North Central Austin Edition | August 2023

News from Austin CITY & COUNTY $5.5 billion budget, property tax rate increase passes

HIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN Entry fees at all city pools except for Barton Springs were waived until Sept. 30. AUSTIN Police Chief Joseph Chacon will retire in early September after 25 years on the Austin Police Department force, he announced Aug. 21. Police Chief of Sta Robin Henderson will take over on an interim basis while a search for a permanent chief takes place. AUSTIN A recent internal audit found the city’s publicly- accessible data portal faces several management and accessibility issues and often oers conicting or outdated information. The report included several suggestions to improve transparency and eciency. AUSTIN A federal judge ruled Aug. 1 that a city ordinance banning property owners from getting a short-term rental license for homes that aren’t their primary residence was unconstitutional, opening doors for more services such as Airbnb. AUSTIN City Council voted to move toward reducing the number of alerts the city must mail out to neighbors when nearby properties are moving through zoning or development updates. The notication distance could be cut from 500 to 200 feet away from relevant properties, while a new electronic notice system could be established. Austin City Council will meet Sept. 12 and 19 at 9 a.m. and Sept. 14 and 21 at 10 a.m. 301 W. Second St., Austin www.austintexas.gov Travis County Commissioners Court will meet Sept. 12 and 19 at 9 a.m. and Sept. 7 and 21 and 1:30 p.m. 700 Lavaca St., Austin. www.traviscountytx.gov/ commissioners-court MEETINGS WE COVER

BY ELLE BENT

COST TO TAXPAYERS

The average Austin homeowner will see over a 6% increase on their tax bill due to rising property values and an over 3% increase in the property tax rate from last year

AUSTIN A $5.5 billion budget for scal year 2023-24 was passed by council Aug. 16. The budget was adopted 10-1, with Council Member Mackenzie Kelly voting against it. The overview: The budget includes base wage increases for city employ- ees and an increase in the Austin Police Department budget by $32.4 million, or by about 7% from FY 2022-23. Under the adopted budget, prop- erty tax rates will be $0.4458 per $100 valuation for 2023-24, a 3.4% increase from FY 2022-23. Due to tax, rate and fee changes, a typical ratepayer will see an increase of 3.6%, or an additional $172 per year. The breakdown: The general fund budget is $1.4 billion, with the capital

Property tax rate of $0.4458 per $100 valuation for scal year 2023-24, a 3.4% increase from FY 2022-23. 3.6% increase from the combined projected impact of tax, rate and fee changes—equivalent to an increase by $172 per year, or $14.31 per month, for the owner of a median valued home and typical rate-user.

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

budget including $1.6 million in planned spending. The budget includes: • $2 million for a mental health diversion center • $1.3 million for a family stabiliza- tion grant program • $1.35 million for testing and treat- ing sexually transmitted diseases • $80.9 million for homelessness response

• $1 million for Austin Energy to conduct a study to move the distri- bution system underground • $2.6 million for incentives for police cadet recruitment • $87.2 million in planned capital spending for aordable housing What’s next? The budget will go into eect Oct. 1 and last until Sept. 30, 2024.

Ocials shelve Zilker Park plan

BY BEN THOMPSON

opposing the draft plan Aug. 7, Mayor Kirk Watson said interim City Manager Jesús Garza had ended the planning process. City ocials said con- tention among Austinites over high-prole elements in the plan led to it being shelved. Throughout the plan- ning process, dozens of residents have voiced concerns over bringing negative environmental

Weeks before Austin City Council was set to take a nal vote on the controver- sial Zilker Park Vision Plan, city ocials announced that the proposed frame- work was eectively dead following more than two years of development and public debate. What’s happening: After three council members released a statement

Zilker Metropolitan Park covers 351 acres near downtown.

DARCY SPRAGUECOMMUNITY IMPACT

What’s next: Going for- ward, Watson said the city will take a break before circling back to popular items while trying to reach common ground on more disputed aspects.

and climate outcomes; the park’s commercialization; and more. Others have stated support for the proposal, which aims to address the park’s overuse.

NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • AUGUST 2023