Tag Archives: Travis County Commissioners Court
Travis County budget makes concessions and cuts to achieve balance
After months of rework triggered by the financial ramifications of the pandemic, the Commissioners Court held its first public hearing associated with the 2021 Travis County budget on Aug. 18. As they went through the 120-page, $1.28 billion budget proposal, Planning and…
Budget • By Jessi Devenyns • Aug 19, 2020
Local attorney Andy Brown will be Democratic nominee for county judge
Local attorney and activist Andy Brown will be the Democratic nominee for Travis County judge in the November election. Brown won 55.88 percent of the vote Sunday night in an election by party precinct chairs. The prior county judge, Sarah…
Elections • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Aug 17, 2020
Precinct chairs ready to elect new county judge
With former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt taking her seat in the Texas Senate, and no name on the November ballot for Travis County judge, the duty of selecting that nominee falls on the 136 Democratic precinct chairs who normally…
Local Politics • By Jo Clifton • Aug 13, 2020
Commissioners Court considers allocating additional funding for high-risk youth program
As public education moves from classrooms to screens in students’ homes, families’ need for support from educational institutions has increased. Students from vulnerable populations, in particular, benefit from personalized contact with someone in the Austin Independent School District, according to…
Education • By Jessi Devenyns • Aug 12, 2020
Travis County expands public health orders to unincorporated areas, fines up to $500
The Commissioners Court unanimously approved an order Tuesday making Austin Public Health’s Health Authority Rules enforceable in unincorporated areas of Travis County. Individuals who do not abide by the local health authority’s pandemic mitigation plan may face fines of up…
Public Health • By Jessi Devenyns • Aug 5, 2020
Travis County sets the stage for budget discussions in August, proposes 3.6% property tax hike
After an unprecedented year that has required Travis County staff to rework the county’s 2021 financial picture, the Commissioners Court opened public discussions about the upcoming 2021 budget on July 28. Despite predictions earlier this year of catastrophic budget shortfalls,…
Budget • By Jessi Devenyns • Jul 30, 2020
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Commissioners approve allocations for remainder of Covid-19 relief funding
Nearly three months to the day since Travis County received Covid-19 relief funding from the federal government under the CARES Act, Travis County commissioners approved an outline for the allocation of the $33.8 million in aid that remained unspent. County…
Travis County • By Jessi Devenyns • Jul 29, 2020
Commissioners Court approves easement vacation despite neighborhood protests
In the far reaches of Precinct 3 in Northwest Austin, in a subdivision between Nameless Road and Round Mountain Road owned by Giddens Development Inc., water is served to residents through wells operated by Aqua Texas. Although the developer of…
Development • By Jessi Devenyns • Jul 23, 2020
County to identify funding source for implementing permanent teleworking
Following a successful emergency rollout of teleworking capabilities in response to Covid-19 this spring, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted in May to make the digital work environment permanent for 75 percent of eligible county employees. On Tuesday, commissioners took…
Travis County • By Jessi Devenyns • Jul 22, 2020
Ann Howard wins Democratic primary runoff in county commissioner Precinct 3 race
Ann Howard won Tuesday night’s Democratic Party primary runoff to decide who will compete to replace Gerald Daugherty in representing Precinct 3 on the Travis County Commissioners Court. “I’ll just start doing some hard work to get to know even…
Elections • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 15, 2020
Travis County approves Tesla incentive deal
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a $13.9 million tax rebate deal to coax Tesla to build its “Gigafactory” in southeastern Travis County. The tax rebate is based on a $1.1 billion investment from Tesla and will be paid…
Travis County • By Jessi Devenyns • Jul 15, 2020
Commissioners Court considers allocating relief dollars to Baylor Scott & White
Baylor Scott & White Health is the largest not-for-profit hospital system in the state of Texas, and like many other businesses, it has been footing the bill for unanticipated Covid-19 related expenses since March. Jay Fox, the president of Baylor…
