Travis County property owners have until this Friday (Jan. 31) to pay their property taxes without incurring penalties or interest. According to the county tax office, as of Monday morning, 68 percent of the 2024 property taxes due had been collected, leaving more than $2 billion outstanding. “We expect to see an uptick in the final days of the month so property owners should skip the trip to our office if they do not need to speak directly with a tax specialist and instead pay their taxes online,” Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector Celia Israel said in a statement to the press. “Any payment is better than no payment at all. If you are unable to pay the full amount, pay as much as you can before the deadline and then contact our office to discuss payment plan options.” The state mandates penalty and interest charges of 7 percent, and those charges increase monthly if the balance of taxes owed is not paid. Property owners can pay their taxes online at TravisCountyTax.org. For those who mail a check, Israel recommends hand-delivering it through a postal clerk, who can postmark it on the spot and ensure a Jan. 31 postmark.

Students in grades 6-12 are invited to enter the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department’s 2025 flood safety video contest. Participants will create a 30-second public service announcement on the message “Turn around, don’t drown” when encountering flooded roads. Flood safety education is critical for protecting lives during heavy rains because Austin is in Flash Flood Alley. Entries will be judged on creativity, clarity and overall impact. Submissions are due by March 31 and are welcome in any language. Students may work individually or in teams. Winners will be announced at the start of Austin’s Flood Safety Awareness Week, April 21-26. Creators of the top 10 submissions will be awarded a $100 gift card, and their videos will premiere during a community event in April. For more information and submission guidelines, visit AustinTexas.gov/Flood-Safety-Contest.

Given the recent confirmation of two measles cases in Houston, Austin Public Health is urging residents to get vaccinated. Austin’s last confirmed measles case was in December 2019, and the Houston cases are the first in Texas since 2023. “Vaccination is our best defense against measles and other preventable diseases,” Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said in a statement to the press. “By staying up to date on vaccinations, we not only protect ourselves but also the most vulnerable members of our community.” Measles can affect anyone not up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, but young children, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems are at particular risk. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program was established in the 1990s to provide free vaccines and prevent outbreaks. More information on the more than 100 VFC providers in Austin can be found here.

Public comment on a proposed MoPac South expansion between Cesar Chavez Street and Slaughter Lane ends on Tuesday, Jan. 28, as an extension granted at the end of December runs out. The plan by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority would widen the critical roadway by eight lanes in places. It has been criticized by environmentalists, transit advocates, county commissioners and Austin City Council’s Mobility Committee. The final decision on whether or not to approve the plan rests with the Texas Department of Transportation, not the city, per Federal Highway Administration rules. If approved, construction will likely begin sometime after 2029, KUT reported. Comments can be submitted online at www.voh.mopacsouth.com or by emailing mopacsouth@ctrma.org.

Although most members of City Council, including all the newly elected ones, had earlier indicated they wanted to be part of the Audit & Finance Committee, that has changed. As previously announced, Mayor Kirk Watson will lead the committee. Council Member Ryan Alter will serve as vice chair. Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes and Council members Marc Duchen and Chito Vela will round out the group. All of this is according to a post on the City Council Message Board.

Council members Krista Laine and Mike Siegel, who both indicated they wanted to be on Audit & Finance in earlier posts, withdrew those requests. Laine will now plan to serve as vice chair of the Public Safety Committee and as a member of the Mobility Committee. Vela will take over as chair of the Austin Energy Committee, with Siegel as vice chair. All members serve on this committee.

Alter is slated to serve as chair of the new Climate, Water, Environment and Parks Committee. This committee replaces the Austin Water Oversight Committee and adds new subject matter. Also, Council is adding an Economic Opportunity Committee. Council Member Zo Qadri is expected to serve as chair, along with Council members Natasha Harper-Madison, José Velásquez and Siegel. Mayor Pro Tem Fuentes is listed as vice chair.

Council Member Paige Ellis will serve as chair of the Mobility Committee, with Qadri as vice chair and Council members Harper-Madison, Vela and Laine as members. Harper-Madison is still listed as chair of the Housing and Planning Committee and Vela as vice chair. However, no one else has signed up for it and the message board post indicates a need to discuss it.

Fuentes is slated to serve as chair of the Public Health Committee. Other members will include Council members Alter, Duchen, Qadri, and Velásquez. There are also a number of regional appointments up for consideration, including CAMPO and the joint Austin/AISD/Travis County committee. Laine has indicated that she wants to serve on that panel. Current members include Watson, Alter and Velásquez. All of these assignments are subject to change when Council meets to vote on next Thursday’s agenda.

