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- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport announces new flight service while anticipating capacity cuts
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- Austin ISD gets $41 million from the Education Department. What happens if the agency closes?
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Planning Commission denies Judges’ Hill subdivision
Last week, a combination of circumstances gave the Planning Commission the unique opportunity to reject what appeared to be a legally conforming subdivision on an acre lot in the Judges’ Hill neighborhood. As Chair Dave Sullivan explained to the…
Uncategorized • By Kimberly Reeves • Mar 2, 2011
Regional 911 call centers facing state cuts
The Capitol Area Council of Governments has informed the Travis County Commissioners Court that state cuts could cause the shuttering of as many as twelve 911 call centers in the region. Four of these – units at Lago Vista, Westlake…
Uncategorized • By Michael Kanin • Mar 2, 2011
AISD trustees declare budget emergency
In the conclusion of what President Mark Williams termed an “unbelievably difficult night and evening,” Austin Independent School District Board Trustees voted 7-2, with Trustees Annette LoVoi and Tamala Barksdale voting against, to declare financial exigency. The declaration will allow…
Uncategorized • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 1, 2011
Shade’s email meant to defend Mayor
This weekend’s news reports about comments made by Council Member Randi Shade in an email concerning environmentalist Robin Rather seemed to appear without the context in which they were made. While taken alone, Shade’s email seems to be an unprovoked…
Uncategorized • By Mark Richardson • Mar 1, 2011
Travis Commissioners move forward with upper manager reorganization
The Travis County Commissioners’ Court is taking steps to move forward with its reorganization of the county’s upper management. Last week, they voted to add three top-tier pay grades, new titles for the now-former Executive Managers, and moved toward resolution…
Uncategorized • By Michael Kanin • Mar 1, 2011
Effects of groundwater bills concern Aquifer District board
The Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District is questioning the intent of two bills coming before the Texas Legislature that it believes could make groundwater conservation districts, or GCDs, vulnerable to frivolous lawsuits. The aquifer district’s board passed a…
Uncategorized • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 1, 2011
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County votes to apply for pass-through funding for three road projects
Travis County officials will apply for roughly $28 million in pass-through financing funds from the Texas Department of Transportation. As part of the deal, the county would pay for all of the soft costs associated with the projects, but could…
Uncategorized • By Michael Kanin • Feb 28, 2011
Neighborhoods council wants changes to supportive housing policies
The Austin Neighborhoods Council passed a resolution last week calling for a city moratorium on funding projects that pair permanent supportive housing with the city’s current Section 8 housing projects. Section 8 is the government program that sends federal rental…
Uncategorized • By Kimberly Reeves • Feb 28, 2011
AISD may restore historic landmark tax exemption
Despite a budget shortfall of approximately $100 million and the threat of job cuts and school closures, as the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees meets tonight they will be considering reinstating tax breaks on historic properties. The proposal…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Feb 28, 2011
Lack of oversight on short-term rentals costing Austin tax revenue
Austin could be losing up to $300,000 in tax revenue every year due to deficiencies in the way the city keeps track of short-term vacation rental properties, according to a report to the Council Audit and Finance Committee. That…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Feb 25, 2011
Greenstar takes another swipe at Texas Disposal Systems
Greenstar Recycling has launched another broadside in what looks like a campaign against local industry rivals Texas Disposal Systems. The latest attack came Wednesday in the form of an online ad placed on the Web site of the Austin American-Statesman.…
Uncategorized • By Michael Kanin • Feb 25, 2011
Report: City needs more than $1 billion to fix watershed problems
Urban watersheds in Austin are in crisis and the city will need to spend more than $1.2 billion over the next four decades to resolve the problems, according to a recent report by the city’s Watershed Protection Department. The…
