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City boosts spending on homelessness, but advocates still disappointed

The Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget approved by City Council on Tuesday includes a $3.4 million increase in funding for homelessness services. City staff estimates that the new funds come on top of more than $26 million in annual city spending…

Budget • By Jack Craver • Sep 13, 2018

hemphill

Board of Adjustment fails to grant 'ugly' variance

On occasion, members of a neighborhood find a redevelopment project to be such an eyesore that they use it as their case as to why it shouldn’t be built in the first place. “We don’t need any more ugly. We’ve…

Development • By Jessi Devenyns • Sep 13, 2018

Courts to explain more trials, fewer inmates

The Travis County Commissioners Court approved requests for two budget transfers from the allocated reserve to the civil and criminal court systems Tuesday morning. The criminal courts and civil courts are to receive $1,580,000 and $332,223, respectively. The decision passed…

Travis County • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 13, 2018

With stunning speed, Council approves budget

For the first time in years, City Council spent less than a day deliberating on its fiscal year budget. Council approved a $4.1 billion budget that will raise the effective property tax rate by 5.4 percent. Austin property owners will…

Budget • By Jack Craver • Sep 12, 2018

Innovators, Austin lifestyle, UT brought Army here

Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski, who serves as director of combat systems for Austin’s brand-new Army Futures Command, said Tuesday that Austin was chosen as the site of the first new Army command since 1973 because Austin has the talent, the…

Austin • By Jo Clifton • Sep 12, 2018

Tree removal permitting to change in October

Sometimes trees have the most powerful voices in our city. At the Sept. 5 meeting of the Environmental Commission, Max Elliott, who is a resident of the Govalle neighborhood, alerted the commission that recently a builder removed five heritage trees…

Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Sep 12, 2018

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Don't expect harmony from groups attached to $128M push for creative, culture centers

While the city’s cultural centers and the disparate arts and music communities will win or lose collectively in November when voters decide whether to approve $128 million in bond funding, it appears those groups will be working separately to campaign…

Bonds & Propositions • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 12, 2018

Austin skyline

With hotel tax money in play, Tourism Commission meetings grow heated

The second meeting of the city’s new Tourism Commission saw the group vote down a possible $3 million marketing campaign for local live music, while also dusting off the long-running debate about public safety expenses for the South by Southwest…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 11, 2018

Austin City Hall front

Council endorsement dances have begun

Political season has truly begun, with groups large and small hosting candidate forums and making endorsements. Last Friday, enough supporters of both incumbent District 3 Council Member Pio Renteria and his sister, Susana Almanza, came out to vote at the…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Sep 11, 2018

Plans for Colony District Park permit move forward

The Zoning and Platting Commission had a few questions before unanimously approving a conditional use permit for additional amenities to Colony District Park last Tuesday. The park, which is located at 7201 Colony Loop Drive, is home to Overton Elementary…

Planning • By Alyx Wilson • Sep 11, 2018

Austin Monitor Radio: City Music

In this week’s show, Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard takes you on a musical journey through the world of urban mobility. From David Bowie to Shonen Knife, these are the tunes that inspire us as we write about cars, trains,…

Radio • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 11, 2018

band playing at mohawk

Music groups take aim at the ballot box with new nonprofit

Two months before the November midterm elections, a consortium of businesses and nonprofits involved in Austin’s music industry have banded together with the goal of having a greater influence at the ballot box. The new Music Moves Austin 501(c)(4) nonprofit…

Elections • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 10, 2018

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