[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6538498,"mediaKeyId","3843026-01c0250f5edb853e4b873aa36900db06","parentId",3843026,"title","City, county and Austin ISD agree to pursue expanded intergovernmental collaboration; staff leads to be named","audioSeconds",690,"startMs",5274000,"endMs",5964000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3843026-01c0250f5edb853e4b873aa36900db06&start=5274&end=5964","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3843026-01c0250f5edb853e4b873aa36900db06/thumbnail_5274000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6538498/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/City-county-and-Austin-ISD-agree-to-pursue-expanded-intergovernmental-collaboration-staff-leads-to-be-named","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538498-42a3b703e96a6fd3902a23edbadcd5c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507270&Signature=isnSKOnWTibY-JjQsZpZH4p-7SaLCZ8JU-A2-MzEaqPGb044BDMUKISJGmltIEqu-jxIJkra04dPK58dSWZn66adHi81X3iNeHPvv0-pk~lY3XwO4RnQwnVSBCWXBKxAoGCQwYStnRAFIlsIKH~SWo-kHmHTFr2PmbPLZFU5Cb9maaPh8m5YSaZJusgZqx91rGhTyB0X-0gQxsRLPajMUWrDQNgVCW1VZbataWDjzbZ7ejyuSK5dmRPvbaGbQzT7jZg3qO7YvKosjWbsQvp7M9Qp0KReAigzfeslp2JFrRNIJq9mqSBFI5XgUWtsaKwt2mP1eJX4ik9jOibEgZNFuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-06-16T00:00:00Z","article","City, county and school district officials discussed a framework to identify overlapping services and joint opportunities to save money or increase efficiency, with an initial focus on education supports, public health and infrastructure.

Genesis Covino, chief of staff to the City Manager, proposed naming an executive lead from each entity to shepherd a collaborative review of overlapping services and areas for shared facilities, shared maintenance, or joint procurement. Covino said city staff would commit to convening executive staff and that the city’s committee structure could be used to coordinate the work.

Covino said: “One of the first steps that we would undertake would be to conduct a comprehensive review to identify what are those overlapping services and areas where collaboration can lead to improved efficiencies and cost savings.”

Superintendent Segura and other members urged the group to look for best practices nationwide and to design the collaboration around desired outcomes rather than only past templates. Participants cited examples of existing interlocal cooperation, including joint use of school properties for community parks and shared emergency medical services.

The joint subcommittee did not adopt new binding agreements at the meeting. Members asked staff to identify executive leads from each jurisdiction and to return with a work plan to map joint opportunities in coming months.

The meeting opened by approving minutes from the March 3, 2025 meeting and concluded with adjournment at 1:24 p.m.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Austin City/ AISD/Travis County Joint Subcommittee - Jun 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Officials representing the City of Austin, Travis County and Austin ISD discussed creating executive leads and committee structures to identify shared services, joint facilities and cost savings; the subcommittee set no formal new obligations but requested follow up work.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6538501,"Travis County outlines short‑term plan to start spending voter‑approved childcare fund while long‑term procurement proceeds",527,4061000,4588000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3843026-01c0250f5edb853e4b873aa36900db06&start=4061&end=4588","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3843026-01c0250f5edb853e4b873aa36900db06/thumbnail_4061000.jpg","/articles/6538501/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Travis-County-outlines-shortterm-plan-to-start-spending-voterapproved-childcare-fund-while-longterm-procurement-proceeds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538501-b2c12d7d840ec47984da98c4bef18030/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507270&Signature=YSXgedccfWLeQMwhE-dLJU8uMW8RB~LMf5Q2Na4G5hOEhJBjxXk01vFZJCODo4e4Fq-aj1BusVshBXeHO4vmyRxMka7bqAkd5cJSd70NRl0pBCrMZFSzX4D4ijX14j4Kx6jW3VktoAZFgK4MJVkSkPR7zXOzqmq9gELFy~FlXf75IqewcpUzUtStqKr-C55xHIjErbye4QvC-iLNS9hXQ~pHTZTc9jUJQsy6oFW6uoW4RGIsEILJGRw3SVebGsOfRLynZ16YVY-~6BxFq8JwMBDqFqzDYpy8EOtxex~gmC2Itut-8g8wYwOAPnrKOxmvcv32btgIBqhdZfWhZii8zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Travis County Health and Human Services staff presented a roadmap for using the voter‑approved childcare and out‑of‑school‑time fund, saying short‑term contract expansions and interlocal agreements will put services in place while the county develops a competitive procurement for longer‑term investments.

