Texas lawmakers may alter property tax collection. But how does it even work?

During a recent committee hearing on a property tax bill, a state lawmaker made an unusual comment: He praised Travis County. “Travis County has the best record on reducing tax rate,” said state Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), the author of…

Budget • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jul 26, 2017

Housing bonds may be put to work early

Proponents of three proposed low-income housing projects are looking forward to Thursday when the board of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs will announce which projects have been selected to receive housing tax credits. Two of the three projects…

Housing • By Jo Clifton • Jul 26, 2017

The many balancing acts in Austin's quest for affordable housing

When it comes to providing housing that is affordable to Austin’s poor and working-class residents, city leaders have very few tools at their disposal. The city is barred by state law from implementing the types of regulations that other major…

Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Jul 25, 2017

High-rises to fill downtown Austin's few remaining empty blocks

It’s hard to come by vacant land in downtown Austin these days, and the few empty blocks that remain are quickly being scooped up by developers. One of the area’s latest projects is at 308 Guadalupe Street. Earlier this month,…

Development • By Syeda Hasan • Jul 25, 2017

CodeNEXT divides commission, spurs review of recommendation process

No city commission has been as prolific in its criticism of CodeNEXT than the Zoning and Platting Commission, and the commission fired off another letter of recommendation at its July 18 meeting in an effort to get feedback in before…

Land Development Code • By Joseph Caterine • Jul 25, 2017

Tech lobby aims at city politics with town halls

All political lenses might be pointed toward the state Capitol right now as the legislature works through a special session, but a local lobbying group is trying to turn the attention of Austin’s growing tech sector toward the happenings at…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 25, 2017

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City looks to bond to protect water, reduce flooding

The city needs to do a lot more to protect its water supply from contamination and its residents from flooding, officials from the Watershed Protection Department told members of the Environmental Commission Wednesday. They believe that a bond package that…

Water • By Jack Craver • Jul 24, 2017

Sobriety center likely won’t open until 2018

After years of planning, the downtown Austin sobriety center is still months away from opening its doors. On Wednesday night, the interim head of the nonprofit outfit that will operate the center told the Downtown Commission that the center’s future…

Public Safety • By Caleb Pritchard • Jul 24, 2017

Arts Commission encourages artist collaboration to save funding

The Arts Commission is encouraging collaboration among Austin artists not only for a sense of community but also to safeguard its cultural arts funding process. Commissioner Richard “Bears” Fonte said artists have double-dipped in the cultural arts fund by splitting into…

Music & Entertainment • By Lisa Dreher • Jul 24, 2017

Reporter's Notebook: Use your judgment

Judge judging the judge… It seems not everyone is a fan of County Judge Sarah Eckhardt’s iron-fisted management of Travis County Commissioners Court meetings. Her refusal last week to allow Commissioner Jeff Travillion to interject a question in the middle…

Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Jul 24, 2017

Austin Monitor Radio: Eastside Memorial, LASA and the AISD bond

Former teacher, current AISD parent and Pride of the Eastside co-founder Vincent Tovar sits down with Austin Monitor copy editor Nina Hernandez to talk about the $1.05 billion bond package, the process of getting to that bond package and what…

Radio • By Austin Monitor • Jul 24, 2017

Austin Monitor Radio: 308 Guadalupe

Mark Gilbert, the managing director of Travis County’s Economic & Strategic Planning Division, sits down with Austin Monitor freelance reporter Caleb Pritchard to talk about the deal to develop 308 Guadalupe Street as a mixed-use development, permanently shelving plans to…

Radio • By Austin Monitor • Jul 24, 2017

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