The Lower Colorado River Authority’s new general manager Phil Wilson received a hefty pay increase when he moved from the hot seat at the Texas Department of Transportation to another hot seat at the state-created water and power authority two months ago. And his pay increase could get even heftier. Wilson’s annual base salary has […]
Local Government
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Local Politics
Residents complain about development at Commissioners Court
A development near Lake Travis brought a contentious public hearing to Tuesday’s Travis County Commissioners Court. A developer is looking to create a detached-condominium subdivision tentatively called the Summit at Lake Travis. The project is slated for land off Bee Creek Road approximately two miles north of SH 71 abutting three other neighborhoods, Inverness […]
Posted inLocal Government
Mental health agency seeks to meet standards to expand coverage
With more than $13 million at stake this fiscal year, Charles Harrison, chief financial officer for Austin Travis County Integral Care, told community members at a March 20 forum that a combination of projects aimed at increasing health care services for low-income residents presents both a significant opportunity and some uncertainty for the local mental […]
Posted inLocal Government, Transportation
Money questions continue to divide members of CAMPO Board
Worries that local funding policies might not meet federal requirements were front and center at the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting Monday night. Earlier this year, CAMPO’s Transportation Policy Board set up a funding mechanism to distribute $104 million between local and regional projects for 2014 through 2018. The local portion of $47.77 […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources
New LCRA manager reorganizes agency, introduces new team
Phil Wilson, the new general manager at the Lower Colorado River Authority, is wasting no time in making high-level changes to the power and water agency. He sent out a message to LCRA employees last week outlining his approach and laying out a new organizational structure. He has added six new people to his […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Public Safety
Travis County still working on finalizing flood buyout program
Four and a half months after the devastating Halloween floods, the county still doesn’t have a definitive buyout plan for all of the affected properties in the Bluff Springs Road area. After an hour of public discussion, and even more in executive session, Travis County Commissioners decided Tuesday they need more information, including current […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Government, Transportation
Battle over SH45SW features argument between Biscoe and Bunch
The never-ending case of SH 45 Southwest has dogged County Judge Sam Biscoe for the past 25 years of his public life. But at Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting – with his December retirement date in sight – the normally reserved Biscoe publicly engaged several of his critics over the project. The proposed 3.6-mile, four-lane […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources
Water board travels Texas selling Proposition 6 funding plan
Despite some late year showers in 2013, at least one of which caused devastating flooding in parts of Travis and Hays counties, the downpours did little to break the persistent drought in many parts of Texas, putting communities and economic development interests on high alert. The Texas Water Development Board, now armed with $2 billion […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Government, Local Politics, Public Safety
Austin still needs nearly $100 million for flood plain buyout
Four months after raging floodwaters damaged and destroyed dozens of homes in the Onion Creek neighborhood in southeast Austin, city officials say it could cost between $80 million and $100 million to complete a buyout of homes in the flood plain and relocate the displaced families. Officials with the city’s Watershed Protection Department told […]
Posted inElections, Local Government, Local Politics
As county grows so does campaign spending
As Travis County grows, so apparently does the amount of money required to run a campaign for County Judge. According to campaign finance reports filed this week, candidates Andy Brown and Sarah Eckhardt raised a combined $1.1 million since mid-2013 for the March 4 Democratic Primary. The hard-fought campaign – the first seriously contested […]
Posted inLocal Government, Uncategorized
Kyle to issue almost $2 million in debt for capital expenditures
Kyle property owners can expect increases in their property tax rate and city utility bills next fiscal year as City Council members prepare to issue $1.866 million in short-term debt. The city will issue the debt to buy various equipment, system software, infrastructure improvements and vehicles for three city departments this spring. The City of […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Resources
LCRA raises permit fees for developers to recover 100 percent of cost
Developers along the Highland Lakes will be paying more for construction permits as part of the Lower Colorado River Authority’s effort to keep what’s left of its water supply as clean as possible. The LCRA Board of Directors approved the increase in permit fees in areas under the Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance Wednesday. It is […]