Government
BY ELLE BENT & BEN THOMPSON
Central library security concerns mount The Austin Public Library is turning to county sheriff’s deputies to address wors- ening safety and security issues across its system. The overview Since April, the APL has spent more than $16,000 on extra security support from off-duty law enforcement at the Central Library downtown. On July 18, City Council signed off on spending up to $200,000 more to expand those services at multiple branch locations over the coming years. The new APL safety initiative has involved a handful of Travis County Sheriff’s Office employees taking shifts at the library while off duty. The added enforcement responds to an “across-the-board increase” in viola- tions—such as drug use, theft, trespassing, threats and violent incidents—reported at city libraries since the pandemic began, APL spokesperson Baylor Johnson said.
Austin residential A/C requirement nears finish A new city mandate for air conditioning in all residences is moving closer to final approval. What’s happening The city is in the process of revising its technical codes, including its first proposed air conditioning mandate under the building code, following a City Council request last summer. If approved by council, the standards would apply for all existing properties and new construction in Austin starting in 2025. Texas law doesn’t call for air conditioning and statewide legislation that would have forced land- lords to provide air conditioning stalled in 2023. Other large cities, such as Dallas and Houston, do impose their own rules for residential cooling to certain temperature levels. Austin’s new cooling standards were inspired by the ordinances now on the books in Dallas, according to the city. “Just taking one step outside will show you why we need this," said council member Vanessa Fuentes, who sponsored the update, in a 2023
Cooling in the code Austin’s building code is being revised to include a requirement for air conditioning. If approved, property owners would have to keep tenants’ rooms:
at least 15 degrees cooler than outdoor temperatures
no hotter than 85 degrees at most
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
statement. "When our neighbors are collapsing from heat illness, suffering from exhaustion and facing high wildfire risks, they’re going to need a cool place to stay." Local officials moved to cement a similar cooling requirement during Austin’s hot summer last year. The change comes as Austin continues to experi- ence dangerous summer heat and will likely see more extreme summers in the decades ahead. Despite the lack of legal requirement, most Texas residences are already air conditioned. Just 1.23% of the state’s occupied housing units didn’t have A/C as of 2021, per U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Travis County gears up for child care tax election Travis County officials will hold a public hearing on the proposed Travis County Creating Access for Resilient Families, or CARES, afford- able child care initiative Aug. 13. Following the hearing, county commissioners will vote on whether to call a tax rate election to expand affordable early child care and after- school programs. The impact CARES is proposed with a property tax increase of $0.025 per $100 valuation, equating to about $100 tax bill for the owner of a median-valued home as of 2024. The new revenue would bring in around $77 million to: • Increase day care subsidy spots and incentivize providers to offer reduced-tuition slots • Increase after-school and summer care slots • Expand child care outside traditional work hours • Cover gaps in state funding
OLD FITZHUGH RD.
Proposed tax increase Travis County officials will likely ask voters to sign off on a property tax increase to fund child care programming.
N
COLLEGE ST.
Current 2023-24 rate
$0.304655*
Proposed rate increase
$0.025*
Dripping Springs mulls public bathrooms Permanent public restrooms are under con- sideration for downtown Dripping Springs. The full story The historic city center off Mercer Street lacks public restrooms despite being a destination for residents and locals alike, and many local businesses don’t have public restrooms. To remedy this, city staff proposed the construction of two unisex, accessible restrooms on vacant city-owned property next to boutique Vintage Soul. Installation of the bathrooms could cost $352,000.
New rate
$0.329655*
*PER $100 PROPERTY VALUATION
Tax bill example
2024 median taxable home value: $401,806**
Current tax bill: $1,224.12
Tax bill after proposed increase: $1,324.57
**THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 TAX RATE IS SHOWN. THE COUNTY’S FY 2024-25 RATE WILL BE SET THIS FALL, BEFORE A POTENTIAL ELECTION.
SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The update could provide new opportunities for an estimated 9,800 kids and support many child care providers, according to the county. The why “Part of this problem is created because the state doesn’t pay enough,” Precinct 2 Commis- sioner Brigid Shea said. Commissioners must call an election by Aug. 19.
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
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