In a new order issued Thursday, Travis County announced it will continue to push back issuing notices to vacate until July 25. This order is applicable countywide and includes the city of Austin. Previously, the county extended a similar order until June 1. This order picks up on June 11 and leaves a gap of […]
Local Government
Posted inTravis County
Travis County’s small business grant program to go live June 15
Small businesses have waited nearly a month and a half to apply for $10 million in grant money set aside for Travis County’s small business grant program, designed to help companies affected by the Covid-19 economic downturn. After weeks of planning and logistics, the businesses will be able to apply for funding beginning July 6. Beforehand, […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County settles on $7.3M in direct assistance to smaller cities
Travis County will no longer be solely responsible for portioning out the $61.1 million to assist in disaster relief efforts during the pandemic. On June 2, the Commissioners Court unanimously voted to allocate $7.3 million, or $55 per Travis County resident, in the surrounding municipalities, excluding Austin, and allow individual cities to distribute those funds […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County considers direct financial allocations to smaller cities
Twenty-one municipalities in Travis County did not receive direct allocations of financial assistance either from the state or the federal government to help temper the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. To help fund relief efforts for their residents, those cities jointly requested a total of $26.2 million from the county’s total federal assistance of […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County plans for 75% of eligible county employees to telework permanently
Currently, 2,300 employees of Travis County telecommute to their jobs. Most of these newly minted teleworkers started working from home following the Stay Home-Work Safe orders issued by the city and county on March 24. Now the county is exploring ways to extend this policy permanently. On May 12, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously […]
Posted inElections
Court order that opens up mail-in voting in Texas stays in effect for now, appeals court rules
Voters who don’t want to risk exposure to the coronavirus may use mail-in ballots during upcoming elections as a legal battle moves through the courts, a Texas appeals court ruled Thursday. The 14th Court of Appeals ruled a trial court order from April will stay in place until the appeal has concluded, Beth Stevens, voting […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County approves nursing home emergency staffing
People who live or work in nursing homes and senior living centers are some of the hardest hit by Covid-19. Austin Public Health has said both staff and residents are particularly vulnerable to the virus with 17 percent of the total cases in Travis County reported in these facilities as of May 12. To help […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County directs $10M toward small business grant program
Despite the federal government authorizing $659 billion in small business aid, many small enterprises in Travis County are still in need of funds in order to survive the economic crisis caused by Covid-19. To help those business owners, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously authorized $10 million of the $61 million in federal funding received by […]
Posted inCourts
City declares broad equity goals for pretrial services
In the middle of a pandemic that has led to a sharp decrease in the Travis County Jail population, Austin City Council plans to leverage its influence to keep the jail population low by reserving use of pretrial detention for cases where it is necessary to ensure public safety. The city has a limited role […]
Posted inTravis County
County Commissioners Court looks toward economic recovery solutions
The financial figures representing the economic repercussions of self-isolation and shuttered businesses are beginning to surface in Travis County. Diana Ramirez, the director of Travis County’s Economic Development & Strategic Investments, told the Commissioners Court on April 7 that although local numbers are still not available, state and federal numbers offer a good indication of […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Judge throws out City Council votes on new Austin land code, putting rewrite in jeopardy
In a ruling that could derail Austin’s rewrite of its Land Development Code, a Travis County district judge voided two votes City Council has taken so far on the changes. The city has spent nearly eight years and more than $10 million trying to rewrite its land code – the rules that determine what can […]
Posted inTravis County
Rodeo Austin, Luck Reunion are the latest events called off in Austin over coronavirus concerns
Rodeo Austin and Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion will not be held this spring. Organizers received word from Travis County officials Thursday that the public health risk was too great. There will also be no fans at Austin sporting events for the near term amid concerns over the coronavirus. As of Thursday evening, there were no […]