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- For the first time in 20 years, more people are leaving Travis County than moving in
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Elections
Travis County talks appraisals, city business
In a discussion on state legislative proposals aimed at increasing fairness in property tax appraisals for homeowners, several Travis County commissioners called out City of Austin leaders for not implementing a 20 percent homestead exemption for property taxes. Commissioner Gerald…
Elections • By Gene Davis • Feb 4, 2015
City's 2013 sustainability goals hit 60 percent
Although sustainability efforts are notoriously difficult to measure, Austin’s Sustainability Office has outlined 10 targets and concluded that the city is making substantial progress within its operations, but has room for improvement. Chief Sustainability Officer Lucia Athens sent a memo…
Environment • By Tyler Whitson • Feb 4, 2015
Council adopts sweeping procedural changes
After a full week of debate about transparency, efficiency and public input, City Council has adopted a new set of meeting procedures and a committee structure that will overhaul the legislative process. Council members voted unanimously at their first regular…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 30, 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
Zimmerman establishes pole position
As one of their first acts as a body, City Council members examined, then approved, a routine contract for up to $10 million of steel poles for Austin Energy. Council Member Don Zimmerman pulled the proposed contract with TransAmerican Power…
City Council • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 30, 2015
Ethics panel considers campaign finance reform
Now that the dust has settled after Austin’s busiest local election season to date, the city’s Ethics Review Commission is taking a hard look at Austin’s current campaign finance laws. On Tuesday night, the Ethics Review Commission took input on…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 29, 2015
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Travis Commissioners hear TCAD, legislative issues
Property tax relief is high on the agenda for the Texas Legislature this session, and Travis County is getting its ducks in a row to follow the issue over the next few months. Along that line, it heard updates from…
Development • By Mark Richardson • Jan 29, 2015
Austin Monitor Radio: Pct. 2 Commissioner Brigid Shea
Travis County Pct. 2 Commissioner Brigid Shea joins Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about SH45, property tax appraisals, the potential new Travis County Civil and Family Courthouse and more. This podcast version includes a bonus discussion about water policy.…
Local Government • By Michael Kanin • Jan 28, 2015
Travis County sets bond election for November
On Tuesday, Travis County Commissioners chose November over May to go to the voters with a bond election to fund construction of the planned Civil and Family Courthouse project. Plans for the facility call for a 14-story, 511,000-square-foot building with…
Bonds & Propositions • By Mark Richardson • Jan 28, 2015
Council members debate public input plan
The future of public input at City Council meetings remains unclear ahead of possible action Thursday, as Council members continue to discuss whether and how to limit it in favor of moving it to committee meetings. During a Tuesday work…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 28, 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
Explainer: The long saga of the Garza Ranch case
Each week, the Explainer offers a closer look at stories we have been following. This week we look at the Garza Ranch. As part of their very first for-real, no-net meeting this week, Austin City Council members are set to…