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Most Popular Stories
- Austin ISD eliminating jobs at its central office to reduce budget deficit
- Audit: Economic official granted arts, music funding against city code
- Parks Board recommends vendor for Zilker Café, while voicing concerns about lack of local presence
- Dozens of city music grants stalled over missing final reports
- City leaders evaluate surprising ideas for water conservation
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Popular Whispers
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Whisper Roundup: Accuracy a casualty in mayor's race
Longtime readers of the Austin Monitor and its predecessor will remember Whispers as a column of information about what is really going on at City Hall, Travis County and the myriad other entities we cover. With our recent changeover to…
Development • By Austin Monitor • Sep 12, 2014
City Council adopts $3.5 billion 2015 budget
City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2015 budget and tax rate Tuesday, despite Mayor Lee Leffingwell’s dissent. Council members voted in favor of an operating budget with an $854 million general fund after approving a set of amendments this week…
Local Politics • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 10, 2014
Council approves new water rates, for now
A last-ditch proposal to change the structure of Austin Water Utility rates didn’t gain enough traction to pass at City Council’s budget session Tuesday. But the proposal may have an impact soon. Council members voted 6-1 to approve what they…
Resources • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 10, 2014
Materials Marketplace boosts Zero Waste plan
City officials are touting a new initiative they say will move Austin toward its Zero Waste goals while helping businesses along the way. The Austin Materials Marketplace is a business-to-business material reuse program. Basically, the initiative created an online database…
Environment • By Gene Davis • Sep 8, 2014
Committee seeks to create zero emissions plan
A recent study by climate scientists predicts dire consequences for the Austin region if it does not act to cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly over the next 20 to 30 years. The National Climate Assessment says temperatures in Central Texas…
Environment • By Alex Dropkin • Sep 5, 2014
AE low-income program comes at a high cost
Though there is a push to increase some parts of Austin Energy’s low-income weatherization program, there is at least one part of that program that no one was clamoring to save at Wednesday’s budget session. Activist Paul Robbins started the…
Local Politics • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 4, 2014
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Council postpones action on hauler ordinance
Following complaints from stakeholders, City Council voted on Thursday to postpone action on a measure known as the “hauler ordinance,” which would amend city code regarding the private solid waste collection program. It also postponed action on amendments to administrative…
Local Politics • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 4, 2014
Austin Monitor Radio, Show 14: Austin Energy
Mike Kanin talks with Austin Energy COO Cheryl Mele about utility operations, rates, just-passed new emissions standards and more.
Resources • By Michael Kanin • Sep 3, 2014
Few speakers return for delayed budget hearings
Affordability and equity topped the list of concerns that citizens raised Friday during public hearings on the budget, tax rate and utility rates for Fiscal Year 2015. The majority of citizens who had signed up to speak during the hearings…
Local Politics • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 2, 2014
Update: Council motion to reconsider fails, business group reacts to new mandate
Late Friday afternoon, Council Member Bill Spelman asked his colleagues to reconsider their actions on a resolution by Council Member Chris Riley that instructs Austin Energy to greatly increase their renewable resources — specifically solar — and work toward eliminating…
Local Politics • By Jo Clifton • Aug 29, 2014
Riley resolution passes in chaotic Council finish
Update: An Austin Energy official told the Monitor early Friday morning that they had left Council chambers for home after Council members passed a resolution to recess the meeting until noon today. A twisting, chaotic end to Austin City Council’s…
Environment • By Michael Kanin • Aug 29, 2014
AISD funding situation dire, panel hears
On the second day back in school for students, Austin Independent School District Chief Financial Officer Nicole Conley briefed the Council Audit and Finance Committee on the severe financial challenges the district is facing. Or, as Council Member Laura Morrison…
