County officials hope the move will lower expenses for both child care facilities and families.
The context
The new policy follows the passage of Proposition 2 in November, which allowed Texas counties to approve a property tax exemption for qualifying child care centers.
The move also comes as the federal relief funding given to child care centers during the pandemic is expected to expire by the end of this year, according to a news release.
Quote of note
“Today marks a historic milestone in providing relief for working families as Travis County faces the highest child care costs in the state of Texas,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown said in a news release. “This action supports safer, more stable and more resilient families by expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care.”
How it works
Property owners need to submit an application for the property tax exemption to the Travis Central Appraisal District by the end of April.
The application is available here, and can be submitted the following ways:
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: P.O. Box 149012, Austin, TX 78714-9012
- Hand delivery: 850 E. Anderson Lane, Austin
