AT THE CAPITOL
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
NUMBER TO KNOW That’s how much the Texas Senate has set aside to expand access to mental health services and construct new mental health facilities across Texas. $2.3B UPDATES FROM LOCAL LEGISLATORS REP. DONNA HOWARD Austin • Democrat • Elected: 2006 HOUSE BILL 300 This bill would eliminate sales taxes on certain items, also known as the “pink tax.” These include period products, infant care and maternity supplies. It was approved by the Texas House in March and sent to the Senate Committee on Finance in early May. REP. JAMES TALARICO Round Rock • Democrat • Elected: 2018 HOUSE BILL 2063 The bill would criminalize leaving animals unattended at boarding facilities— including veterinary medicine clinics and other facilities that provide boarding and related services to dogs or cats—if the animals’ owners did not provide informed consent. It was sent to the governor May 18.
$7.9M second phase of Austin to Manor Trail under construction
House passes bills to improve teacher retention and increase school funding
ONGOING PROJECT
KEEPING STAFF The Texas Teacher Vacancy Task Force issued a report in February. House Bills 11 and 100, which passed April 27 in the Texas House, respond to the task force’s recommendations:
MOCKINGBIRD LN.
BY DARCY SPRAGUE
S. CONGRESS AVE.
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES The second phase of the Austin to Manor Trail is underway.
In April, the city of Austin began construction on the second phase of a trail connecting Austin to the neighboring city of Manor to the east. The project, the Austin to Manor Trail, will be a 5.5-mile trail starting at Daffan Lane and ending near Ben E. Fisher Park in Manor. The stretch under construction is 2.9 miles, starting at Lindell Lane in Austin and running to Ben E. Fisher Park in Manor. The first phase was finished in 2014. Council Member Natasha Harp- er-Madison, who represents the area, said the trail will make it easier for people to walk or bike from Austin to Manor. The trail will be a 12-foot-wide concrete path. It will run through mainly agricultural land. When completed, the trail will connect to the existing Southern Walnut Creek Trail, according to the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. The trail is funded through
Southern Walnut Creek Trail Austin to Manor Trail (Phase 1) Austin to Manor Trail (Phase 2)
BY HANNAH NORTON
The minimum salary for a beginning Texas teacher is $33,660 for the 2022- 23 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency. HB 100 also adjusts the basic allotment—or how much state money schools receive per student—by $140 over the next two school years. The basic allotment is set at $6,160. It would go up to $6,250 during the 2023- 24 school year and $6,300 in 2024-25. The Texas Education Agency in March 2022 reported teacher depar- ture rates to be 11.57%. That rate is the highest it’s been since the agency started collecting data beginning in the 2007-08 school year. “House Bill 100 is a historic bill that is infusing an estimated $4.5 billion into public education while making policy shifts that will support critical increases in teacher pay and greater predictability,” King said. Both bills are now headed to the Texas Senate.
In an attempt to reduce the high rate of turnover among public and charter school staff, the Texas House passed two bills April 27 that are aimed at increasing school funding and provid- ing more support for teachers. House Bill 11, by Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, would provide additional funding for teacher residency and mentorship programs, which help aspiring and early-career teachers. The proposal also increases the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program designed in 2019 to give “outstanding” teachers added pay. “This bill ultimately provides ... an opportunity for all of our schools—all five and a half million students in Texas to get a better quality educa- tion,” Dutton said. HB 100, by Rep. Ken King, R-Ca- nadian, would raise the minimum salaries for teachers, librarians, nurses and counselors based on experience.
Raise overall teacher compensation
N
290
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MAY 18. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT CTANEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. Congress intersection improvements The Austin Department of Trans- portation began improvements at the intersection of South Congress Avenue and Stassney Lane in May. The project is part of the work that will be completed on South Congress Avenue between Mockingbird Lane and Little Texas Lane. The improvements will add a second southbound left-turn on Congress at Stassney, raised concrete medians on Congress, new separated bicycle and pedestrian paths, and six new bus stops. Timeline: May-late 2023 Cost: $5.17 million Funding sources: city of Austin mobil- ity bond, Capital Metro
Give teachers additional benefits and support
BEN E. FISHER PARK
130
Increase help for special education teachers
290
Improve training for aspiring teachers
Expand teacher mentor- ship programs
DECKER TALLGRASS PRAIRIE PRESERVE
Increase access to high- quality teaching materials
JOHNNY MORRIS RD.
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Extend teacher planning periods
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
mobility bonds, a Capital Area Metro- politan Planning Organization grant and a Travis County interlocal agree- ment. The second phase is expected to cost $7.9 million, according to the
Austin Public Works Department. Eventually, Travis County Parks plans to connect the trail to Northeast Metropolitan Park in Pflugerville.
Provide additional sup- port for staff
SOURCE: TEXAS TEACHER VACANCY TASK FORCE AND TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
BRODIE LANE 4970 Hwy 290 W (512) 366-8260 SOUTHPARK MEADOWS 9900 IH-35 Service Road S (512) 280-7400
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