Looking ahead to years of belt-tightening due to property tax limits put in place by the state, Travis County leaders say the county may not be able to afford offering tax incentives to companies to create jobs locally. The Commissioners Court voted 4-1 Tuesday to stop accepting applications from companies seeking to participate in the […]
Jack Craver
Posted inTravis County
Travis County commissioners give themselves pay raise
The Travis County Commissioners Court moved to significantly increase salaries for itself and other top elected officials over the vociferous objections of one of its members. On Tuesday, the court voted 4-1 to approve setting aside money in the upcoming budget that will allow pay to rise for commissioners by more than $16,000 – from […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County approves final application for public defender’s office
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court gave final approval to an application for state funding to set up a public defender’s office. While there are a couple of details that the court hopes to nail down in the coming days, the only important decision remaining rests with the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. The state […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 7.30.19
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available on the Travis County website. 4. Consider and take appropriate action on Census 2020 matters, including: A. Introduction of […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County eyes hotel tax to renovate expo center
The Travis County Commissioners Court made a move Tuesday that could put it in direct competition with the city of Austin for millions of dollars of future revenue from hotel stays. The three commissioners present voted unanimously to ask county staff to explore putting a referendum on the ballot this November that would commit a […]
Posted inBudget
County unveils $1.19 billion preliminary budget
Travis County budget staff unveiled the preliminary draft of the county’s 2019-20 budget Tuesday. This year’s budget is particularly important since it’s the last one the Commissioners Court will approve before tough new restrictions on property tax revenue kick in next year. “This year has challenged us to think more strategically as we face greater […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 7.23.19
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available on the Travis County website. 6. Receive update regarding community planning for substance use disorders. (Judge Eckhardt) Monitor’s Take: […]
Posted inWhispers
Fairmont backs away from Palm School deal
Douglas Manchester, owner of the Fairmont Hotel, may not be interested in buying the Palm School property after all. Manchester told the Austin American-Statesman Wednesday that a news release announcing his interest in developing the county-owned property was sent without his permission. The attorney who sent the press release, state Rep. Sheryl Cole, told the […]
Posted inTransportation
Travis County approves long-range transportation plan
At long last, Travis County has a long-range transportation plan. The Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt the Travis County Transportation Blueprint, which lays out a vision for infrastructure in unincorporated parts of Travis County over the next quarter-century. Today there are already just under half a million daily commute trips taken within Travis […]
Posted inTravis County
Despite property tax limits, Travis County remains committed to public defender’s office
The Travis County Commissioners Court took another step Tuesday toward creating the county’s first public defender’s office. The court voted 4-1 to provide additional information to a state agency that is considering providing a multimillion-dollar grant to the county to set up the new office. The court voted in May to apply for the grant […]
Posted inWhispers
Fairmont owner interested in buying Palm School
Douglas Manchester, the owner of the Fairmont Hotel, announced Monday that he’s interested in purchasing the property surrounding Palm School, a historic building that currently houses the Travis County Health and Human Services Department but is being eyed by city leaders as a future museum dedicated to the history and culture of Mexican Americans in […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 7.16.19
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available on the Travis County website. 13. Consider and take appropriate action on the grant application to the Texas Indigent […]