Government
BY HALEY MCLEOD, BEN THOMPSON & AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
Austin to spend $123M on public safety sites A new land acquisition to expand Austin’s public safety training campus is set to be approved, weeks after City Council voted to buy two Southwest Austin offices to serve as a future combined police, fire and emer- gency medical services headquarters. The big picture On Nov. 21, after press time, council members will vote to spend $2.24 million for more than 4 acres of land near the existing training center in South Austin to expand that facility’s capacity, according to the city. It’d come soon after they authorized the purchase of what will become a joint headquarters building off MoPac on Oct. 24. The acquisition and related design and rehabilitation will cost $120.5 million, to be funded through city debt.
Security concerns Texas judges, court staff and others in the legal system have faced an increasing volume of security incidents this decade including dozens of personal threats made in 2023 alone.
342.1% increase since 2014
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SOURCE: TEXAS OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Travis County invests in judicial security systems Travis County commissioners approved new judicial safety funding this fall, following scrutiny of previous home security spending on District Attorney José Garza. What happened County leaders approved a $115,000 budget amendment for Garza’s security after a March executive session. Attorney General Ken Paxton Voters approve Hays County mobility bond Residents passed Hays County’s Proposition A, a $440 million bond for almost three dozen trans- portation projects, in the Nov. 5 election. What you need to know Hays County commissioners called the bond election for safety, mobility and regional connec- tivity improvements. Voters ended up supporting the measure 55.75%-44.25%, according to election
since sued them, claming their “secret” discussion over using public money at a private residence violated state law. On Oct. 22, commissioners approved $500,000 for county judge, staff and elected officials’ safety. They also reaffirmed Garza’s security funding, which a county spokesperson said is needed to address threats. Commissioner Jeff Travillion said the moves are needed to protect public workers in a “poisonous political time.” District Judge Julie Kocurek—shot nine years ago in apparent retaliation for a judicial ruling—said funding may help “vulnerable” officers given rising threats against them. results. Some locals and area groups raised concerns with Proposition A before the vote. Four residents also filed a lawsuit to halt the election in October, claiming commissioners violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when ordering the vote in August. Driftwood property owner and lead plaintiff Les Carnes said county residents were deprived of required public notice about the bond’s con- sideration, price and tax information, and the right to participate in determining what should be included. Despite the bond’s passage, an attorney for the plaintiffs said they plan to continue with the
New safety centers
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legal process over the alleged open meetings act violation. The group hopes to send the package back to the drawing board and craft a new bond with community input. County Communications Manager Natalie Frels said the county cannot comment on pending litigation. Zooming in Most bond projects in precincts 1 and 2 are east of I-35—an area historically neglected due to lack of growth, according to the county—while some projects in precincts 3 and 4 will give drivers alternative routes from Austin to Hays County.
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
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