Tag Archives: Travis County Commissioners Court
County backs $7.2M SAFE Alliance housing in East Austin
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court dedicated $7.2 million toward a supportive housing development called the Lancaster, a 60-unit complex that will provide respite for people experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The development is a…
Housing • By Nick Erichson • Apr 9, 2024
During Social Work Month, county commissioners discuss the field's low average salaries
On March 26, Travis County Commissioners Court declared March 2024 “Social Work Month” under the proclamation “Empowering Social Workers.” The proclamation recognized the vital contributions of social workers in shaping policy, promoting systems of equality and diversity, confronting the increasing…
Travis County • By Nick Erichson • Apr 3, 2024
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
Plumbing problems could cost the county $4 million
On Tuesday, a coalition of Travis County staff appeared before the Commissioners Court requesting funding for a derelict section of plumbing in the Travis County Jail. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office and Travis County Planning and Budget Office requested $150,000…
Public Safety • By Nick Erichson • Mar 12, 2024
Travis County declares local disaster ahead of April 8 total solar eclipse
Lee esta historia en español Travis County declared a local disaster on Friday ahead of the April 8 total solar eclipse. The eclipse is expected to bring an influx of people to the area, putting a major strain on roads, emergency…
Public Safety • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Mar 11, 2024
Subscribe to our newsletter
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
County commissioners prepare for a complicated budget season
Each year, the Travis County Planning and Budget Office presents its budget guidelines for the upcoming fiscal year to the Travis County Commissioners Court, furnishing the court with important data and forecasts while launching talks about further planning efforts. On…
Budget • By Nick Erichson • Mar 5, 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
City nixes $2M McKinsey homelessness study, signaling poor cooperation among partners
City Manager Jesús Garza has canceled a potential $2 million contract with consulting giant McKinsey & Company to perform an analysis of efforts to address homelessness by the city, Travis County, Integral Care and Central Health. Garza released a memo…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 23, 2024
Travis County embraces proposed Burleson Studios project
On the heels of a difficult vote on an increasingly controversial initiative for a survey on homelessness, housing once again topped the agenda at the Travis County Commissioners Court on Feb. 6. The court considered two motions on Burleson Studios, a transitional…
Housing • By Nick Erichson • Feb 16, 2024
Questions abound over pilot program for mental health diversion
As City Council is set to consider authorizing negotiations on a contract that would include allocating $2 million for a mental health diversion pilot program, a lot of questions remain unanswered. On Tuesday, Mayor Kirk Watson started the work session…
