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Increasing child abuse/neglect cases strain courts

Representatives of Travis County children and parents involved in legal abuse and neglect cases have only 10-minute judicial hearings to present evidence of their safety and living situations, according to county civil court judges. County attorneys for indigent children and parents…

Public Safety • By Beth Cortez-Neavel • Aug 25, 2014

City Council closing in on a final budget

City Council didn’t pull any punches at the start of Tuesday’s budget session, setting next year’s tax rate before anyone’s coffee had time to cool. Council members voted unanimously to adopt the tax rate of 48.09 cents per $100 taxable…

Local Politics • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 20, 2014

Council debates Pitch and Putt contract

Though City Council members started out Tuesday intending to talk about the entire Parks and Recreation Department budget, most of their discussion Tuesday centered on the possibility that Butler Park Pitch and Putt could change management in the near future. Parks…

Resources • By Tyler Whitson • Aug 20, 2014

Electric Utility Commission approves AE budget

Austin residents can expect higher electric rates in the coming year, but low-income utility customers may get a few more breaks. The Austin Electric Utility Commission met Monday to approve the utility’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2015 and discuss ways…

Resources • By Kara Nuzback • Aug 19, 2014

No ballot question on Onion Creek buyout

The question of whether Austin should buy out 240 at-risk homes in the Onion Creek floodplain will not go before voters in November. During a special called meeting Friday, Austin City Council voted 5-1 against putting the buyout…

Elections • By Gene Davis • Aug 18, 2014

Austin Energy to cut planned 2015 fee increase

Austin City Council members are studying an Austin Energy plan to lower regulatory fees in 2015, which will cut the average monthly residential bill. Utility officials floated the plan Thursday at the Council Committee on Austin Energy. Austin Energy officials…

Resources • By Tyler Whitson • Aug 18, 2014

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Council punts decision on AE reserves

The Austin City Council decided with a 4-3 vote Thursday to postpone a decision to transfer $30 million from Austin Energy’s Operating Fund to its Strategic Reserve Contingency Fund as requested by staff in order to bring the utility closer to complying…

Local Politics • By Tyler Whitson • Aug 15, 2014

Austin Monitor Radio, Show 11: Water

Austin Water Utility Director Greg Meszaros joins the Monitor‘s Mike Kanin to talk drought, rates, and the future of water in Central Texas.

Resources • By Michael Kanin • Aug 13, 2014

Pay raise for Travis County employees in limbo

Travis County elected officials will not get a pay raise next year, following a recommendation by the Planning and Budget Office that the Commissioners Court unanimously approved Tuesday. Other county employees, with few exceptions, will have to wait to find out whether…

Local Politics • By Beth Cortez-Neavel • Aug 13, 2014

Plan suggests shutdown of Decker power plant

The City of Austin is considering taking the Decker Creek Power Station offline in order to secure access to water from adjacent Lake Walter E. Long in the case of a future drought emergency. The idea is one of several key recommendations set forth…

Environment • By Tyler Whitson • Aug 12, 2014

Austin Energy pitches Council to restore its cash reserves

Austin Energy officials pressed Austin City Council members Tuesday to allow the utility to reconfigure its cash holdings to allow it to fill a series of neglected reserve funds. The move, according to utility representatives, would better position the utility…

Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Aug 6, 2014

Austin Energy looks to get under affordability cap

Austin Energy General Manager Larry Weis told the Austin Monitor Tuesday that he and utility staff are working on a proposal that would keep the utility’s FY2015 budget revenue request under a 2 percent affordability cap on potential rate increases.…