NEWS BRIEFS
News from Williamson County, Travis County & Austin
Commissioners push back on grant-funded staff positions due to funding gaps
BY CHLOE YOUNG
as of June 14, most commonly funded through state aid and American Rescue Plan Act funding. Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles said the court has been met with frustration by county depart- ments when the court will not extend previously grant-funded positions through their general budget. “We never hear, ‘I get it; that’s what you said could happen, and we understand.’ What we get is a lot of anger,” Boles said. The action taken: The court approved a measure to fund 50% of the salary for the program case manager at County Court at Law 2. Funding for two William- son County Veterans Treatment Court and DWI/Drug Court positions was also approved for when state funding is no longer available, totaling $181,023. The county also approved putting $115,808 toward the salary for the county’s adult sexual assault prosecutor, but denied a partially grant-funded detective position for the Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force.
TRACKING POSITIONS As of June, there were 50 total grant-funded posi- tions at the county level in Williamson County in a variety of departments.
Some Williamson County Commissioners Court members have expressed concerns about using grants to create and fill county staff positions at recent meetings. While grant-funded positions are often created when they have been fully funded by local, state and federal grants, county departments have looked to the court to continue funding those positions once those grants decrease in funding or expire, County Judge Bill Gravell said. The update: At meetings June 13 and 27, several county departments requested that the court approve county dollars for grant-funded positions in need of additional funding. Some positions had not received enough grant money to continue or were waiting on the renewal or approval of future grants. Williamson County entities had until July 1 to request county funding for previously grant- funded positions ahead of the upcoming August budget approval. Williamson County had 50 grant-funded positions
Juvenile department: 32 District attorney positions: 4 County attorney positions: 4 Sheriff/jail positions: 3 District court positions: 2 County court at law positions: 2 Commissioners Court positions: 1 District clerk positions: 1 Animal shelter positions: 1
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
commissioners agreed the county should take steps to evaluate its grants. “I think we need to evaluate every one of the grants that we have in place,” Covey said. “We’re putting together metrics criteria that could say this is a good thing to continue and these are not.”
Moving forward: Amid the debate, the
Homebuyers sought for nonprofit homes
Mansfield Dam Park boat ramp closes in June
RAMPING DOWN With the closure of Mansfield Dam Park, Tournament Point is the only open Travis County boat ramp on Lake Travis. Tournament Point Mansfield Dam boat ramp (closed)
BY GRACE DICKENS
Park’s boat ramp at Tournament Point is the only open boat launch at a Travis County park on Lake Travis, according to the county. How we got here : The closure of Mansfield Dam comes in the wake of historically low water levels in Lake Travis, which sat at 637.73 feet mean sea level as of the announce- ment June 27, down over 31 feet from the historical June average of 669.60 feet mean sea level, according to data from the Lower Colorado River Authority.
BY DARCY SPRAGUE
The boat ramp at Mansfield Dam Park closed June 30 due to low water levels in Lake Travis, according to a news release from Travis County. What’s happening? Boat launching and pickup is no longer permitted at Mansfield Dam Park. Boats already in the water planning to pick up pas- sengers at the dam are still allowed, the news release stated. The impact: Following the closure of Mansfield Dam Park, Pace Bend
Austin Habitat for Humanity is looking for qualified homebuyers for several of its current and upcoming projects. The nonprofit is looking for indi- viduals who make 60%-80% of the median family income: $49,080- $65,450 for a single person and $70,080-$93,450 for a family of four. The process for a new build can take two to five years, but it can be about a year for qualified applicants.
PACE BEND PARK
1431
LAKE TRAVIS
620
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SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JULY 2023
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