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Southwest Austin Dripping Springs Edition VOLUME 17, ISSUE 7 OCT. 25 NOV. 25, 2024
Police deal in focus
The Austin Police Department’s most recent cadet class graduated 54 o cers on Sept. 20.
COURTESY AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
Austin, police leaders eye new contract to address vacancy ‘crisis,’ oversight terms
oversight—one reason the last deal fell through. “[This agreement] recommends meaningful investments in o cer pay and bene ts, helping to bring much-needed stability to the department,” City Manager T.C. Broadnax said.
Association, which represents o cers, in 2023. The contract now on the table is viewed by some as key for attracting and retaining more o cers on a short-sta ed force, and improving overall public safety e orts. It’s also being scrutinized for its record $218 million price tag, and handling of police
BY BEN THOMPSON
Austin’s police force and city leaders could sign o on a new ve-year contract this fall after going well over a year without one. Reaching an agreement has been prioritized since City Council passed on a deal with the Austin Police
CONTINUED ON 30
Also in this issue
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Government: Southwest Austin public safety headquarters under consideration (Page 12)
Development: Community, resource hub for veterans now open in Dripping Springs (Page 25)
Time to add another hidden gem to your list. Discover why Austin’s best-kept secret is an ER. It’s a better ER experience that flies under the radar and goes beyond your expectations. Available 24/7 with short wait times, free parking and a welcoming vibe. All part of our full-service hospital, and all right here in Southwest Austin.
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The more you feed the blob the bigger it gets, becoming a monster clog causing expensive repairs, foul odors and sanitary sewer overflows!
Fat, oil and grease comes from food like cooking oil, meat drippings, butter, sauces, gravy, dairy products, and even salad dressing.
Help stop the Grease Blob! 6 Scrape food scraps into the trash or compost if you can 6 Collect cooking oil in a container then toss into the trash 6 Use paper towels or wipes to remove grease. DON’T FLUSH , toss them into the trash
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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There’s a new storyteller in the driver’s seat. Hop In & Travel With Us for Season 53 of Texas Country Reporter with new host J.B. Sauceda.
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
Impacts
Southwest Austin
3 Pho Wok Owner Tuan Nyguen opened the Asian cuisine restaurant in Oak Hill Centre in what was previously Chen Z Noodle House. Pho Wok offers Vietnamese and Chinese dishes. • Opened Sept. 14 • 6705 Hwy. 290, Ste. 606, Austin • www.phowokaustin.com 4 Dutch Bros Coffee The Oregon-based drive-thru coffee chain is now serving drinks at its new location on West Ben White Boulevard, in what was previously a Long John Silver’s and A&W Restaurant. Dutch Bros offers a variety of coffee, energy drinks, teas and sodas. • Opened Sept. 20 • 1910 W. Ben White Blvd., Austin • www.dutchbros.com 5 La Traviata The local Italian restaurant recently reopened in Lantana Place after closing its South Congress Avenue location in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. La Traviata is helmed by Marion Gillcrest, who also serves as executive chef, and co-owns restaurant 68 Degrees Kitchen with her sister Joan Gillcrist. • Opened Sept. 25 • 7415 Southwest Parkway, Bldg. 4, Ste. 100, Austin • https://latraviataaustin.toast.site 183 6 Dwell Coworking The co-working business opened a second location inside Point Community Church in Manchaca. Dwell Coworking offers memberships, day passes and rentals for workspaces including desks and conference rooms. • Opened in September • 1300 Old San Antonio Road, Manchaca • www.dwellcoworking.com 7 Wetzel’s Pretzels Located on the lower level of Barton Creek Square near Foot Locker, Wetzel’s Pretzels offers hand-rolled soft pretzels and beef hot dogs. • Opened Oct. 1 • 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin • www.simon.com/mall/barton-creek-square/stores/ wetzels-pretzels