Corey Darling, research and planning director for Travis County HHS, told the joint subcommittee the county conducted community listening sessions, stakeholder meetings and an online survey that collected more than 200 responses to shape program design. The county has completed initial data analysis and will use that feedback to inform solicitations and program policies.

Darling described a recommended Community Advisory Council with 21 members that would advise county staff on program design, policy, evaluation and community engagement. Darling said the county presented the advisory council proposal to the Commissioners Court on June 10 and received approval to proceed with planning.

To accelerate services while the long‑term procurement proceeds, the county outlined a five‑track short‑term investment plan: expand child care and out‑of‑school‑time scholarships handled through Workforce Solutions; modify existing county early childhood and youth development contracts to add capacity; negotiate time‑limited interlocal agreements with four high‑need school districts (Austin ISD, Pflugerville ISD, Del Valle ISD and Manor ISD); explore interlocal agreements with the City of Austin; and design gap funding tied to the true cost of care for state‑funded child care scholarships.

Darling said the county will return to Commissioners Court in July with more detailed budgets and work statements to begin approval for some fall‑season expansions. “We are working as quickly as possible,” he said, acknowledging each track has a distinct timeline and compliance considerations.

Subcommittee members pressed for speed and clarity about whether the county could expand existing Workforce Solutions contracts and make money available to providers this summer. Darling said some contract modifications will be brought forward to court as soon as the summer and that interlocal agreements with school districts are being drafted for target approval this summer.

County and city officials also discussed program administration and documentation requirements tied to federal and state funding sources; Darling said the county’s auditor and federal audit rules affected timing and the structure of short‑term contracts. The county emphasized that short‑term investments must meet the ballot language for the voter‑approved fund and cannot simply replace existing baseline services in some cases.

The subcommittee requested continued updates; County HHS said it will return with more detailed recommendations to Commissioners Court and this joint body in July.

","County health staff described a five‑track short‑term investment plan, a proposed 21‑member Community Advisory Council, and immediate steps to expand existing contracts and interlocal agreements to get childcare and out‑of‑school services into operation quickly.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6538504,"Austin ISD leaders say new state laws raise costs as district outlines $93M shortfall and staff reductions",2242,155000,2397000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3843026-01c0250f5edb853e4b873aa36900db06&start=155&end=2397","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3843026-01c0250f5edb853e4b873aa36900db06/thumbnail_155000.jpg","/articles/6538504/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-ISD-leaders-say-new-state-laws-raise-costs-as-district-outlines-93M-shortfall-and-staff-reductions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538504-643f7bc2e9fa2cd5346a363b8156c71f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507270&Signature=dni4FxQeyORC-BX~VGryS7UbCnVXkTPLseIzTuV4cDnhSRhNjuhZGD9D88xwTh8hSp1iXUdUHQJppQh5fH418InRujrD9h9lD5sgEw2PbxzEum0gSzOidXqQFD91FJPr6BbSZlDeWQeAdiBnfBYj7UwkXjE5VCoR1KkJ~C9tWxFk9m~VL~vwGQyU0muJZJRSckJrJLkX4CTOLsBxDV~cNXai4ou7y0axteteIrhuFHXRNCkXQfceynMnvSSQqeclx6CEEzsmTgZ9R76JbzFZdLD815cSDRY5oxRBRBAh7OOcTU0rWdnr30c-nEYa-L0uPbYbW6SfYJ~SbRjsiPF1Fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Austin Independent School District officials told a joint subcommittee of the Austin City Council and Travis County Commissioners Court that new state education laws will increase district obligations even as AISD closes fiscal 2024–25 with a projected deficit in the tens of millions.

