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Tag Archives: city budget

Austin faces lawsuit for providing financial support to people seeking out-of-state abortions

The city of Austin is being sued for a provision in the budget providing money to people seeking out-of-state abortions. City Council last week approved $400,000 to fund travel – including airfare, gas, hotel stays and food – for people…

Taxes are rising, as are charges for city services

Money paid by city of Austin taxpayers and Austin residents who pay monthly bills for water and wastewater, electricity, trash and recycling collection (as well as a drainage utility fee and a clean community fee) will see their cost-of-living increase…

Council OKs raising property tax, adding funds for homeless services in new $5.9 billion budget

Austin taxpayers will see an increase in their property tax bills next year, but not so much that it will require their approval. Taxpayers will be charged $0.4776 per $100 taxable value, with a homestead exemption of $154,000 for homeowners…

Parks, pools, trees – and dogs – get a boost in new city budget

The new city budget City Council passed Wednesday delivered good news for parks and park lovers with the creation of a land acquisition fund, improved parks maintenance, additional funding for tree-planting projects and a dog park in Southwest Austin. Additionally,…

Animal Services Office turns to outside boarding to address shelter crowding

The Animal Services Office has recently resumed use of third-party boarding facilities to handle space constraints and crowded conditions at Austin Animal Center. A memo published last week from Don Bland, chief animal services officer, gave City Council an update…

Council budget requests include weatherization expansion, despite Austin Energy reservations

City Council has many possible budget amendments to consider this week. Although city staff has made clear that the city’s growth has not been sufficiently robust to support many expensive changes to the city’s budget, Council will still move forward…

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Council lays out budget priorities for a lean year

In a nearly three-hour session on Thursday, Mayor Kirk Watson and City Council members offered support for a lengthy variety of amendments to the budget they will vote on next Wednesday, and possibly on Thursday and Friday. With a lengthy…

Message board shows some of Council’s budget wish list

Although Tuesday’s City Council work session focused almost exclusively on gaps in the city’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget for services related to homelessness, Council members have highlighted a variety of needs in their message board posts. Today, Council will once…

Budget work session on homelessness spending shows gaps in funding

City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes requested a briefing to help her and other Council members understand the intricacies of funding shelter for Austin’s homeless population. She said it was clear from town hall meetings and budget hearings that Austinites are…

Music Commission asks city to find space, assistance for Texas Music Museum

The Music Commission has asked the city to step in quickly to provide storage space for the archives of the Texas Music Museum, with $850,000 sought in the near future to help the nonprofit organization remain viable and secure a…

Resource Recovery proposes slight uptick in trash fees

Austin residents may see a small increase in their trash bill next fiscal year if City Council approves the Austin Resource Recovery budget proposal. The Clean Community Fee for residents would increase by 45 cents from $5 to $5.45 a…

Austin Energy makes a case against giving more to the city’s General Fund

During a budget work session on July 30, Austin Energy made a case for not transferring an extra $4 million to the city’s General Fund, which goes toward basic city services like parks, fire, police and EMS. The city’s ratepayer-owned…

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