[caption id="attachment_130274" align="alignright" width="460"] The 2015-16 Travis County Commissioners Court, from left: Margaret Gómez, Precinct 4; Gerald Daugherty, Precinct 3; Judge Sarah Eckhardt; Brigid Shea, Precinct 2; Ron Davis, Precinct 1[/caption]

Big decisions made in 2015

Budget decisions The court voted to reinstate in-person visits and reasonably priced phone calls for county jail inmates and their families. The court also reduced property taxes for the average homeowner, including those older than 65 and disabled.

Parks and recreation The county added more than 3,000 acres of park and conservation land in 2015 as well as 50 miles of bikeways and sidewalks. 

Courthouse On Aug. 18 the Travis County Commissioners Court called for an order to place a $287.3 million bond election on the Nov. 3 ballot. Voters rejected the bond, which would have spent funds on a new civil and family courts complex in downtown Austin.

Top issues for 2016

Transportation The county plans to establish better transportation connections for eastern Travis County, Judge Sarah Eckhardt said.