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.
We have a new budget folks. Austin City Council officially approved a $3.9 billion budget last week. It will go into effect on October 1st. So what does that mean for you? The average Austin homeowner (with a home valued at $305,000) will pay $151 more next year in taxes
Hurricane Harvey struck Texas nearly a week ago, but its effects will continue to be felt by the state and the entire country for the next weeks, months, and years to come. Houston is underwater. Rockport has suffered widespread destruction and Beaumont has lost access
“Our current land development code is accelerating gentrification and segregation. Our current land development code is choking our ability to have a successful public transit system. Our current code is unacceptable…” These were the words of Austin City Council Member (District 4) Greg Casar at a press conference on
It’s over. The special session of the Texas Legislature ended last week, without the passage of many of the its most high profile bills. When Governor Greg Abbott called this special session, he listed 20 pieces of legislation he wanted to see passed. In the end, only
Local government is important. It’s the level of government that impacts your daily life the most… and yet, many people know nothing about it. That’s why we’re hosting this happy hour. This is your city. Learn how to get involved and make a difference with our
City Council is back from their summer break and that means one thing – it’s time for budget season! Here’s how the budgeting process at the City of Austin works. First, staff at the city’s Budget Office gather information from city departments and the public
Affordability. Gentrification. Traffic. These are some of Austin’s most pressing problems… but how do we fix them? That’s what we’ll be discussing at our July Civics 101 Happy Hour, designed to teach millennials in Austin how to engage with and participate in local government. RSVP today for “Civics 101:
Your tax dollars have been put to work. The first project funded by the 2016 mobility bond was completed late last month. So what is it? The first project to come out of the bond is the Chesterfield Avenue sidewalk. It’s 1,800 feet long, cost $130,000, and
The mayors are stepping up. In the face of the United States’ rapidly changing federal environmental policies and President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, mayors from across the country have decided to take action. At a meeting of the US
Always wondered how the City of Austin actually works? Want an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at your local government? Then the CityWorks Academy might be just the thing for you. Now in its ninth year, the CityWorks Academy is a city-sponsored program that teaches Austin residents all
Now for a bit of local government trivia. Who is the city manager? And what does a city manager even do? Don’t feel bad if you don’t know the answer. Many people don’t, which is a problem because the city manager occupies a very important
It’s not over yet. Last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that he would be bringing back state lawmakers for a special session of the 85th Texas Legislature. (For those not as familiar with the inner workings of our state government… the Texas Legislature only meets