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2 Jet’s Pizza The Michigan-founded restaurant opened in Oak Hill Plaza this summer, specializing in delivering Detroit-style pizzas. This is the fifth location in Austin and is owned by Kirsten Kothmann. Jet’s Pizza can also be found off Brodie Lane, South Lamar Boulevard, South Congress Avenue and in Cedar Park. • Opened in August • 7101 W. Ste. Hwy. 71, Ste. A-9, Austin • www.jetspizza.com
Now open
1 PayMore The electronics resale store opened in Oak Hill Plaza this summer. Customers can bring in headphones, laptops, smartphones, video games, power tools and more to receive cash. • Opened July 1 • 7101 W. Hwy. 71, Ste. E7, Austin • www.paymore.com
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY ELLE BENT & SARAH HERNANDEZ
Coming soon
Now open
Coming soon
8 Homesense The homeware store will open next to Ross in Sunset Valley Marketfair, in what was previously Buy Buy Baby. Homesense, a TJX Company business, offers furniture, home decor and lighting. • Opened Oct. 10 • 5400 Brodie Lane, Ste. 400, Austin • www.homesense.com 9 Purificación García The Spanish fashion retailer will open in Barton Creek Square next to Michael Kors. Purificación García offers men and women’s clothing and accessories. • Opening in November • 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin • www.simon.com/mall/barton-creek-square/stores/ purificacion-garcia 10 Roll Shack ATX The new locally-owned ice cream shop is slated to open near Shore Raw Bar & Grill early next year. Roll Shack has two locations in Abilene, Texas, and this will be the first Central Texas location. Owner Cody Busbee said he is friends with the original location’s owner and wanted to bring Roll Shack to Austin. The ice cream shop will serve homemade cream-based, dairy-free and vegan rolled ice cream made with locally sourced ingredients, crepes and smoothies. • Opening in 2025 • 8701 Hwy. 71, Ste. 100, Austin • www.rollshackatx.com 11 Taco Palenque The Mexican fast food chain will open its first South Austin location next year. Construction of the new restaurant in Meadows Crossing on the I-35 frontage road began in early October. Taco Palenque serves breakfast tacos, parrilladas and more. • Opening March 2025 • 9301 N. I-35 frontage road, Austin • www.tacopalenque.com 12 Dutch Bros The drive-thru coffee chain will open another location in
13 Rocky’s Bar A tropical-themed bar opened in the courtyard of South Congress Avenue’s Austin Motel. Rocky’s Bar, named after the hotel’s former mascot, a cat called Rocky, offers cocktails and shave ice from a walk-up window. Seating and shuffleboard is available in the courtyard. • Opened Oct. 3 • 1220 S. Congress Ave., Austin • www.bunkhousehotels.com/austin-motel/ rockys-bar Meadows Crossing on the I-35 frontage road next to Floor & Decor. This will be the third Dutch Bros to open in South Austin. • Opening TBA • 9311 N. I-35 frontage road, Austin • www.dutchbros.com 14 Austin Regional Clinic Located near two existing south Austin Regional Clinics along Ben White Boulevard, the health provider broke ground Sept. 19 on a new 65,000-square-foot, two- story surgery and specialty clinic. • Opening in 2026
15 Cabo Bob’s Burritos The Baja California-inspired restaurant will open its third South Austin location this month in Sunset Valley at the former Taco Ranch site. This location is one of two new Cabo Bob’s restaurants in South Austin; the company’s owners opened an Onion Creek location in August. Cabo Bob’s serves made- to-order tacos, burritos, bowls and nachos. • Opening Oct. 14 • 5033 W. Hwy. 290, Bldg. C, Austin • www.cabobobs.com
In the news
16 barre3 Owner Aurora Jones is celebrating 10 years in business. Jones, who has a degree in exercise physiology, said she opened the studio in October 2014 to help people find better mobility, health and wellness and joy in movement. Barre3 offers full-body, low-impact workouts that combine strength, conditioning, cardio and mindfulness. • 5700 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin • www.barre3.com/studio-locations/austin-circle-c
• 708 W. Ben White Blvd., Austin • www.austinregionalclinic.com
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Impacts
Dripping Springs
BY ELLE BENT, SARAH HERNANDEZ & ELISABETH JIMENEZ
