowding
The Animal Services Office has recently resumed use of third-party boarding facilities to handle space constraints and crowded conditions at Austin Animal Center. A memo published last week from Don Bland, chief animal services officer, gave City Council an update…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 13, 2024
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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…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 13, 2024
Central Health board questions UT contracts in light of DEI firings
Central Health leaders signaled they may seek to curtail or end contracts with the University of Texas’ Dell Medical School over objections to the university’s firing all staff involved in diversity, equity and inclusion programs in April. At last week’s…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 12, 2024
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…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 9, 2024
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…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 9, 2024
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…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 8, 2024
Planning Commission calls for reorganization at City Hall
Planning Commission members have unanimously approved a series of budget requests aimed at reforming and streamlining the way their commission is run. Most significantly, the recommendations would establish an Office of the Land Use Commissions that would work with the…
