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 for lower interest rates when it sells bonds — and could save the city millions […]
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Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
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. Weis added that the proposal would address concerns first raised by Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell […]
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LCRA finalizes sale of 18 small water systems to Corix Utilities
The Lower Colorado River Authority has closed the sale of 18 of its former small water/wastewater systems to Corix Utilities Texas, a subsidiary of Vancouver-based Corix Utilities. Officials gave no price for the transaction. LCRA officials announced in 2010 that they were planning to sell the group of systems, which at the time was costing […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety, Resources
Energy, water utility rates top Council concerns over 2015 budget
The Austin City Council took on next year’s budget in earnest Thursday. Of the $3.5 billion budget, members’ biggest concerns continued to rest with the city’s water and energy utilities. A proposal from Austin Energy to increase the fuel charge customers pay had Council particularly on edge. That increase will add $4.67 to the average […]
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Revenue shortfall creates budget worries for aquifer district
Revenue is down for the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District and its board members are starting to worry. The members expressed concerns at Thursday night’s meeting as they approved the fiscal year 2015 budget, citing a revenue loss of $26,000 from last year and nearly $40,000 in the last two. Though the budgetary gap […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Resources
Travis County renews affiliation with water policy resource group
Travis County Commissioners voted last week to continue participation in a Central Texas organization formed originally to purchase a section of small water utilities from the Lower Colorado River Authority. The vote came after the expression of some concern over the partnership at last Tuesday’s court session. The county passed a resolution in February 2013 […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Government, Resources
City hopes Eco-Industrial park will bring jobs
The City of Austin is planning to spend up to $10 million to create an eco-industrial park south of the city’s airport. Officials hope the park will lure dozens of businesses that specialize in manufacturing goods from recycled, reused or repaired materials. They add that the project could bring more than 1,200 new jobs for […]
Posted inDevelopment, Resources
Despite ruling, city expects no immediate change to drainage fee
A judge’s ruling rendering a portion of the city’s Drainage Fee invalid could put millions of dollars worth of critical flood control and watershed protection programs at risk. State District Judge Amy Clark Meachum ruled Friday that the flat $9.20 fee charged to almost all of Austin’s utility customers was unfair to people living in […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Public Safety, Resources
Council approves funds for buyout of 140 more homes in Onion Creek
Though some relief is on the way for Halloween Flood survivors, the fact that nearly 15 percent of the funds could be spent on consultants raised some eyebrows at City Council Thursday. Council members approved all four items related to the Onion Creek buyouts but they faced some pushback from citizens concerned about the […]
Posted inEnvironment, Resources
Water task force recommends finding more ways to save water
After months of tedious and lengthy meetings, the city’s blue ribbon task force assigned to make recommendations on how Austin should deal with an ever-shrinking water supply unanimously approved a report to City Council Wednesday. The major message from the Austin Water Resource Planning Task Force to the Austin Water Utility and citizens was: […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Resources
Ott pulls Austin Energy building plan from City Council agenda
Austin City Manager Marc Ott plans to remove a controversial item from today’s agenda that would authorize the design of a new Austin Energy headquarters. Speaking from the dais at Council’s regular Tuesday work session, Ott noted the need for more information. “Certainly I recognize that Council has a lot of questions and I […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety, Resources
City in line for flood buyout reimbursements from Corps of Engineers
Austin City Council members got a bit of good news with regard to buyouts in the Onion Creek floodplain. The city’s governmental relations officer, John Hrncir, told Council members during Tuesday’s work session that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was likely to reimburse the city for the costs of the program dating as far […]