Government
BY HALEY MCLEOD, SAM SCHAFFER & GRACIE WARHURST
Cedar Park delays gas rate increase Cedar Park City Council on Aug. 7 voted to delay the implementation of an increased gas rate proposed by Texas Gas Service Company, so the city can evaluate the merits of the price increase. The 90-day delay pushed the imple- mentation of the rate that was supposed to take effect Aug. 19, according to agenda documents. The city will evaluate how to proceed in regard to the increased rate in the meantime. The gist During the delay, Cedar Park will work with other cities to decide how to proceed. The cities will examine whether the increase is legal among other things, and if it is, the cities will discuss their options for moving forward. TGS seeks to increase its revenue by $41.1 million, according to the documents. What they’re saying “To ensure a thorough evaluation of the proposed rate adjustment, the City has requested a 90-day suspension of the rate increase implementation, pending a compre- hensive review by the relevant authorities,” said Daniel Sousa, Cedar Park’s assistant director of communications and engagement. What else? TGS serves Cedar Park residents in Travis County. Williamson County Cedar Park residents are served by Atmos Energy Corporation.
Central Health proposed budget
Total revenue
Total expenses
Property taxes: 90%
Health care delivery: 77% Dell Medical affiliation agreement: 6% Other: 7% Administration: 9% Restricted expenses: 1%
Interest & other income: 6%
$424M
$544M
Tobacco settlements: 1% Lease revenue: 3%
NOTE: THE DIFFERENCE IN PROJECTED REVENUE AND PROJECTED EXPENSES WILL COME FROM CENTRAL HEALTH'S CONTINGENCY RESERVE FUND.
SOURCE: CENTRAL HEALTH, TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Travis County facing another healthcare tax hike Central Health, Travis County’s taxpayer-funded hospital district, has proposed a 9.3% property tax rate increase for fiscal year 2025-26. If approved, the average homeowner will pay about $608 annually, up $64 from last year. A public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3, with a vote on Sept. 16. The big picture • Expand health insurance coverage for more patients • Close gaps in care Quote of note
“When the federal government is cutting access to health care, we are increasing it,” Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea said. A closer look Central Health is working closely with partners CommUnityCare and Sendero Health Plans on a joint budget focused on primary and specialty care, including a record $98 million for CommUni- tyCare services. Both Central Health and CommUnityCare leaders are bracing for impacts related to the One Big Beautiful Bill, which was signed into law July 4. The bill includes cuts to premium tax credits, affecting many with health insurance through the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid.
Dubbed the “year of access” by Central Health officials, the additional funding would expand and speed up health care options for low-income residents. “Access to care is not just a goal—it’s a lifeline,” Central Health President and CEO Dr. Pat Lee said. “For many in our community, timely and equitable care can make all the difference.” At a July 31 community meeting, Central Health leaders outlined “patient-first” priorities for the coming year: • Reduce appointment wait times to under two weeks • Curb avoidable hospital readmissions and emergency room visits
WilCo funds staff, infrastructure in 2025-26 budget Williamson County commissioners discussed possible additions to the county’s proposed $671.1 million budget during workshops Aug. 12 and Aug. 19.
Williamson County's proposed FY 2025-26 budget During an Aug. 5 Williamson County Commissioners Court meeting, budget officer Ashlie Holladay recommended a $671.1 million FY 2025-26 budget.
item from County Judge Steven Snell to hire a preparedness and mitigation specialist in the Office of Emergency Management to help “the strain on [the] OEM department” from disaster and recovery efforts. Commissioners voted to add county positions, including an additional Precinct 1 constable and deputy constable, an information tech- nology analyst and an elections/ballot by mail coordinator.
Road and bridge $72.73M
The additions are focused on new staff and compensation for county employees, including cost-of-living adjustments, as well as road improvements and future planning for water. What’s new Commissioners unanimously supported an
Debt service $222.7M
$375.66M General fund
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
11
CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook