Cities and counties have the task of preparing and adopting a budget within their fiscal year time frame. Sometimes even a two-year budget cycle may be employed. Although not part of an annual or biennial budget, it is a good idea to develop a five-year plan for long-term capital purchases and projects. A budget is a useful tool that shows how much money […]
Two Texans were named to President-Elect Donald Trump’s cabinet this week. Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson was nominated for Secretary of State and former Gov. Rick Perry has been selected to lead the Department of Energy. Both picks bring with them strengths and weaknesses that could lead to contentious confirmation hearings. Tillerson may be one […]
Corpus Christi officials announced chemical contamination in the city’s water supply on Wednesday. Residents were asked not to drink or bath in tap water after an asphalt emulsifying agent was leaked in the water supply. Officials said between three and 24 gallons of Indulin AA86 were believed to be released in a backflow incident that […]
Ken Price, Chief Commercial Officer, Lower Colorado River Authority Career Highlights and Education: I have a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, and I’m a licensed professional engineer in Texas. I’ve spent my professional career in the wholesale side of electric power companies. My jobs have included planning new […]
State Representative John Otto will discuss the priorities of the 85th legislative session at the Biennial Legislative Communication Conference at The University of Texas at Austin on Oct. 13. Attendance is limited and those wishing to attend should register now at lbj.utexas.edu/legislativecommunication. Otto was named the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee during the 84th legislative […]
Oct. 11, 2016 Accessibility of Things is a free, hands-on digital accessibility workshop for public-sector staff. This half-day event will provide foundational knowledge for making websites, documents, e-learning and mobile applications perceivable by people with disabilities. Jeff Kline, program director of Statewide EIR Accessibility at DIR, and Hiram Kuykendall, Microassist Chief Technology Officer, will show […]
The U.S. Department of Defense announced it will establish a new Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, or DIUx, in Austin. The Austin hub for innovation will be the DOD’s third DIUx site, with offices already existing in Silicon Valley and Boston. The goal of the initiative is to link the DOD with leading innovators to address national security […]
Sept. 28, 2016 The Alamo Area Council of Governments and the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott will host the Inaugural Governor’s Business Forum for Women at the Whitley Conference Center, Oblate School of Theology, 285 Oblate Drive, San Antonio, TX 78216. Doors open at 8:00 a.m., followed by an 8:30 a.m. welcome from San […]
State Senator Kirk Watson will provide the afternoon keynote at the Biennial Legislative Communication Conference at The University of Texas at Austin on Oct. 13. Attendance is limited and those wishing to attend should register now atlbj.utexas.edu/legislativecommunication. Watson has represented Travis and Bastrop Counties in the Texas Senate since 2007 and he is the former mayor […]
State health agencies are undergoing a massive restructuring at the direction of the state legislature. The changes are being implemented to make the system more efficient, effective and responsive. Client services have been combined into a single division at HHSC. The system is consolidating five agencies into three, with the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services […]
The Texas Comptroller has released totals for fiscal 2016 state revenues and monthly state revenues for August. Net revenue available for general purpose spending after severance tax revenues are set aside for transfer to the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) and the State Highway Fund (SHF) was $49.9 billion, 1.3 percent below the Certification Revenue Estimate […]
Mary Scott Nabers, president and CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI), will be among a group of nationally recognized P3 experts who will speak to a group of public officials and company representatives at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 15. The Long and Winding Road to Smart City P3s is being organized by Smart & […]
Gerald Daugherty, Travis County Commissioner, Precinct Three Career Highlights and Education: 1968 – signed with Boston Red Sox after high school at Cypress Fairbanks (Houston); 1975 – The University of Texas, B.S. Physical Education; 1976 to 2000 – private businessman; 2002 to 2008 – elected PCT 3 County Commissioner, Travis County; 2009 – opened Jack Allen’s […]
House Research Organization – Texas school finance system survives latest Supreme Court review Sept. 2016 State Auditor’s Office – An Audit Report on Financial Processes at the Department of Licensing and Regulation Sept. 2016 City of Dallas – Audit of Management Services / 311 Customer Service Center Sept. 2016 Texas State Auditor’s Office – An Audit Report on […]
Gov. Greg Abbott has announced the following appointments: Chad Craycraft, Dallas, Texas Ethics Commission Katie Kennedy, Houston, Texas Ethics Commission Alejandro “Alex” Cestero, Houston, Judicial Compensation Commission; Scott Salmans, McGregor, Judicial Compensation Commission; Bill Strawn, Austin, Judicial Compensation Commission. Freddie “Fred” Rangel, San Antonio, Texas Real Estate Broker Lawyer Committee Joe Martino, Marshall, Texas Crime Stoppers Council; Greg […]
Elaine Hart was selected Thursday as the interim city manager for Austin while the city searches for a permanent city manager. Hart is the city’s chief financial officer. She will take on the duties of City Manager Marc Ott, who announced he was leaving Austin to become the executive director of the International City/County Management […]
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), which was intended to be a self-funded agency, may be able to fully meet that goal after a new fee structure is implemented in January. The TxDMV began operations in November 2009 after the 81st Legislature created it to be a stand-alone agency able to provide a more customer-focused […]
October 11, 2016 Started seven years ago by San Antonio Clean Technology Forum, the annual Water Forum brings together municipal, educational, economic and political interests for engaged, informed discussions regarding regional water issues. This year’s event, Water Forum VII: A Legacy – Edwards Aquifer Authority at 20 Years, will feature the fifth annual Water for Life Award, presented […]
Jan. 23-25, 2017 The Water for Texas 2017 Conference in Austin, Texas, will showcase innovative scientific, planning and financial solutions to water challenges; interactive data and technology; and compelling conversations on water issues that affect all Texans. Panel discussions, workshops, and exhibits will offer the opportunity to network and engage with industry leaders, elected officials and […]
lbj.utexas.edu/legislativecommunication Biennial Legislative Communication Conference October 13, 2016 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. The University of Texas-Austin, Commons Learning Center, 10100 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78758 The Biennial Legislative Communication Conference has been sponsored jointly by the LBJ School of Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, Inc. since 1998. It is designed to bring government executives, appointees, […]
Government entities are using drones in a variety of ways, from checking roof leaks to patrolling parking lots to providing a visual assist during emergency situations. McAllen Independent School District’s board president, Sam Saldivar, Jr., recently announced the district’s intention to purchase state-of-the-art drones, or unmanned aerial system (UAS), to patrol all campuses. Saldivar said the drones […]
A $6 billion project to build a dike to prevent or reduce storm surge in Harris, Galveston and Chambers counties is under consideration by 28 affected municipalities. The “Ike Dike” has been proposed by the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District following a study the organization conducted on the $26 billion in damage caused […]
The director of the Texas Legislative Budget Board (LBB) is just one of many officials ready to help you prepare for the upcoming legislative session. Director Ursula Parks will offer her insights at the Biennial Legislative Communication Conference at The University of Texas at Austin on Oct. 13, which is quickly filling up. Parks began her career […]
Dale Fisseler, City Manager, City of Waco Career highlights and education: I had the opportunity to work for the City of Dallas in the 1980s and Fort Worth from 1990 to 2010. I retired as city manager in Fort Worth in 2010. I moved back to my hometown of Waco in 2011 and became city manager […]
The Huntsville City Council voted to ask voters in November to approve $128 million in bonds to fund two new municipal facilities and upgrades to its water and wastewater system. The largest of the three Huntsville bond propositions is requesting approval of up to $72 million to renovate the water plant and two wastewater treatment […]
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