Stories by Austin Monitor
State, city report sales tax declines
Austin, along with Texas’ other major cities, reported a continued drop in sales tax for the month of May. Chief Financial Officer Leslie Browder says sales tax revenues dropped 11.4 percent in May from $12.1 million last year to…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jul 10, 2009
Second Travis revenue projection still down
On Tuesday Travis County Commissioners heard the second budget revenue projections from the County Auditor, and the situation has not improved much since the initial estimates, only going up $826,000. However it still represents a decrease of $3.76 million from…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jul 1, 2009
Developer Leslie Moore faces uphill battle in zoning case
Developer Leslie Moore has a reputation as an eclectic developer who caters to Austin’s eclectic sensibility, but Moore’s achievements did not win over neighbors who are opposing his potential redevelopment of an acre lot on Red Bird Lane. Moore and…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jul 1, 2009
Police Association negotiators agree to forego raises
Negotiators for city management and the Austin Police Association reached a tentative agreement late Tuesday that would save $4.1 million out of the tight 2010 budget by postponing police raises, and also extend the contract between the police union and…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jul 1, 2009
Supreme Court decision could inspire Austin firefighters to file complaint
The US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Monday that the city of New Haven, Connecticut, discriminated against white firefighters when it threw out the results of a test that yielded no black contenders for promotion. http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/08pdf/07-1428.pdf Legal pundits noted that the…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jun 30, 2009
Budget town hall results are in
The City of Austin has released the results of its first three nights of citizen input into forthcoming city budget cuts. (There’s one more budget meeting tonight.) Citizens participating in the meetings indicated they do not want to eliminate…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jun 30, 2009
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City, EMS reach tentative pact on wages
City Manager Marc Ott said Wednesday that the city’s bargaining team had reached a tentative agreement with representatives from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) employees union that would save the city around $750,000 for the upcoming fiscal year. Members of…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jun 25, 2009
Council, Mayor sworn in at city hall ceremony
Mayor Will Wynn convened the special meeting of the city council Monday by saying, “I’m Mayor Will Wynn . . . for the next ten minutes.” With nine years on the dais, Wynn got to spend the last few…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jun 23, 2009
Investigation clears company of bid-shopping
Assistant City Manager Rudy Garza concluded his investigation into the allegations that Parkeon, a city contractor, had engaged in bid shopping on June 16, and determined that the contractor had in fact followed protocol. The issue involved the city…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jun 23, 2009
Council committee questions ethics in parking meter subcontract
There have been significant developments in this story since it was originally posted. See update.–Editor The MBE/WBE and Small Business Council Subcommittee has asked city staff to investigate a possible case of bid shopping, which is prohibited under city…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jun 22, 2009
Council nixes neighborhood contact team’s effort to stop strip club
In a blow to the city’s neighborhood planning process, Council last week refused to allow the Highlands/Skyview Terrace Neighborhood Contact Team the standing to formally challenge a conditional use permit granted to the male strip club La Bare. Neighborhood representatives…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jun 22, 2009
McCracken, staffers honored at Council meeting
Thursday was Mayor Pro Tem Brewster McCracken’s last day at the dais, and the event provided an opportunity for the Council to honor his six years of service, and dispel any harsh feelings left over from a tough mayoral campaign.…