The district’s legislative staff described House Bill 2 as a large, statewide school funding package that appropriated $8.5 billion and created new allotments — including an “allotment for basic costs,” a teacher retention allotment and a support‑staff allotment — but said the changes do not eliminate a sizable budget shortfall for AISD.

Edna Butts, representing AISD legislative staff, summarized HB 2’s key elements: “They increased the basic allotment by $55, and they tied increases in the future to property values. They have two new allotments, the allotment for basic costs, and the teacher retention allotment.”

Butts detailed other changes that will affect district operations, including a doubling of the school safety allotment from $10 to $20 per student and higher per‑campus minimums. The district executives said the safety allotment is still insufficient to cover the district’s model for campus safety.

“For our model, one that aligns with our values, it does not meet or come close to even meeting the costs associated with it,” Superintendent Segura said, referring to AISD’s expectation that armed campus responders would be AISD employees trained for school settings.

Butts and Superintendent Segura also summarized other passed measures affecting discipline and school choice. They said HB 6 expands teacher authority to remove students from classrooms, caps out‑of‑school suspensions at three days in most cases, allows virtual disciplinary alternative education programs (DAEP), and permits expulsions for certain off‑campus conduct. They also described a new education savings account (voucher) program that appropriated $1 billion for the first biennium, with voucher amounts specified at $10,000 per student and higher amounts for students with disabilities.

Katrina Montgomery, AISD interim chief financial officer, walked the subcommittee through the district’s fiscal close‑out for 2024–25 and proposed budget for 2025–26. Montgomery said the district adopted a budget last June showing a $78 million deficit; subsequent changes in property valuation and federal/state program reimbursements widened the gap before the district’s internal reductions narrowed it again.

“Between January and March, we did a hiring freeze on all positions excluding special education, and we did reductions in p‑card spending,” Montgomery said. “As of May, it’s showing that we have a projected $93 million deficit.” She said the district projects the deficit will fall to about $90 million when June closes and that the FY 2025–26 proposed budget would aim for a 15% fund balance.

Montgomery outlined planned strategies to reduce the deficit in FY 2025–26, including vacancy savings, master schedule efficiency, PEIMS data improvements, land sales identified as excess property, and a targeted $15 million line for forced reductions. The district also includes a central office realignment intended to deliver roughly $10 million in ongoing savings through position eliminations, reassignments, and new reporting structures. Montgomery said employment change notices would be issued in mid‑June with changes effective Aug. 1.

Members of the subcommittee pressed the district on how cuts would be prioritized and how the district would document impacts by neighborhood and student population. Montgomery said the district is using a Support and Resource Index to target resources toward higher‑need campuses and that the aim is to shield classroom‑level services where possible.

Superintendent Segura and AISD leaders repeatedly emphasized implementation complexity, noting that several new state requirements will require TEA rulemaking, local policy updates and multistep operational plans. “Many of these will have to be operationalized by AISD and require multiple steps,” Butts said.

The subcommittee did not take formal action on the district’s budget at the meeting; AISD’s board is scheduled to vote on adoption of the FY 2025–26 budget on June 26, according to district presenters.

The meeting closed with members from city and county government acknowledging the fiscal pressures facing AISD and the need to coordinate locally on implementation and advocacy at the state level.

","Austin ISD legislative staff and district leaders told a joint city–county–school subcommittee that recently passed state school bills increase obligations while state funding and property value shifts leave the district with a multi‑million dollar deficit and planned forced reductions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City, county and Austin ISD agree to pursue expanded intergovernmental collaboration; staff leads to be named

Travis County outlines short‑term plan to start spending voter‑approved childcare fund while long‑term procurement proceeds

Austin ISD leaders say new state laws raise costs as district outlines $93M shortfall and staff reductions