• Opened Aug. 1 • 14510 Fitzhugh Road, Unit 600, Austin • www.winegardien.com
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4 Lucky Lab Coffee Co. The local coffee shop from Courtney Hutton will open in Dripping Springs, serving coffee from Austin-based roaster Third Coast Coffee with house-made syrups, creams and sauces. Lucky Lab will replace a Rolling in Thyme and Dough location which closed in August. • Opening in November • 31560 RR 12, Dripping Springs • www.luckylabcoffee.com
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2 North Hays County Emergency Services District No. 1 The ESD is now operating out of a new building near the Belterra shopping center. • Opened Oct. 5
Now open
In the news
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1 The Little Gym of Dripping Springs The gymnastic training center is now offering classes for children aged four months to 12 years old. The Washington-based gym is one of three locations in the Austin area. • Opened Sept. 14 • 1055 Kibo Ridge, Bldg. 2, Ste. 203, Dripping Springs • www.thelittlegym.com
5 Dripping Springs City Hall Renovations at City Hall began Oct. 1 and are expected to continue for six months. The renovations include new office space for staffers, more energy-efficient infrastructure and upgraded technology. City offices are still open.
• 1 Heritage Oaks Drive, Austin • www.northhayscountyesd1.org
3 Gardien Wine Storage Owners Eric and Kris LaBrie celebrated the opening of their new wine storage facility, offering climate-controlled wine storage and a space to host parties and events.
• 511 Mercer St., Dripping Springs • www.cityofdrippingsprings.com
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Government
Council reverses Austin shelter closure plans Austin leaders are seeking to indefinitely continue operations at a 300-bed homeless shelter, reversing course from the facility’s planned closure. What’s happening Last year, an east side convention center ware- house was converted into shelter to boost local capacity. It’s taken in more than 1,000 people since last August at the lowest annual per-bed cost of four city-funded shelter facilities. Earlier this year, City Council voted to ramp down and shutter the shelter by March 2025. But in September, a proposal from Mayor Kirk Watson was approved to maintain the “critical” site as the city searches for new shelter options. “Those who are experiencing homelessness cannot wait for inaction,” Watson said. Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray said the Marshalling Yard is now a key piece of Austin’s work
Task force planning Austin climate bond Voters in Austin will likely be weighing a climate-centered bond package by 2026, and its development is underway. The big picture The volunteer 2026 Bond Election Advi- sory Task Force was created this summer to oversee the bond framework, part of a broader “comprehensive climate implemen- tation program” City Council is pursuing. The task force will meet for the first time Oct. 21, after press time, and its final project recommendations are due next July. Those could include land purchases, infrastructure updates, conservation initiatives and more. Council also voted on Sept. 26 to plan for topics like children’s play areas, homeless shelter and housing, and municipal building upgrades.
The temporary city shelter has served more than 1,000 clients since opening last August. Marshalling Yard shelter outcomes
Negative exit*: 107 Exit to housing: 172 Exit to unknown destination: 485
*NOTE: NEGATIVE EXITS CAN INCLUDE A RETURN TO HOMELESSNESS, HOSPITALIZATION, COMMITMENT TO A SUBSTANCE USE OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY, AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
addressing homelessness and helps with client intake at other city-owned shelters that would’ve been cut off with the facility’s closure. The Marshalling Yard’s 300 beds represent almost 18% of the nearly 1,400 shelter beds around Austin. One year of operations was initially budgeted at $9.14 million, with $500,000 more later dedicated to run it through March 2025. Money was pulled from Austin’s federal COVID-19 relief funds. Watson’s resolution directed city staff to find money outside Austin’s homeless services budget to continue operations.