The Julia C. Butridge Gallery, within the Dougherty Arts Center on Barton Springs Road, has put out a call for artists for its 2026 gallery season. Both emerging and established artists are encouraged to apply for a chance to showcase their work in a city-owned space known for its vibrant and diverse exhibitions. “This is your chance to have your work featured in one of the city’s premier cultural spaces—with no submission fee,” a press release from the city reads. “The gallery welcomes proposals from all artistic disciplines, and selected exhibitions will be presented to the public free of charge.” Submissions will be accepted through March 16. To submit an exhibit proposal, visit doughertyartscenter.submittable.com/submit.

Former City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly has transitioned into a new role as the director of governmental affairs for the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute following the conclusion of her term in office. Kelly, who represented District 6 from 2021 to 2024, began her new position on Jan. 6. She will advocate for increased mental health funding at the state level and provide policy guidance aimed at improving access to mental health resources across Texas. In a recent interview, Kelly told the Austin Monitor she admired the organization’s work to make it easier for 911 callers to get better access to mental health services. Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute focuses on a range of mental health initiatives, particularly targeting youth, veterans and individuals involved in the criminal justice system. The organization offers policy recommendations and research to help shape mental health services statewide.

The Trail Conservancy has appointed Julie Fisher as its new CEO. Fisher brings extensive nonprofit leadership experience, having previously held roles at the Livestrong Foundation and the Andy Roddick Foundation. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. Austin Business Journal notes that Thomas recently served a managerial position at National Instruments. In a prepared statement, Board Chair Hugh Westmoreland praised Fisher’s passion for public spaces and nonprofit management expertise, noting her strong leadership skills and deep understanding of fundraising and community engagement. Fisher will oversee strategic planning, fundraising, and initiatives aimed at enhancing the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, ensuring it remains a cherished resource for Austinites and visitors alike. The Trail Conservancy, founded in 2003, partners with the City of Austin to preserve and improve the 10-mile trail around Lady Bird Lake, which attracts millions of visitors each year.

This whisper has been corrected.

A new report finds Austin is one of the leading U.S. cities for high-paying jobs, with a significant number of positions offering salaries exceeding $500,000 annually. According to research from ADP, Austin’s booming tech sector, combined with its growing financial and health care industries, has contributed to a surge in lucrative employment opportunities. In total, about 1.1 percent of payroll workers in Austin take home at least $500,000 per year. The report finds that while cities like New York and San Francisco continue to dominate in terms of sheer volume, Austin stands out for its rapid job growth and lower cost of living compared to other top markets. Key industries driving these high salaries in Austin include software development, venture capital and executive leadership roles within established tech giants and emerging startups. Dell and Tesla were noted as two of the most high-profile companies in the local tech scene, though the area’s growing role as a hub of microchip manufacturing also impacts the economy significantly with giants like Samsung making major investments in the area.

Opportunity Austin, in collaboration with Con Mi Madre and Dress for Success Austin, will host the HER Power Summit from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Austin Energy Headquarters, 4815 Mueller Blvd. The event aims to provide 100 women from diverse backgrounds with opportunities to connect with employers and explore career development options. The agenda includes networking sessions with employers and breakout sessions featuring presentations from Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s Infrastructure Academy and career spotlights by Capital Metro and Austin Energy. Participants will rotate between employer networking and breakout sessions. Complimentary food will be available for all attendees. The HER Power Summit is intended to support women seeking career opportunities and professional development. Registration is available online.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for federal transportation funding last week. Watson spoke to the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Transportation Standing Committee to stress the importance of focusing on local infrastructure. Fuentes brought a similar focus to the Congressional House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where she asked for continued collaboration and funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “Whether in a large city like Austin, Texas, or a smaller one like Mission, Kansas, reliable infrastructure is the foundation of our local economic future,” Fuentes said. “A strong federal partnership will ensure that local governments can continue to be a powerful force in solving national challenges like road safety and connectivity.” Over the past three years, Austin has received about $82 million in federal transportation grants and contracts.

Landscape architect and neighborhood advocate Jean Mather passed away on Jan. 9, shortly after her 99th birthday. She is remembered as a passionate advocate for the environment and for South Austin. Mather and her husband, Bob, settled in Travis Heights in 1961. He was a professor of architecture at the University of Texas, where he taught until his death in 1984. The couple had two children, Emily Mather (Phillips) and Richard Mather. Jean co-founded the South River City Citizens (SRCC) in 1972 and was active in the organization for many years. She became involved with city environmental issues after becoming concerned about the city’s placing water pipes in creeks. Her interest in the environment lead Jean to membership on the Planning Commission and later on the Zoning and Platting Commission. She also served on the city’s Historic Landmark Commission from 2002 until 2008.