Government
BY GRACE DICKENS
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 must decide by Aug. 19 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
City opens public safety trailer
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*
Northwest Austin has a new law enforce- ment resource, following the launch of a public safety engagement center near city limits on July 11. Council member Mackenzie Kelly said the opening of the new public safety center, a city trailer stationed at 10800 Pecan Park Blvd., came as a result of residents’ calls for a heightened public safety presence in the area. Kelly requested the creation of a police substation in Northwest Austin back in March 2023 at what is now the supportive housing facility Pecan Gardens. Located across the street from Pecan Gardens, the new engagement center will serve as a “tem- porary stopgap,” Kelly said, while plans for a permanent police substation in Northwest Austin remain in development.
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 provide new opportunities for an estimated 9,800 kids and support many child care providers, according to the county.
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