Travis County braces for state budget

Deece Eckstein, who heads Travis County’s lobbying team, had bad news for the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. The budget that was approved unanimously last week by the Texas Senate includes major cuts to programs that local governments, including Travis County, depend on. Notably, the proposed budget would cut more than $1 billion from school funding, which legislative leaders expect will be made up for by increased property valuations and therefore increased property tax revenue for school districts. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt bemoaned the “double whammy” effect on urban areas, whose school districts will respond by raising property taxes but whose cities and counties are constrained by a 5 percent rollback rate. The upcoming budget, she added, continues the trend of the state “stepping away from its financial responsibilities.”