Government
BY HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON
$2B Travis County budget funds justice updates Travis County officials passed a $1.97 billion fis- cal year 2024-25 budget—a 16% increase from last year—with millions reserved for judicial reforms. Budget explained About $75.8 million of the budget awaits voter approval in the November election. County officials previously approved a tax rate of $0.3195 per $100 of property value to support much of the budget. However, the officials have proposed a further 2.5-cent increase to support child care. Voters will decide whether to approve that addition—an estimated $288 annual tax increase for the average homeowner—in November. The details One highlight of the new budget is $15.5 million set aside to fully implement a counsel at first appearance program offering legal representation
Task force planning Austin climate bond Austin voters will likely be weighing a climate-centered bond package by Novem- ber 2026, and its development is underway. The big picture The volunteer 2026 Bond Election Advi- sory Task Force was created this summer to oversee the bond framework, part of a broader “comprehensive climate implemen- tation program” City Council is pursuing. The task force will meet for the first time Oct. 21, after press time, and its final project recommendations are due next July. Those could include land purchases, infrastructure updates, conservation initiatives and more. Council voted Sept. 26 to also plan for topics like children’s play areas, homeless shelter and housing, and municipal building upgrades.
Travis County taxes Tax rate per $100 property value Annual tax rates
2024 VATRE*
$0.30 $0.35 $0.20 $0.25 $0.00
FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25
*THE ADDITIONAL 2.5-CENT TAX RATE INCREASE FOR CHILD CARE INITIATIVES WILL BE DECIDED IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
for anyone after their arrest. Officials’ prioritization of the program follows some public frustration and a lawsuit filed in recent months, amid ongoing legal and law enforcement reforms. Commissioners also approved another $1.8 million in indigent defense and legal fees, which includes additional resources for court-ap- pointed attorney fees as well as additional staff in the county’s public defender’s office.
Austin homeless shelter closure plans reversed
Marshalling Yard shelter outcomes The temporary city shelter has served more than 1,000 clients since opening last August.
from Mayor Kirk Watson was approved to maintain it, as it has taken in more than 1,000 people since last August at the lowest annual per-bed cost of four city-funded shelter facilities. A year of operations was budgeted at $9.14 mil- lion, with $500,000 more added to run it through March 2025. The proposal directed staff to find money outside the homeless services budget.
Austin leaders are seeking to continue opera- tions at The Marshalling Yard, a 300-bed homeless shelter, reversing course from a planned closure. What’s happening Last year, an east side convention center warehouse was converted into a shelter to boost local capacity. Council voted to shut down the shelter by March 2025. In September, a proposal
Negative exit*: 107 Exit to housing: 172 Exit to unknown destination: 485
*NOTE: NEGATIVE EXITS CAN INCLUDE A RETURN TO HOMELESSNESS, HOSPITALIZATION, COMMITMENT TO A SUBSTANCE USE OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY, AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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