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- Despite safety concerns, Council OKs new buildings above Shoal Creek
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- A multi-family rezoning at the rugged edge of Northwest Austin
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Budget
Committee tweaks, approves Council staff boost
This Thursday, City Council members will once again take up the issue of increasing their own staff. Last week, the Council Audit and Finance Committee considered the proposal for a second time. Members voted unanimously to recommend adding 12 full-time…
Budget • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 31, 2015
Explainer: The Austin Energy-CoA funds transfer
The Explainer takes a deeper look at stories we have been following. This week, we tackle the annual transfer from Austin Energy to the City of Austin’s General Fund. The annual transfer of what has historically been many millions of…
Austin • By Michael Kanin • Mar 23, 2015
Council funds AISD software, debates relationship
When it comes to using tax dollars to serve children in the Austin community, there can be a fine line between education and health and human services. Before passing an agreement Thursday to help fund truancy tracking software for the…
Budget • By Tyler Whitson • Mar 13, 2015
Committee reaches few conclusions on new staff
The City Council Audit and Finance Committee had a wide-ranging discussion Monday about the possibility of hiring more staff to help Council, but arrived at no conclusions. The conversation was sparked by an attempt by Mayor Steve Adler to add…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Mar 10, 2015
Commissioners back new vehicle registration fee
The Travis County Commissioners Court has endorsed a proposal to raise vehicle registration fees to bolster funding for transportation projects. At their regular voting session Tuesday, the commissioners unanimously backed two bills at the Texas Legislature that would charge county…
Budget • By Caleb Pritchard • Mar 9, 2015
Council assesses potential Onion Creek buyout
While the Halloween 2013 flood continues to impact lives near Onion Creek, City Council will likely decide Thursday whether the city should chip in up to $60 million to help ensure that history does not repeat itself. Council members considered…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Mar 4, 2015
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Council considers health care for more employees
Though the City of Austin offers health coverage to most of its regular employees, City Council has kick-started a process that could lead to an expansion to all employees in the next fiscal year. Council voted Thursday to direct city…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Feb 27, 2015
For Austin's City Manager, change is a constant
This week, Marc Ott celebrates his seventh anniversary as Austin’s city manager. The Austin Monitor sat down with him to talk about his tenure, the future and how his office is tackling the myriad changes proposed by the new City…
Budget • By Elizabeth Pagano • Feb 19, 2015
Council tentatively approves salary shift
City Council took the first step toward allowing some Council members to divert all or portions of their own salaries Thursday. Council members voted unanimously to allow the resolution to move forward. However, the issue will have to return to…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 30, 2015
Price of Council changes still unknown
Though there are no hard numbers yet, Austin’s budget office has begun to review the potential fiscal impacts associated with proposed changes to City Council’s committee and meeting structures. According to a Jan. 23 memo from Deputy Chief Financial Officer…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 27, 2015
Council postpones salary debate until next week
On Thursday, City Council temporarily backed away from a plan that could have members voting to reduce their own salaries. Council members voted 11-0 to postpone action on the resolution until their Jan. 29 meeting. The resolution directs the city…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 23, 2015
Council members consider cutting their own pay
On Thursday, as one of their first official acts as an elected body, City Council members will consider taking an action that could reduce their salaries. Specifically, the resolution on Thursday’s agenda directs the city manager to change the current…
