Travis County Intergovernmental Relations coordinator Deece Eckstein joins Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about the ongoing controversy surrounding Travis County’s tax appraisal process. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/160017629″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Public Safety, Uncategorized
Austin Interfaith petitions county to aid unaccompanied migrant minors
Austin Interfaith seeks Travis County aid for migrant minors By Beth Cortez-Neavel Members of Austin Interfaith called on Travis County Commissioners Tuesday to provide social and legal services to the thousands of unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S. border from Central America. However, County Judge Sam Biscoe said the county could not extend its governmental arm […]
Posted inLocal Government
Travis County expenses, revenues for week of July 15
Each week the Monitor reports on Travis County’s spending habits. For the week of July 15, the Travis County Commissioners approved expenditures totaling $3,999,952.09. The County approved three different grant applications from the Transportation and Natural Resources Department to the Capital Metropolitan Planning Organization for the allocation of future Surface Transportation Program Metropolitan Mobility funds […]
Posted inElections, Local Government
Travis County developing first electronic/paper ballot voting system
The Travis County Elections Office is developing a new dual electronic and paper ballot voting system with an estimated price tag of $8.1 million. Despite County Commissioners’ cost concerns, County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir, who is heading the effort, said Tuesday that it’s not the price tag that matters. The concern should be about getting other […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
County, state candidates continue to push for property tax reform
Local governments need to look at their non-taxed property and sell it back into private hands if it is underused, according to Sarah Eckhardt, Democratic candidate for Travis County Judge. Eckhardt told a property tax town hall audience Friday that this would put money back into local government coffers through both the sale of property […]
Posted inLocal Government, Transportation
Travis County approves accessible parking awareness campaign
In an attempt to cut back on the 2,100 citations issued for violating parking reserved for the disabled by the Pct. 5 Constable’s Office last year, the Travis County Commissioner’s Court unanimously gave the go-ahead for a countywide accessible parking awareness campaign. Precinct 5 includes downtown and surrounding areas as well as West Austin. The […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Local Politics
West Lake Council orders investigation, goes silent on ethics case
est Lake Hills City Council took no action on ethics charges against former City Planner Davin Fillpot at its Thursday meeting. Instead, Mayor Dave Claunch said, the Council would have no more public discussion about the case. Attorney and West Lake Hills resident Chris Gunter filed an official complaint with the city in June, accusing […]
Posted inLocal Government
Travis County finances for July 8, 2014
Here’s the Monitor’s weekly rundown of Travis County fiscal action for the second week in July. County-approved expenditures totaled $1,954,884.90 this week. $176,700 to increase the amount paid to Kiewit Building Group for the Executive Office Building HVAC Upgrades Project. The increase in contract amount will go to additional electrical work and lobby improvements. The total contract sum now […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Kyle Council member under investigation over campaign filings
Kyle Council Member Becky Selbera is, once again, on the hot seat. The city’s Ethics Commission unanimously voted last week to investigate allegations that Selbera may have violated the Code of Ethics when she allegedly solicited the help of City Attorney Ken Johnson for political purposes. Ethics Commissioner Raven Scott made the motion to look […]
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 inLocal Government, Local Politics
Travis County financial report for July 1, 2014
For the week of July 1, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved the following expenditures, for an estimated of $1,270,123.29. $230,941.73 to increase the amount paid for four different county roadway construction improvements for Comanche Trail, Mellow Lane, Sendero Verde and Maha Loop Road. Within the past 12 months, the county has already spent $935,588.02 on the HMAC Overlay […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Public Safety
TravCo sees dramatic rise in child welfare cases, associated costs
Travis County spent $2,466,295 in private attorney’s fees during FY 2013 due to the rising number of child abuse and neglect legal cases filed in the region. According to a joint report conducted by the County’s Justice and Public Safety Divisions, the number of cases has grown rapidly over the past six years. Due to […]