Local government is important. It’s the branch of government that affects your life the most, and yet, many of us can barely remember the name of our mayor or City Council member. That’s why we break it all down for you in a way that’s clear, easy-to-understand, and even a little fun. No PhD in poli sci needed!
New to The Austin Common? Here’s two ways we suggest learning more about local government:
#1 – Get yourself a copy of “A Beginner’s Guide To Local Government: Austin Edition.”
#2 – Start reading our Civics 101 news stories, conveniently laid out for you below.
Summary Giving feedback on the city’s budget can seem intimidating. That’s why we’ve put together this helpful little guide. Action Box Share your thoughts on the city’s budget with your Council member! Click the badge above for a list of upcoming town hall meetings. This
Summary Now that a draft budget proposal has been released, every Council member is hosting a town hall meeting to solicit feedback from the public. Action Box Tell your local elected officials what you think about the city’s proposed budget! Attend a budget town hall.
Summary In this video, we break down which city departments are slated to get the most (and the least) amount of funding in the city manager’s budget proposal. Action Box Attend a budget town hall! Click the badge above for a list of upcoming dates
Summary In this video, we explain where your property taxes actually go. Hint – it’s not all just the City of Austin. Action Box Once the draft budget is released, share your thoughts on it by attending your Council member’s budget town hall meeting. The
Summary In this video, we break down where the city’s money comes from. Action Box Once the draft budget is released, share your thoughts on it by attending your Council member’s budget town hall meeting. Where does the city’s money come from anyway? In Episode
Summary In this video, we explain the three major components of the city’s budget. Action Box Once the draft budget is released, share your thoughts on it by attending your Council member’s budget town hall meeting. What do a chocolate chip cookie and a sugar
Summary In this video, we go over the basics of how the city’s budget get developed in the first place. Action Box Once the draft budget is released, share your thoughts on it by attending your Council member’s budget town hall meeting. Welcome to our
Summary Here are 6 simple things you can do right now to make a difference, right here in Austin, Texas. Action Box Don’t be overwhelmed! Just pick one item below to do this month and you’ll be doing great! This time of year can be
Summary The city’s Bond Election Advisory Task Force is holding a series of community listening sessions. Action Box Attend a community listening session of the Bond Election Advisory Task Force. Keeping track of what’s happening at City Hall can be confusing! That’s why we’re here
Summary Election Day is November 4th and early voting lasts from October 20th to October 31st. Action Box Vote in the election! Love Prop Q? Hate Prop Q? This is your chance to make your voice be heard. Halloween is the last day to early
Prop Q is on the ballot in Austin this year. For a deeper dive discussion about what Prop Q is and the arguments for and against it, we sat down with Council Member Marc Duchen and Council Member Chito Vela. You can hear this
Summary Election Day is on November 4th and early voting lasts from October 20th to October 31st. Action Box Don’t forget to vote! In the second video in our series explaining what Prop Q will fund (if passed), we focus on the Austin Animal Center.