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BY ELLE BENT, HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON
Dripping Springs civic plan to be revised Dripping Springs officials are seeking feedback on a draft comprehensive plan. Revisions to the city’s 2015 plan will set guidelines for real estate, zoning, infrastruc- ture and economic development for the next 15-20 years. The overview Officials said key plan goals include: • Managing growth while maintaining community character • Ensuring of utility, infrastructure and facility maintenance • Providing street and highway connectivity • Expanding housing options • Fostering tourism and the economy Residents can provide feedback online.
$2B Travis County budget funds justice updates Travis County officials passed a $1.97 billion fis- cal year 2024-25 budget—a 16% increase from last year—with millions reserved for judicial reforms. Budget explained About $75.8 million of the budget awaits voter approval in the November election. County officials previously approved a tax rate of $0.3195 per $100 of property value to support much of the budget. However, the officials have proposed a further 2.5-cent increase to support child care. Voters will decide whether to approve that addition—an estimated $288 annual tax increase for the average homeowner—in November. The details One highlight of the new budget is $15.5 million set aside to fully implement a counsel at first appearance program offering legal representation
Travis County taxes Tax rate per $100 property value Annual tax rates
2024 VATRE*
$0.30 $0.35 $0.20 $0.25 $0.00
FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25
*THE ADDITIONAL 2.5-CENT TAX RATE INCREASE FOR CHILD CARE INITIATIVES WILL BE DECIDED IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
for anyone after their arrest. Officials’ prioritization of the program follows some public frustration and a lawsuit filed in recent months, amid ongoing legal and law enforcement reforms. Commissioners also approved $1.8 million in indigent defense and legal fees, which includes additional resources for court-appointed attorney fees as well as additional staff in the county’s public defender’s office.
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
Government
BY BEN THOMPSON
Council considers $120M public safety HQ in Southwest Austin Austin City Council is voting in October on a $120.5 million plan to convert Southwest Austin o ces into a new joint police, re and emergency medical services headquarters. Current situation City leaders and sta have been planning for
years to upgrade Austin’s public safety department facilities now viewed as obsolete and falling into disrepair. The current headquarters are each housed in decades-old buildings with maintenance and acces- sibility issues, according to the city. Those include: • Mechanical and wastewater issues, and a lack of hot water, su cient parking and employee amenities at downtown’s 104,425-square-foot APD facility • Foundation and accessibility problems at AFD’s “woefully insu cient” 103,800-square-foot east side headquarters that also houses some police and EMS operations • Mechanical failures, outdated sanitary and safety systems and limited parking in the “highly constrained” 71,093-square-foot EMS o ces east of downtown that also include other city o ces. Mayor Kirk Watson said the buildings are in “crummy, pathetic, dirt sorry” condition and have long needed to be replaced. What’s happening City o cials on Oct. 11 announced plans to buy a 391,000-square-foot o ce campus on Barton Skyway, o MoPac south of downtown. The buildings are located on about 14 acres at 1501-1601 S. MoPac with parking garages and other amenities. Watson said the garages could also be used for public parking during festivals and events. The proposal includes a $107.89 million acquisi- tion, $9.9 million for design work and $3 million for renovations. Council will vote on Oct. 24, after press time. City Manager T.C. Broadnax said the move would complete a longtime city vision of housing APD, AFD and ATCEMS together. Deputy CFO Kim Olivares also said local o ce market conditions allowed Austin to land an “incred- ible” price tag for the purchase; the city estimates building a comparable facility from scratch would cost up to $240 million. The details If approved, the purchase will be funded through certi cates of obligation, which allow governments to issue debt without voter approval. The city used
An o ce campus located o MoPac south of downtown may be converted into a combined headquarters for Austin’s police, re and emergency medical services departments.
