Austin’s Ethics Review Commission opted last week not to advance a complaint filed by Tiffany Washington against Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, ending a months-long process over allegations that Harper-Madison violated multiple provisions of the city’s ethics code. The complaint, filed in two parts earlier this year by Tiffany Washington, accused Harper-Madison of violating five sections […]
Austin City Council
The Austin City Council is the body with legislative purview over the City of Austin. It offers policy direction, while the office of the City Manager implements administrative actions based on those policies. Until 2015, the body contained seven members, including the city’s Mayor, all elected at-large. In 2012, City of Austin residents voted to change that system and as of 2015, 10 members of the Council are elected based on geographic districts. The Mayor continues to be elected at-large.
Posted inBudget
Council approves maximum tax rate increase in preparation for possible election
At a public hearing Thursday, City Council took the first step toward a possible tax rate election on the November ballot in order to plug Austin’s $33 million deficit and fund the proposed $6.3 billion budget, setting the maximum Council can ask voters to increase their property taxes at 8 cents, or an extra $421 […]
Posted inCity Hall
Zoning and Platting Commission may want duties swap with Planning Commission
Members of a Zoning and Platting Commission working group focused on its roles and responsibilities vis-à-vis the Planning Commission hinted at a plan that would move most simple zoning cases to their docket during their July 15 meeting. “(Generally), things that are site-specific would go to us, while things that are more planning-planning, more policy-based, […]
Posted inBudget
Recycled Reads Bookstore could close central location as city looks at budget cuts
Recycled Reads, the Austin Public Library used bookstore on Burnet Road, will close by next spring if the proposed city budget is approved. The store opened in 2009 as a way to help raise money for Austin’s library system. Anna Paola Ferate-Soto has worked at the store since 2021. She said the concept has also […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council OKs new convention center, as downtown opponents push petitions
City Council has approved two measures related to Convention Center development. One item advances the multibillion-dollar reconstruction of the downtown Austin Convention Center, while the other enables the construction of a privately financed convention center and resort hotel near the Circuit of the Americas to qualify for state tax rebates. Council voted to authorize an […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Legislature watchers report to Council
Austin’s Intergovernmental Relations Officer Carrie Rogers briefed Council Tuesday and expressed optimism about what might happen in the current special session of the Texas Legislature, which started on Monday. She told Council it was very important to their success as a team to reach out to a bill’s author “to let them know what our […]
Posted inFire
To slash costs, Austin will decide whether to cut firefighter staffing below national standards
The city of Austin is looking to cut overtime for Austin firefighters as a way to save money in the new budget. The change would mean adjusting staffing levels on many fire trucks, which some officials said puts people and fire crews at risk. When a fire team responds to a fire there are a […]
Posted inCity Council
Former Council Member Bill Spelman has passed away
Former Council Member Bill Spelman died last Thursday at the age of 68 after a series of illnesses including Covid, according to his wife, Niyanta. Spelman, who served on the Austin City Council from 1997 to 2000 and then served again from 2009 to the end of 2014, was well known as the teacher on […]
Posted inElections
Campaign finance reports show incumbents gathering funds
With the exception of District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, incumbents who may run for re-election in 2026 have been gathering funds for possible races. That includes Council Members Ryan Alter (District 5), Zo Qadri (District 9) and Paige Ellis (District 8). Ellis has already indicated that she will be gathering signatures to put her […]
Posted inBudget
City looks to cut some costs on police, fire budgets
City budget planners had to make some tough decisions in proposing a budget for the upcoming fiscal year and the following year. As part of the proposal laid out by City Manager T.C. Broadnax and Budget Officer Kerri Lang at Tuesday’s Council work session, staff is proposing a $9 million decrease in the Police Department […]
Posted inBudget
Council takes first crack at proposed budget
City Council kicked off its budget process Tuesday with a closer look at the city manager’s proposed $6.3 billion budget and the prospect of a tax rate election in November. Mayor Kirk Watson has already stated that the maximum tax rate the Council sets on July 31 is likely to trigger an election due to […]
Posted inHousing
Housing plan advances to Council as concerns grow over federal funding cuts
The Community Development Commission stopped short of endorsing the city’s annual federal housing funding plan at its meeting last week and instead used the opportunity to raise alarms about how looming federal budget cuts could worsen the city’s homelessness crisis. The FY25/26 Action Plan, which outlines the use of roughly $14 million in federal housing […]