Travis County
Travis County approves tax breaks for child care providers
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a 100 percent property tax break to qualifying child care centers in the county. The decision comes close on the city of Austin’s heels; the city passed a similar break in…
Travis County • By Nick Erichson • Apr 1, 2024
Travis County approves ambitious 'Marshall Plan' for northeast planning district
According to Travis County commissioners and staff, eastern Travis County has long been blighted. Lack of investment and economic opportunities along with displacement and systemic racism have left the area systemically impoverished. In 2024, after years of dilapidation in the…
Travis County • By Nick Erichson • Mar 25, 2024
In a complicated budget year, county commissioners hear advice on employee pay
On Feb. 27, the Travis County Commissioners Court convened for a marathon nine-hour voting session. The agenda was packed with diverse motions, but dollars loomed especially large on the docket. Shortly before hearing the Travis County Planning and Budget Office’s…
Travis County • By Nick Erichson • Mar 6, 2024
Travis County celebrates shift to telework
The Travis County Commissioners Court last week received a briefing on a new “Telework Dashboard,” a web tool that reports on the impacts of the county’s ambitious push to build a 75 percent remote workforce. The test drive quickly became…
Travis County • By Nick Erichson • Feb 27, 2024
County Judge Brown to focus on diversion center, passenger rail in 2024
In January, Travis County Judge Andy Brown told the Austin Monitor that he intended to double down on overdose prevention efforts and the county’s work to build a mental health diversion center to help more people in crisis avoid jail…
Travis County • By Nina Hernandez • Jan 2, 2024
Travillion finds connecting resources helps solve complex issues
When Travis County Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeff Travillion looks at the county’s accomplishments in the year past, he sees lessons learned in the pandemic – and in his childhood – put into practice. “It was really no one thing. We…
Travis County • By Ken Chambers • Dec 22, 2023
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Experience, communication help Margaret Gómez tackle difficult issues
With more time logged in office than the other commissioners on the court, Travis County Precinct 4 Commissioner Margaret Gómez is able to bring a long-term perspective to county government. Gómez took office in 1995, making her the longest-tenured commissioner…
Travis County • By Ken Chambers • Dec 22, 2023
Howard proudly ruffling feathers her third year in office
For Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard, this year was all about employing the institutional knowledge she gained over her first two years in office. “You know, I found the bathrooms and the light switches, and I’m sort of recognizing the…
Travis County • By Nina Hernandez • Dec 21, 2023
Shea continues search for creative solutions to climate crisis
As an environmentalist, Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea spends a lot of time thinking about worst-case scenarios. Still, the commissioner’s approach to leadership is far from doom and gloom. In fact, as the climate crisis worsens across the globe, Shea…
Travis County • By Kali Bramble • Dec 21, 2023
Renewed cooperation eliminates backlog of sexual assault evidence kits
After years of discord, the team created to improve Travis County’s response to sexual assault is back to collaborating, team members told the Commissioners Court Tuesday, and a backlog of untested evidence kits has been processed. Spurred by state law…
Police • By Ken Chambers • Dec 15, 2023
Program supporting underutilized businesses shows progress
Travis County’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program made remarkable progress in the last few years despite a few setbacks and political challenges, county officials say. The annual report for the program, which promotes equal procurement opportunities for minority- and women-owned…
Travis County • By Ken Chambers • Dec 11, 2023
County emphasizes winter safety awareness
As Travis County officials detailed plans and preparations for the next big winter storm, some said that the public might not be taking the threat seriously enough. On Tuesday, leaders from the Office of Emergency Management, Transportation and Natural Resources,…