COURTESY CITY OF AUSTIN
the same approach for its recent acquisition of Tokyo Electron’s Southeast Austin o ce campus. Bringing all public safety personnel under one roof will “signi cantly enhance” emergency response and communications between the departments, according to the city, with added space for training, information-sharing and other operations. The property is expected to meet the three departments’ current and future growth needs for o ce space, and will not serve as a police, re or EMS station. “We anticipate the joint public safety HQ will naturally lead to improved collaboration among the departments which can have a positive impact on operations,” a city spokesperson said in an email. What’s next If the purchase is approved, Olivares said about six months of review would be needed before reno- vations begin. Estimated completion and move-in dates will be set after that early planning. “We are going to be on a ‘let’s go’ kind of a timeline,” she said. “We don’t want to sit on this by any means.” After the eventual relocations of APD, AFD and EMS in the coming years, o cials also said the city could explore new opportunities for the city-owned headquarter properties now valued at tens of millions of dollars in total.
Purchase plan The city’s debt-backed acquisition would include:
$107.6M property purchase $9.9M for design planning $3M for initial renovations
Total: $120.5M
The 13.83-acre campus includes 390,963 square feet of o ces and more than 1,500 parking spaces
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY IMPACT
Current Proposed Public safety presence
AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY BEN THOMPSON
Homeless service needs rise in Austin area, first-time client count increases
Zooming in
Unhoused Austin and Travis County residents continue to skew male and single, with a majority also experiencing a disabling condition. Racial dis- parities persist, with Black Austinites more likely become homeless than others despite making up much less of the local population. Austin also has a higher share of chronically homeless individuals than other large Texas cities. “It really highlights the need that we need more units to be able to exit people out of the system quicker,” Montaño said. ECHO also found far more people being wel- comed into existing programs around Austin, particularly rapid rehousing, than in the past.
of research and evaluation. The recent ECHO analysis also stated more people may be falling into homelessness now due to issues like housing unaffordability and sluggish wage growth. ECHO’s report of the total number of people who sought services over a full year is different— and much higher—than the number of people who are likely homeless in the Austin area at any given time. ECHO estimated that population at around 5,300 as of late September. It’s also a separate statistic than the federally mandated point-in-time count, or PIT, conducted in-person every two years. The most recent PIT found nearly 2,400 people on the streets and in shelters in early 2023. Austin’s count placed below Dallas, was on roughly even footing with Fort Worth, and higher than San Antonio and Houston. The next PIT is scheduled for Jan. 25 and is now accepting interested volunteers.
Thousands more people in the Austin area sought help with homelessness last year than in 2022, including a spike in first-time clients. More than 24,300 people in Austin and Travis County received services like shelter, housing and case management in 2023, according to new data reported by the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, or ECHO—the organization overseeing the local Homelessness Response System. That was nearly 42% more than in 2022. Almost a third of all individuals receiving support last year were new to the system. ECHO staff noted factors like improved community outreach and the availability of new resources likely contributed to the growing client pool as well. “It’s really easy to get a little shocked by the numbers ... But I think it’s also really important contextually to look at, we just have a lot more programs in the system doing a lot of different things,” said Joseph Montaño, ECHO’s director
The outlook
Hundreds of new supportive housing units are anticipated in the 2020s. Several projects added nearly 350 rooms combined this year, and almost 900 more are expected by 2028. However, ECHO projects at least 5,000 units are needed to meet local needs in the coming decade. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of the city and county’s federal relief dollars—which supported many new developments—are drying up. Montaño said the impending funding drop-off is a “large concern” that local organizations and the city Homeless Strategy Office are planning for.
People served The number of people who sought services through the local Homeless Response System grew by more than 40% from 2022 to 2023.
25,000
20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0
SOURCE: ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Government
BY HALEY MCLEOD
Each year, local governing bodies review budgets and set tax rates based on projected revenue needs and voter- approved initiatives. With budget season now over and the new fiscal year starting this month, taxpayers can begin calculating their upcoming bills. Property tax rates often change annually, and residents of Travis County have their taxes set by multiple taxing entities. However, two entities apply to all Travis County properties—the Travis County government and the county’s hospital district, Central Health—which both approved tax increases in September. TravCo property tax rates in place
What else?
over the years, districts are resorting to bond elections or placing voter-approval tax rate elections on this November’s ballot, including Austin ISD and Liberty Hill ISD. Austin Community College also receives a portion of its funding from property taxes. Property owners within ACC’s taxing district will not see an increase in their average property tax bills.
