Government
BY HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON
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
Central library security concerns mount The Austin Public Library is turning to county sheriff’s deputies to address safety and security issues. The overview Since April, the APL has spent more than $16,000 on security support from off-duty law enforcement at the Central Library. On July 18, City Council approved up to $200,000 more to expand those services at multiple branch locations over the coming years. The new APL safety initiative has involved off duty Travis County Sheriff’s Office employees taking shifts at the library. The plan responds to an 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.
Proposed tax increase Travis County officials will likely ask voters to sign off on a property tax increase to fund child care programming.
Current 2023-24 rate
$0.304655*
Proposed rate increase
$0.025*
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
• Expand child care outside traditional work hours • Cover gaps in state funding The update could support many child care providers, according to the county. Commissioners must call an election by Aug. 19.
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
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:
existing properties and new construction 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 rules for cooling to certain temperatures. Austin’s new standards were inspired by ordinances in Dallas.
at least 15 degrees cooler than outdoor temperatures
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, the standards would apply for
no hotter than 85 degrees at most
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
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