A study commissioned by city staff shows that one plan floated recently to cut traffic congestion – taking a portion of Interstate 35 underground through central Austin – could bring the city millions of dollars in new property tax revenues, and should be the subject of further study. The project, known as Capping I-35 […]
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government
Travis County Commissioners Court spending for June 3, 2014
Here is a detailed look at how much money Travis County Commissioners spent this week: •Approved $1,489,967.60 for reimbursement to United Health Care for claims paid for participants in the Travis County Employee Health Care Fund for May 16-22. •Approved $32,468.37 for the county auditor and treasurer to reimburse county employees who have completed […]
Posted inLocal Government
District Attorney tells Commissioners new law adding to workload
District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg asked the Travis County Commissioner’s Court Tuesday for extra funding to help manage attorney workloads under the state’s new Michael Morton Act. The act, passed by the Texas Legislature during the 2013 session, requires all Texas prosecutors to widen their scope of obtaining evidence pertaining to a criminal case. Prosecutors […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
Travis Commissioners may petition TCAD to level tax assessments
The Travis County Commissioner’s Court held a rare Monday meeting to discuss filing a petition with the Travis Central Appraisal District in response to the public’s anger over a steep rise in residential property taxes. The petition would address the low property tax valuations assigned to commercial properties, which seems to place an unfair […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Transportation
Hays County Commissioner says plans for SH 45 SW ‘done deal’
Construction on the estimated $100 million State Highway 45 Southwest toll road connecting northern Hays County to southwest Austin is expected early next year. “It’s been in the works for 26 years now,” Hays County Pct. 2 Commissioner Mark Jones said. “I’ve been involved with it since I became commissioner three years ago; and when […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
Appraisal District chief emphasizes differences with Travis County
The Travis County Commissioner’s Court got a lesson in the inner workings of the Travis Central Appraisal District Tuesday. The Commissioner’s Court has been criticized recently for seemingly washing its hands of the public’s outcry at the steep rise in property taxes and property appraisal rates, especially in the fast-growing Austin metro area. However, […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Travis County Commissioners Court spending for May 27, 2014
Here is a detailed look at how much money Travis County Commissioners spent this week: · Approved $7,500.00 for a County Cash Match grant accompanying a $17,000.00 grant awarded to the Travis County Historical Commission by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the National Park Service. The total grant required a $8,500 matching […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Travis County Commissioners Court spending for May 20, 2014
Here is a detailed look at how much money Commissioners spent this week: · Approved purchase of an Agilent 7697A Headspace Autosampler/7890Bb Gas Chromatograph (HS/GC) System from Agilent Technologies for $64,871.15. · Approved change order No. 3 to contract with RJ Rivera Associates, Inc., for Circle Drive/US 290 intersection improvements design for $21,092.00. · […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources
Despite hurdles, Hays County, Forestar move ahead with water deal
Hays County Commissioners are moving forward with a massive water supply contract, despite not clearing a legal hurdle called for by the water reservation and purchase agreement. Last October, Hays County officials entered into a contract with Austin-based Forestar Real Estate Group to secure the reservation and purchase of 45,000 acre-feet of water per year […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Kyle Council incumbent’s opponent seeks recount
Kyle City Council incumbent Becky Selbera, who won re-election Saturday by just six votes, is being accused by her opponent in the race of being unqualified to run under city charter rules. Jaime Sanchez also is seeking a recount of the final vote. Sanchez, a former council member who was challenging Selbera for her District […]
Posted inLocal Government, Transportation
CAMPO ponders some 800 projects for 2040 Transportation Plan
A massive list of proposed transportation projects filled out a packed agenda at Monday night’s meeting of theCapital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board. More than 800 proposed transportation projects for the region filled 36 pages of the meeting agenda. Each project, including actions like lane-widening and new sidewalks, was submitted by CAMPO’s […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
Grandfathering approved for 1600-unit development on Hamilton Pool Road
A hearing before the Travis County Commissioners Court for initial approval of a master development plan for the 1600-unit Masonwood subdivision on Hamilton Pool Road drew stiff opposition Tuesday from nearby residents, who objected to the plan’s proposed density and called it an “urban development being forced on a rural setting.” Critics also say […]