Other taxing authorities vary depending on where an individual lives. Many of the various tax rates set by school districts are lower than in previous years—a result of a 2019 bill passed by the Texas Legislature that changed the funding formula for Texas school districts. With inflation and operating costs increasing
$1.5 $1 $0.5 $0 $2 $2.5 City tax rate Calculating upcoming bills ISD tax rate
Central Health Travis County
ACC taxing district
Bee Cave Lakeway West Lake Hills
Dripping Springs
Round Rock
Cedar Park
Leander
Austin Pflugerville
Fiscal year
2023-24 2024-25
SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY TRUTH IN TAXATION SUMMARY, CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS/COMMUNITY IMPACT *SOME TAX RATES ARE DEPENDENT ON NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION RESULTS.
Median taxable homestead value Travis County approved tax rate Estimated tax bill Central Health approved tax rate Estimated tax bill
$378,765 $401,806
$0.30465 per $100 valuation
$0.344445 per $100 valuation
Items worth mentioning
For instance, Travis County provides a property tax exemption of up to $154,000 for eligible senior homeowners, according to county documents. Travis County property owners can now review proposed 2024 tax rates and their potential impact on property tax bills through TravisTaxes.com.
Even if tax rates stay the same, property taxes can increase if property values rise. Homeowners may qualify for tax exemptions, which might include exemptions for general homesteads, seniors, homeowners with disabilities and commercial property owners. Each taxing entity offers different exemptions.
$1,153.91
$1,384
$0.10069 per $100 valuation
$0.10797 per $100 valuation
$381.38 $433.83
SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/CENTRAL HEALTH/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Enhanced TxTag customer service is coming!
To improve customer experience, the Texas Department of Transportation is working toward transitioning toll collection, billing, and customer service operations to the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA).
Be sure that you’re ready. If you have a TxTag, log in to your account and confirm that your contact information, license plate(s), and payment methods are up to date. You must be signed up for AutoPay for your credit card information to transfer to HCTRA.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Government
BY HALEY MCLEOD
Travis County commissioners authorized an $888.7 million budget for Central Health’s 2024-25 fiscal year, which includes a tax rate increase. In recent years, the district launched its seven-year Healthcare Equity Plan—a nearly $700 million initiative to invest in more direct care methods and clinics. With the approved new tax rate, this year’s budget saw a $58.2 million increase in funding, totaling $353.5 million, outlined for these direct health care services for FY 2024-25. Central Health budget passes
What we know
The backstory
Support for improved health within the county dates back to 2012, when voters approved a tax rate increase that included plans for a new medical school. Lee informed commissioners that Central Health has increased enrollment in its Medical Access Program—which provides care for the county’s low-income and uninsured population—by 36% over the last four years. Today, there are over 85,000 individuals enrolled in the program. Last year, UT Health Austin—the clinical practice of Dell Med—served over 12,000 unique patients, with 38% of patients using the Medical Access Program, Medicaid or Medicare. Moving forward, Central Health will provide quarterly updates to commissioners, who have also requested that Dell Medical School officials give an update on services provided.
