City OKs increased homestead exemption
Austin | Taxpayers will find more relief after Austin City Council approved increasing the homestead exemption from 6 percent to 8 percent during a June 29 special meeting.The increase applies to the tax year starting Jan. 1, 2016, and will cost the city $3.8 million.
Those opposed to the increase said it would hurt lower-income residents and that the city could fund other much-needed services with $3.8 million.
“We know, for example, these after-school programs are running out because 21st-century grants are running out at some of our schools,” District 4 Council Member Greg Casar said. “I think the city would be an appropriate person to take up funding some of those critical after-school programs.”
Those in favor of the increased homestead exemption say they intend to remain committed to achieving a 20 percent homestead exemption in four years, as supported in 2015.
“Just on Thursday night at one council meeting, we authorized the spending of $29 million,” District 10 Council Member Sheri Gallo said. “I think we are able, and I think we can be able to find resources to fund this.”
City selects vendor for body cameras
Austin | City Council selected a vendor June 23 to supply body cameras for Austin Police Department officers after several council members considered moving the decision to August.The city will contract with Taser International Inc. to supply and support about 1,700 wearable cameras for up to seven years for a total maximum cost of about $12.2 million, according to city documents.
Cameras will be able to record data such as dates, times and officer identification, according to documents.
Some residents who offered testimony on the issue June 23 raised concerns about privacy and the ability of APD staff to handle public information requests for camera footage.
TNC penalties set for new regulations
Austin | Beginning Feb. 1, transportation network companies, or TNCs, that fail to reach 99 percent compliance with city regulations for three consecutive months will be required to suspend operations after City Council’s June 23 vote.The council approved an ordinance in December that set several regulations—including fingerprint-based background checks—for TNCs, such as Uber and Lyft, but did not pass an enforcement mechanism. The June 23 ordinance clarified that enforcement.
Mayor Steve Adler voted against the measure, saying he would rather incentivize TNCs to enforce driver fingerprinting than penalize companies that do not comply.
Animal center gets approval for expansion
Austin | On June 23, City Council approved a contractor to complete an expansion of the Austin Animal Center costing up to $6.7 million.The center, located off Levander Loop near US 183 in East Austin, is at full capacity, and its overflow space at the Town Lake Animal Center is no longer a viable option after the Town Lake location failed health inspections, according to city documents.
The expansion will include the construction of a new kennel building, additional parking, storm drainage improvements and landscaping, according to city documents.
The project includes building 22 new kennels, which can house up to 44 additional dogs, and is expected to begin in October and take about year to complete, said Kristen Auerbach, deputy chief animal services officer.
