BY ELLE BENT, HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON
Owners now required to microchip pets Pet owners in Austin are now required to ensure their animals are microchipped under new city policy, following the approval of an Austin City Council ordinance Sept. 26. The mandate applies for pets ages 4 months and older. Pet owners must keep current microchip registration for all their animals and update that information if they move or if a pet changes owners. The new requirement doesn’t come with any formal penalties for non-compliance. Any owners found to have pets without microchips will receive educational mate- rials about the process from the Animal Services Office. The Austin Animal Center currently provides free microchipping services and pet ID tags during business hours.
Central Health budget passes with new tax rate Travis County commissioners authorized an $888.7 million budget for Central Health’s 2024-25 fiscal year, which includes a tax rate increase. Beginning Oct. 1, residents will see a 6.5% increase in their Central Health property tax rate. For the average Travis County homeowner, the new tax rate of $0.107969 per $100 valuation will result in an estimated annual tax increase of $66. Home- owners can expect to pay around $544 in property taxes to Central Health. The reason 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 bud- get saw a $58.2 million increase in funding, totaling $353.5 million, outlined for these direct health care
Tax impact
Fiscal year
2023-24
2024-25
Average taxable homestead value
$475,286
$504,003
Tax rate per $100 valuation
$0.100692
$0.107969
Estimated tax bill
$478.57
$544.17
SOURCE: CENTRAL HEALTH/COMMUNITY IMPACT
services for FY 2024-25. 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. Moving forward, Central Health will provide quarterly updates to commissioners.
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NORTH - NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION
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