Although the hospital district’s budget was approved unanimously, commissioners impressed upon Central Health leadership the need for greater transparency, again calling out the annual $35 million financial arrangement with Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin as well as a recent clash with its clinical partner CommUnityCare. Since 2014, Dell Med has received $35 million of taxpayer dollars annually—paid by Central Health—with the intent to support increased capacity for greater care of the area’s poorest residents. The money was used initially to fund the creation of the Dell Medical School and has subsequently been used to largely pay staff salaries, according to a recent third-party audit. However, the report revealed that due to a lack of consistency in reporting and communica- tion by each agency, auditors were unable to link the salaries paid to a direct number of outcomes or number of patients served. Both Judge Andy Brown and Precinct 4 Com- missioner Ann Howard raised questions over a recent decision to place Jason Fournier, the CEO of CommUnityCare, on administrative leave due to allegations yet to be announced to commis- sioners, the public and even Fournier himself. Dr. Patrick Lee, Central Health’s president and CEO, explained that the allegations were of a “critical nature” and that investigators were currently waiting on key documents that had been requested roughly two weeks prior. Before approving the budget, commissioners passed a motion directing staff to investigate legal options related to the school’s use of funds and further legal counsel regarding the dispute between Central Health and CommUnityCare.
What residents need to know The average tax bill will increase this year for Travis County residents.
In the first decade of operations, Dell Medical School has:
Trained nearly 600 residents and fellows in medical specialties, such as cardiology and neurology
Fiscal year
2023-24
2024-25
Graduated over 230 medical students
Average taxable homestead value
$475,286 $504,003
Attracted over $100M in health research funding
$0.100692 per $100 valuation
$0.107969 per $100 valuation
Tax rate
Recruited nearly 450 faculty physicians to Austin
Estimated tax bill
$478.57
$544.17
Provided over 1 million hours of care
SOURCE: CENTRAL HEALTH/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: DELL MEDICAL SCHOOL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Election
BY BEN THOMPSON
Incumbent Austin officials hold financial leads before election
Austin mayoral candidates Campaign finances from July to late September 2024. Candidates are listed in ballot order.
Austin City Council candidates collectively raised more than $650,000 and had nearly $1 million avail- able for their campaigns in the lead-up to Election Day, paced once again by City Hall incumbents including Mayor Kirk Watson. The big picture Twenty-two candidates contending for the seats of mayor and council representatives for districts 2, 4, 6, 7 and 10 are on the ballot for Austin voters. Previous reports on their campaigns’ financial activity came out early this year and in July. New reports that were due one month before Election Day on Nov. 5 provide the latest look at finances since mid-summer. Final campaign reports will be released the week before the election. Zooming in Watson continued to heavily out-raise his competition in the mayoral contest and maintained a financial lead for his re-election bid. After raising over $700,000 in the first half of the year, Watson reported campaign contributions of about $216,500 from July through late September. It was more than three times the total of his challeng- ers—Carmen Llanes Pulido, Jeffery L. Bowen, Doug Greco and Kathie Tovo—combined. Watson also reported spending nearly half a mil- lion dollars in the same time period and had about $267,000 on hand, again outpacing competitors. Financial support for Watson is bolstered by the Austin Leadership PAC, which reported almost $236,000 on hand in late September. A pro-Greco PAC reported more than $19,000 remaining, while a pro-Llanes Pulido PAC had $9,210 in September.
