The Texas Department of Transportation has refused to suspend or withdraw the draft environmental impact statement, called an EIS, for the roadway design of SH45 Southwest, as requested by Austin City Manager Marc Ott July 23. In addition, TxDOT has declined to extend the period of time during which citizens can comment on construction of […]
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Structural review calls Travis County dysfunctional, recommends changes
The Travis County governmental structure is dysfunctional and needs to reorganize under one main administrator, according to a report by an independent consultant group hired to assess the county’s internal administrative system. However, some county officials, while not surprised by the report’s findings, are concerned about recommendations to consolidate and change departmental functions. PSPC Consultants […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Transportation
Austin Monitor Radio, Show 10
Shady Hollow resident and SH-45 proponent Pam Baggett and Democratic Travis County Pct. 2 Commissioner nominee Brigid Shea join the Monitor‘s Mike Kanin to talk SH45SW. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/162003774″ 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
Travis Commissioners OK incentive deal for Charles Schwab
Travis County approved the $8.5 million economic incentive agreement with Charles Schwab Tuesday morning, ensuring an Austin expansion of their offices and an estimated 823 new jobs for Austin within the next ten years. Charles Schwab will also get $4.5 million in state investments from the Texas Enterprise Fund, as promised by Governor Rick Perry contingent […]
Posted inLocal Government, Uncategorized
Travis County spending for July 29
Here’s the Monitor’s weekly detailed rundown of Travis County’s spending and unbudgeted revenue, for the week of July 29, 2014 Tuesday, the County Commissioners approved $1,018,612.24 in expenditures: $710,444.24 for reimbursement to United Health Care for claims paid for participants in the Travis County Employee Health Care Fund for the period of July 11 to July 17, 2014. […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Travis County investigating appraisal inequities
Travis County is assembling work groups to investigate alleged inequities in the state property tax appraisal system. Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator Deece Eckstein has plans to fulfill the mandate from the court to create the working groups. They include getting an impartial analysis of the accuracy of commercial and industrial property appraisals in Travis County and […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Government, Transportation
Supporters jam hearing on SH45 SW environmental impact statement
Supporters of the State Highway 45 Southwest toll road project showed up in the of hundreds Tuesday night at a Texas Department of Transportation public hearing on the project’s draft environmental impact statement. While vocal opponents of the project – including the City of Austin and Save Our Springs Alliance – denouncing the draft’s conclusions […]
Posted inLocal Government
Charles Schwab wants $3.6 million tax rebate for Austin expansion
The Austin Chamber of Commerce urged Travis County Commissioners to enter an $8.5 million economic incentive agreement with Charles Schwab Corp., the San Francisco-based banking and brokerage corporation, at Tuesday’s regular session. The company is seeking $3.6 million in tax rebates from Travis County to expand its Austin operations. Some local taxpayer groups are already […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Government, Transportation
Aquifer district staff critical of SH45 SW environmental study
The staff of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District is expressing strong doubts about the science and data behind a proposed environmental impact statement for State Highway 45 Southwest. In their review, district staff calls the information in the draft document “incomplete and deficient,” and recommend that state officials go back to the drawing […]
Posted inLocal Government
Proposed Travis County budget would hike average tax bill by $46
Next year’s tax bills would be $46 higher for the average homeowner, an increase of about $3.83 per month, according to the preliminary Fiscal Year 2015 Travis County budget posted Monday afternoon. Overall Travis County spending is set to increase to $902 million, up from $857 million. According to Travis County budget officials, the owners […]
Posted inLocal Government, Transportation
City asks TxDOT to stop SH45SW environmental impact statement
City Manager Marc Ott has asked the Texas Department of Transportation to withdraw its current draft environmental impact statement of State Highway 45 Southwest and suspend its technical review. In making the request, Ott cited three “pending critical environmental studies,” which the city believes must be considered in the evaluation of the impact the road […]
Posted inLocal Government, Transportation
Travis County Commissioners scold Capital Metro for lack of services
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking $160,000 annually in Travis County money to establish a flex bus route in East Austin, Vice President Todd Hemingson told Travis County Commissioners Tuesday. However, County Commissioners did not receive the news, or a briefing of current transit options, with open arms. Commissioners Margaret Gómez and Ron Davis […]