Tag Archives: Travis County Commissioners Court
Monday, June 10, 2019 by Jack Craver
Public Safety
Why does one company get all of Travis County’s electronic monitoring business?
In recent years, Travis County has seen an increase in the number of people released from jail on bail on condition that they wear some type of monitoring device, whether it tracks their location or detects the presence of alcohol.This…
Thursday, June 6, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
County looks at increasing minimum wage
Generally, the city of Austin and Travis County view each other as partners, not competitors. However, when it comes to attracting and retaining talented employees, the two can’t help but compete.That’s why the Travis County Human Resources Department periodically analyzes…
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 by Jack Craver
Preservation
Travis County commissioners endorse preserving Palm School
Supporters of preserving the Palm School won a partial victory Tuesday when the Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously in favor of restrictions that will prevent the historic building from being demolished by a future landowner.However, the issue of who…
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 by Jack Craver
Public Safety
Travis County sees big increase in electronic monitoring
Travis County has seen its incarcerated population drop dramatically in recent years, due in large part to policy changes aimed at keeping low-level drug offenders out of jail.As of April 2019, the average daily jail population stood at 2,143, a…
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 by Jack Craver
Texas State Legislature
Travis County contemplates small wins, big losses at Legislature
Every week while the state Legislature is in session, Travis County’s chief lobbyist, Deece Eckstein, briefs members of the Commissioners Court on the bills that might affect the county. In recent months, the weekly briefing has usually been bleak, but…
Tuesday, May 28, 2019 by Jack Craver
Transit
Travis County offers free bus rides to jurors
In a city as car-dependent as Austin, you might think a free parking spot would be the least Travis County could offer people traveling downtown to perform jury service.And yet, the Travis County website makes clear that those performing that…
Friday, May 24, 2019 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Council OKs Palm School, convention center ideas
In a stunning victory for Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Kathie Tovo, the Austin City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a 27-page resolution directing city staff to gather all the information necessary to move forward with an extensive renovation…
Thursday, May 23, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Travis County to establish first ‘strategic plan’
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to begin formulating a long-range strategic plan to guide county policies and budgeting practices for years to come.The executives in charge of the county’s eight major departments have put in place strategic plans…
Tuesday, May 14, 2019 by Jack Craver
EMS
Travis County leaders urge vigilance on flooding
Heavy rains over the past two weeks have not resulted in major residential flooding, but at least one death appears to be linked to flooding and government officials are urging residents to avoid certain waterways and to be on high…
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Commissioners Court makes move on public defender’s office
Travis County took a crucial step toward creating a public defender’s office when the Commissioners Court voted 4-1 Tuesday to submit an application for state funding to set one up.The commissioners made the move after months of debate among defense…
Monday, May 6, 2019 by Jack Craver
Texas State Legislature
County leaders denounce anti-lobbying proposal
In addition to imposing strict constraints on local governments’ ability to raise property tax revenue, Republicans at the state Legislature want to limit how those governments can spend their tax dollars.A number of bills have been filed this session that…
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 by Jack Craver
Planning
Commissioners Court punts on affordable housing project
The Travis County Commissioners Court declined to take action on a proposed affordable housing project in eastern Travis County Tuesday. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said the court would take up the matter at next week’s meeting, without hinting at how…
Thursday, April 25, 2019 by Jack Craver
Texas State Legislature
Travis County braces for lean times
Travis County commissioners spent a good chunk of Tuesday morning fuming over state legislation targeting local control, notably a proposal that will sharply limit the ability of local governments to raise property tax revenue.A bill recently approved by the state…
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Revenue caps loom over discussion of public defender’s office
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt warmly welcomed a proposal to establish a county public defender’s office, saying it was imperative that Travis County join the vast majority of major urban jurisdictions in providing attorneys to represent criminal defendants who can’t…
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Travis County
County considers matching Austin with $15 livable wage
Between the tax revenue ceiling regaining momentum at the state Legislature and ongoing affordability concerns, Travis County is looking for a way to increase its livable wage for county employees before the imminent property tax caps take effect.Todd Osburn, compensation…
Thursday, April 4, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Travis County
County to acquaint itself with puzzling Pretrial Services
Despite its ongoing effort to keep Travis County defendants connected to their communities and out of jail whenever possible, the county Pretrial Services Department has not always been included in the county’s many recent discussions about reducing jail population and…
Monday, April 1, 2019 by Jack Craver
Housing
A big problem for low-income homeowners: septic tanks
For the most part, living in rural Travis County is cheaper than living in the city of Austin. Land values, property taxes and rents are all significantly lower. Sewage, however, often costs significantly more.The problems and costs associated with aging…
Thursday, March 28, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Travis County already has a public defender’s office – for juveniles
Amid the contentious public debate over the creation of a public defender’s office in Travis County is an oft-neglected fact: Travis County already has a public defender’s office. It just doesn’t serve adults.The Travis County Juvenile Public Defender, founded in…
Friday, March 22, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Housing
County celebrates major renovations of affordable housing communities
The Housing Authority of Travis County hosted a ribbon-cutting celebration Thursday morning to honor the completion of the $10.4 million rehabilitation of two of its affordable housing communities.The project involved improvements to 51 units at Alexander Oaks in Oak Hill…
Thursday, March 14, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Travis County
Indigent defense work group gets new chance to find common ground
Yielding to the expertise of Amanda Woog, chair of Travis County’s indigent legal services work group, the Commissioners Court swiftly appointed two private defense attorneys to the group during its voting session Tuesday afternoon.Local attorneys Paul Quinzi and Michael Watson…