Also of note Both Watson and Greco face ethics complaints over fundraising from donors outside city limits earlier this year. Final hearings on those charges will be held in late October, after press time. Greco argued Austin’s fundraising limits unfairly benefit incumbents, and he filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the rule. A judge dismissed the issue until the local ethics complaint is decided. Wat- son’s campaign says the complaint over his activity is flawed, and that it complied with city policy. The breakdown Incumbent Vanessa Fuentes remained ahead of Robert Reynolds in the South Austin District 2 coun- cil race. Reynolds reported spending $200 against Fuentes’s $41,000, and he had no remaining funds to her more than $93,000. Council member Chito Vela led financially in the race to represent North Central Austin’s District 4 with $67,000 on hand, to the more than $25,000 reported by his returning challenger Monica Guzmán. Candidate Louis Herrin reported less than $2,000, while candidates Eduardo “Lalito” Romero and Jim Rabuck didn’t file finance reports. In Northwest Austin, council member Mackenzie Kelly roughly doubled challenger Krista Laine’s donation, spending and cash-on-hand totals and had about $118,000 remaining. Kelly also filed an ethics complaint against Laine alleging she didn’t submit personal financial information to the city on time. In the six-person race to succeed Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool in District 7, two candidates took the lead in financial activity. Civil rights lawyer Gary Bledsoe overtook 2024’s first-half front-runner, attorney Mike Siegel, with more than $48,000 in cash on hand
Donations Spending
Cash on hand
Carmen Llanes Pulido
$33,672
$37,740.81
$4,661.29
Jeffery L. Bowen $11,355
$3,652.10 $9,915
Doug Greco
$10,080
$17,420.94
$45,218.50
Kirk Watson*
$216,483
$488,657.64
$266,891.61
Kathie Tovo
$19,516
$32,499.40 $31,713
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT *INCUMBENT
to Siegel’s $43,000. Candidate Todd Shaw was the only other to report more than $10,000 remaining. In the race for District 10, legislative director Ashika Ganguly pulled ahead of business owner and consultant Marc Duchen in both donations and remaining cash on hand; she had more than $98,000 left to his nearly $70,000. Duchen has also filed an ethics complaint over’s Ganguly’s financial state- ment filing.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & ELLE BENT
Dripping Springs ISD o cials adopt tax rate The Dripping Springs ISD board adopted a scal year 2024-25 tax rate of $1.1052 per $100 valuation, a slight decrease from FY 2023-24 at $1.1075 per $100 valuation. The overview The total tax rate consists of $0.7552 for main- tenance and operations and $0.35 for interest and sinking. Maintenance and operations funds district operating costs, such as employee salaries and utility bills. This is subject to recapture, when the state collects property tax revenue from districts. The interest and sinking rate generates revenue used to pay o voter-approved debt. The background In June, DSISD o cials adopted an operating budget of $100.39 million with a shortfall of $2.77
What’s on the ballot for Austin ISD voters? Austin ISD voters will weigh on two con- tested board of trustees seats and a potential tax rate increase this November. For the AISD board of trustees, 10 can- didates are running. Incumbents Kevin Foster and Lynn Boswell are uncontested for districts 3 and 5, respectively. Ofelia Zapata will not run for re-election for District 2, nor will Noelita Lugo for the at-large position. Voters will decide between two district 2 candidates and six at-large candidates. AISD o cials are also asking for a prop- erty tax increase to o set a $119 million budget de cit. If approved, it’s predicted to generate $171 million in revenue under a tax rate of $0.9505 per $100 valuation. This would be a $34-per-month increase to the average homeowner, or an estimated $412 per year.
Tax rate history The tax rate for Dripping Springs ISD homeowners has slightly decreased over the past 10 years.
$2
$1.1052
$1.5
$1
$0.5
$0
Fiscal year
SOURCE: DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
million for FY 2024-25. The budget includes a 1% pay increase for sta . DSISD will lose about $9.46 million to recapture, which is budgeted for within the $100.39 million general fund, as previously reported by Commu- nity Impact. The scal year began Oct. 1.
Austin- area districts see uptick in school threats
“Many of us are running de cit budgets at this moment and so this additional
cost is something that isn’t budgeted for. But, we have to ensure that our o cers are paid to do this very important work.” MATIAS SEGURA, AUSTIN ISD SUPERINTENDENT
AISD Police Chief Wayne Sneed said that all threats will be investigated and pursued, regard- less of when they occur. Law enforcement agencies are working late hours to investigate, putting a weight on their resources and expending overtime, Segura said. O cials have asked parents to talk to their children about responsible social media use and making appropriate jokes.
Local districts have seen an uptick in stu- dent-made threats against schools since the start of the academic year, said Austin ISD Superinten- dent Matias Segura. AISD is one of several Austin-metro school dis- tricts that have had students arrested for making threats. According to Travis County District Attor- ney José Garza, there are at least 30 cases pending in the DA o ce related to these threats.
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