Photo: KXAN-TV
Travis County Commissioners Approve 9.12% Property Tax Hike for Flood Recovery
Travis County residents will see higher property tax bills after county commissioners unanimously approved a significant tax rate increase to address the costly aftermath of devastating summer flooding.
The Decision
On Tuesday morning, Travis County commissioners unanimously voted to approve a special tax rate to help pay for damage and prepare for future disasters after devastating flash floods hit parts of Travis County over the Fourth of July weekend. The Travis County Commissioners Court has approved a 9.12% property tax rate increase.
All four county commissioners and Travis County Judge Andy Brown supported the increase, which they say is necessary after the county zeroed out its savings account responding to catastrophic flooding this summer.
Lago Vista City Council member Shane Som plans legal action against Travis County, arguing the tax increase should require voter approval.
Financial Impact on Residents
The tax increase is expected to generate $42 million in additional revenue. It will cost the average homeowner — someone with a home valued around $515,000 — an additional $200 a year. The new rate will be slightly under 38 cents per $100 of property valuation.
Legal Authority for the Increase
Federal and state disaster declarations allow the county to raise taxes without voter approval. Under normal circumstances, tax increases above 3.5% would require voter approval, but disaster declarations provide counties with special authority to exceed this threshold.
What the Money Will Fund
The additional revenue will serve two primary purposes: covering the immediate costs of flood damage from the July 5 flooding and preparing for future climate-related disasters. The county has already spent $18.5 million responding to the summer flooding emergency, depleting its reserve accounts.
Looking Ahead
This tax increase represents Travis County’s response to what officials describe as an increasingly challenging climate reality. The decision reflects the substantial financial burden that extreme weather events place on local governments and, ultimately, taxpayers.
For Travis County residents, the approved increase means property tax bills will rise by approximately $200 annually for the average homeowner, with the additional funds dedicated specifically to flood recovery and disaster preparedness efforts.
Tesla gets a break while local residents do not.
Also on Tuesday, Travis County commissioners unanimously approved Central Health‘s fiscal year 2025 budget, totaling $888.7 million. This represents about 18% more than last year’s budget.
The budget includes a 6.5% tax rate increase for Travis County residents.
Around 5% of a Travis County homeowner’s property tax bill goes to Central Health.
More than $58 million in new strategic investments will go toward opening new care sites at Cameron Center and Colony Park, and developing the Central Health Hancock Campus for phased opening in 2026.
Central Health serves as Travis County’s public hospital district, tasked with funding healthcare for indigent populations. The tax rate increase was influenced by federal funding changes, though commissioners expressed some frustration about approving the increase while Central Health maintains significant reserves. (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) is cutting ties with the homeless non-profit organization Urban Alchemy, which oversees two shelters in the downtown area. According to a city memo, Urban Alchemy caught staff mishandling data, which goes into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and reported it to officials.
Since the city of Austin unveiled its new logo earlier this month, there have been a lot of opinions about it.
Austin’s chief communications director, Jessica Kingpetcharat-Bittner, spoke with KXAN-TV about the reaction the new logo has been getting.
Some Austin ISD parents across the district are voicing concerns about the lack of communication concerning the possible consolidation of some schools.
A woman shot in the head by her boyfriend during a confrontation with police near Zilker Park last week died after being taken off life support Sunday, Austin police confirmed.
Travis County is waving development permit fees for flood victims but still requires permits to ensure rebuilding complies with National Flood Insurance Program elevation requirements.
A firefighter was injured and dozens of residents and businesses were affected after a three-alarm fire at an apartment complex at The Domain on Tuesday.
The fire was found in wall and floor space between the first and second floor apartments.
One firefighter sustained a superficial hand injury during the operation and was treated by Austin-Travis County EMS before returning to the scene.
28 apartments and multiple businesses were affected by the fire. The American Red Cross is assisting those in need.
A 31-year-old man was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing his former roommate and DoorDash driver who disappeared back in 2023.
A Llano County woman was arrested and charged with murdering her mother after her body was found in Horsehoe Bay last week. (CBS Austin)
Iconic actor and director Robert Redford died Tuesday at the age of 89.
Redford had ties to the Austin/San Marcos area and, as a young boy, he learned to swim in Barton Springs Pool.
WEATHER
TUESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAM MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Tropical Depression 7 formed in the Atlantic early this morning, and forecasters say it will likely strengthen into Tropical Storm Gabrielle soon.
The First Amendment protects government employees but not private employees from being fired for political speech on social media, even if posted privately and on personal time.
Texans are losing their jobs because of social media posts about the death of controversial political activist Charlie Kirk.
A second Texas higher education student is no longer enrolled after controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death and political pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott to punish those who “celebrate” his assassination. (Austin American-Statesman)
A legal challenge filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against Beto O’Rourke appears to be falling apart. In a lawsuit that has since moved through four different courts and two counties, Paxton accused O’Rourke of bribery, fraud, and campaign finance violations. The accusations stemmed from O’Rourke’s support for Texas Democrats who left the state to block a vote on new GOP congressional maps. Six weeks later, the case has resulted in conflicting rulings and hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal expenses. (Texas Tribune)
State troopers dispatched as part of Operation Lone Star have continued to cost the state millions in overtime pay even though illegal border crossing are down. (Texas Standard)
A Texas DPS trooper died in a crash Monday in San Jacinto County.
A controversial immigration detention center in Fort Bliss has come under fire for reportedly violating dozens of federal standards, as calls to shut down the facility continue to grow. (Houston Chronicle)
San Antonio’s Ethics Review Board found unanimously that former Mayor Ron Nirenberg violated ethics rules while he was in office. (My San Antonio)
The founding pastor of a prominent Frisco church has resigned after admitting to what church leaders described as “sexual sin and moral failure.”
Hurricane Harvey caused historic flooding in Houston. Why developers are once again building homes in flood-prone areas.
Gambling is illegal in Texas, but there is a gray area when it comes to online betting on sports teams: prediction markets and daily fantasy sports.
Food banks are reporting steep increases in demand as families struggle with higher costs and stagnant wages.
An interview with Matthew McConaughey about his new book, “Poems & Prayers.”
And: From rancheras to country to rock and roll, we celebrate the incomparable Freddy Fender.
(Episode from September 16, 2025)
Court documents confirm that suspect accused of beheading North Texas man was in the U.S. illegally.
SPORTS
MLB: Just when it really counts, the Houston Astros have come to life.
LONE STAR SERIES
Jeremy Peña went 3 for 3 with a walk and scored twice, Jose Altuve drove in two runs and the Houston Astros held on Tuesday night for a 6-5 victory over the Texas Rangers. The Astros a half-game behind red-hot Seattle (winners of ten straight) for first place in the AL West and moved a half-game ahead of Boston for the second of three American League wild cards. (Yahoo! Sports)
AL WEST STANDINGS
WILD CARD RACE
Austin FC continues its run in the U.S. Open Cup tonight, when the Verde & Black will play in the historic competition’s semifinal round for the first time in team history. A place in October 1’s final is on the line as Austin travels north to take on Minnesota United FC. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Austin FC)
Find out the history behind a smokestack that’s a West Texas icon.
