Plaintiffs hope to strike city of Austin from Project Connect suit

The people who filed suit last fall to stop the Austin Transit Partnership from proceeding without another bond election have intervened in a lawsuit filed by the city and ATP seeking to validate bonds needed to build the light-rail system.…

Courts • By Jo Clifton • Mar 6, 2024

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

Music Commission's $3M budget request includes HAAM funds, marketing program

The Music Commission has asked the city for just over $3 million in the next budget to expand some existing programs and provide added economic and medical assistance for local musicians. At Monday’s meeting, the commission unanimously approved six requests…

Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 6, 2024

José Garza pushes aside Jeremy Sylestine in Democratic primary for Travis County district attorney

Incumbent District Attorney José Garza claimed victory Tuesday in the race to keep his job as Travis County district attorney. As of 10 p.m., Garza had a more than 30-point lead over Jeremy Sylestine, picking up 38,379 votes to Sylestine’s…

Elections • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 5, 2024

Travis County bush

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

Conservation district has good news on drought level

The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has taken a step back from the most severe drought stage – Stage IV – and after a brief stint in Stage III, has declared the area to be at Stage II Alarm Drought,…

Water • By Jo Clifton • Mar 5, 2024

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AHFC approves $50M to fund more than 1,000 affordable, permanent supportive housing units

The city has approved more than $50 million in housing funds that will create more than 1,000 units of affordable housing, hundreds of which will serve as permanent supportive housing for people who are currently homeless. Last week, the Austin…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 5, 2024

Adjusted density bonus program pushes housing, affordability on commercial properties

Following a December court ruling that invalidated three changes to the city’s Land Development Code, City Council has approved an ordinance change that promotes housing density by using many of the components of the now-obsolete Vertical Mixed Use 2 ordinance.…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 4, 2024

HAAM seeks $500K in next year’s city budget to fund local musicians’ insurance

Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is seeking ongoing support from the city and possibly Travis County to cover the costs of subsidized health insurance coverage for more than 2,000 local musicians annually. Tonight’s Music Commission meeting will feature a presentation…

Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 4, 2024

Austin-area schools overwhelmingly reject hiring chaplains as counselors

State Rep. James Talarico, an Austin Democrat, praised school boards across Texas on Thursday for rejecting a Republican-led effort to let religious chaplains provide mental health services to students. “We are here to celebrate an important victory in the fight against…

Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Mar 4, 2024

As Council prepped public support, local Google workers learned of layoffs

Some private-sector workplace drama took place in real time during Thursday’s City Council meeting, with a group of local Google workers learning they’d lost their jobs while commenting on a proposed city resolution intended to support their cause. On the…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 1, 2024

Austin makes library cards free to people outside the city

People who live in unincorporated areas outside the city no longer have to pay $120 for an Austin Public Library card. In December, City Council voted to remove the fees after the Library Commission recommended the change. In their recommendation,…

City Council • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Mar 1, 2024

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