City Council continues to move forward with a potential challenge to commercial property values in the city, but there are still some details to be worked out. The push to challenge commercial property appraisals comes at a time when Austinites are seeing steep increases in their home valuations and property taxes. Recent research has shown […]
Local Government
Posted inElections, Local Government
Five seats open on Austin School District board
The Austin Independent School District has seen some tough times over past years, and it does not look like things are going to get better anytime soon. Earlier this year, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen resigned to take the superintendent’s job in Atlanta. District officials are predicting a precipitous drop in AISD’s student population in the next […]
Posted inLocal Government
Central Health OKs teaching hospital agreements
Despite public requests to postpone the vote, Central Health’s Board of Managers approved two crucial lease agreements for the new teaching hospital Wednesday night. Under the agreements, Seton Family Healthcare will pay $877,621 a year to the University of Texas for the land to build the Seton Medical Center teaching hospital. The hospital will be replacing […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
City purchase of Bull Creek property a no-go
After getting word that a last-ditch effort to purchase the property was not going to work, and without the funds to purchase the land outright, City Council abandoned plans Thursday to purchase 75 acres at Bull Creek and 45th Street. In a vote of 2-5, a resolution failed that would have signaled the city’s intent […]
Posted inLocal Government
Austin Monitor Radio, Show 19
Monitor publisher Mike Kanin is joined by SXSW brand development honcho Brad Spies to talk about a range of topics related to the festival. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/171244467″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inLocal Government
Proposed Buda bonds could triple city’s debt
Buda will hold its first-ever bond election this November. And if voters greenlight the proposed improvements, the city’s debt could more than triple to $80 million. Buda Council members approved a $55 million bond election and its breakdown into five separate propositions, per the recommendation of the Buda Bond Advisory Committee — a resident-volunteer committee […]
Posted inLocal Government
Commissioners OK market study of county jobs
Travis County Commissioners approved a plan by the Human Resources Management Department on Tuesday to conduct a classification and compensation study of the county’s classified jobs in order to analyze whether those positions are market-competitive. Officials say the study will be handled in-house, and the only expense to the county would be any changes in […]
Posted inLocal Government
Monitor Radio, Show 18
Travis County District Judge Lora Livingston speaks with Monitor Publisher Mike Kanin and Monitor Politics Editor Jo Clifton about resources for County CPS cases. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/170280947″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
Water woes rise as 2,200 homes planned in Hays
An Austin-based developer is proposing 2,200 high-end homes in Mountain City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction in Hays County. And with big development projects come rising water concerns in a drought-stricken area where ground and surface water levels are lowering. “The main area of concern has been the water issue and where we will be getting water” for […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Local Politics
Quarry sale headed back to City Council
Though theatrical, the public offer to buy a Cedar Park quarry for almost $1 million more than its appraised value didn’t find any takers Tuesday at the City Council Audit and Finance Committee. Last Thursday, a representative of the current tenant offered to buy the land at 15700 Anderson Mill Road for $5 million, just […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Government, Resources
LCRA approves Water Plan changes and reservoir
The Lower Colorado River Authority’s board members unanimously voted to accept several key amendments to their its 2012 Water Management Plan Wednesday. The board also voted to build the LCRA’s first new reservoir since the 1940s. The vote was the final step in getting the Water Management Plan ready for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Government, Resources
County seeks public input on development plan
Counties in Texas have few powers to regulate development in their jurisdictions, but that is not stopping Travis County from trying to make the best use of what tools they have. County officials are seeking public input on a Land, Water and Transportation Plan — developed over the past two years by the Transportation and […]