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Local Government
Travis County's public defender office is officially funded
Travis County is in the home stretch of its yearslong effort to establish a public defender office for low-income adult defendants. On Thursday the Texas Indigent Defense Commission OK’d a four-year grant to establish the office in the county –…
Travis County • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Aug 30, 2019
Despite high arrest rate, county leaders give high marks to jail diversion program
A majority of criminal defendants who participated in a county pilot program aimed at getting people with mental illness out of jail and into treatment were rearrested within a year of their release. Yet, many involved in the criminal justice…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Aug 29, 2019
State court calls city's convention center ballot language 'misleading'
The 3rd Court of Appeals has ruled that the city must make two changes to recently approved ballot language related to an attempt to limit city spending on the Austin Convention Center. In a ruling issued Thursday, the court of…
Courts • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 23, 2019
County to advocates: Don't just tell us where to spend, but where to cut
With revenue caps on the horizon, members of the Travis County Commissioners Court have the unenviable task of telling groups calling for increased funding of critical services, from social programs to law enforcement, that there simply may not be the…
Budget • By Jack Craver • Aug 21, 2019
Travis County increases support for child care
Funding authorized Tuesday by the Travis County Commissioners Court will provide day care for 92 low-income children. The $285,000 funding was recommended by county staff to address a growing number of children on the waiting list for federal child care…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Aug 16, 2019
Convention center opponents challenge city's language on ballot measure
The president of the Austin NAACP has petitioned the Texas Supreme Court over the ballot language approved by City Council last week related to a challenge to a planned expansion of the Austin Convention Center. The Tuesday filing by Nelson…
Courts • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 15, 2019
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City, county look to private investors to help on homelessness
Travis County commissioners are cautiously optimistic about the county’s participation in a multi-jurisdictional program aimed at helping some of the county’s most destitute residents. The program, Pay for Success, is a collaboration between the county, the city and a number…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Aug 12, 2019
Commissioners approve 'pause' on economic incentives
Looking ahead to years of belt-tightening due to property tax limits put in place by the state, Travis County leaders say the county may not be able to afford offering tax incentives to companies to create jobs locally. The Commissioners…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Aug 2, 2019
Travis County commissioners give themselves pay raise
The Travis County Commissioners Court moved to significantly increase salaries for itself and other top elected officials over the vociferous objections of one of its members. On Tuesday, the court voted 4-1 to approve setting aside money in the upcoming…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Aug 1, 2019
SOS, Save Oak Hill sue TxDOT, other agencies
Two different lawsuits were filed Monday seeking to change the Texas Department of Transportation’s plans for the Oak Hill Parkway. One suit emphasizes protection of endangered species; the second seeks to change the design of the parkway, not only for…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Jul 31, 2019
Travis County approves final application for public defender's office
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court gave final approval to an application for state funding to set up a public defender’s office. While there are a couple of details that the court hopes to nail down in the coming…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Jul 31, 2019
Travis County eyes hotel tax to renovate expo center
The Travis County Commissioners Court made a move Tuesday that could put it in direct competition with the city of Austin for millions of dollars of future revenue from hotel stays. The three commissioners present voted unanimously to ask county…
