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Tuesday, April 29, 2014
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CITY
POLICE
Property tax drop may not lower rent
Drunk-driving death prompts APD summit to review laws
By Christina Breitbeil @christinabreit
Despite city officials’ proposal for a significant drop in Austin’s property tax rate for the coming year in the Austin City Council meeting Thursday, many expect rent prices in West Campus to continue their steady rise. According to city council documents, the forecast presented by city council financial staff in the meeting projected a 0.70 percent
decrease in the property tax rate for fiscal year 20142015, with “an emphasis on maintaining affordability.” This year there was a 0.20 percent drop from the tax rate of the previous year, after the rate had increased each year since 2007. Austin City Manager Marc Ott said the increase in the city’s property value has allowed the budget to account for the decreased property tax rate. “The departments were, by me, instructed to develop
an expenditure and revenue forecast with focus toward keeping the property tax rate flat,” Ott said. “I can tell you that they have done a very good job in that regard. That, in combination with some benefits that we’ve experienced in terms of property value, has not only enabled us to look at keeping the property tax rate flat, but to do better than that.” Government sophomore Ryan Rafols, who is
TAXES page 2
By Julia Brouillette @juliakbrou
Jarrid Denman / Daily Texan Staff
The sun sets in West Campus on Monday evening. Although Austin will lower property taxes, rent may continue to rise.
CITY
The evolution of Austin music culture ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ not best for local artists By Eleanor Dearman @ellydearman
A mob of people stumble from bar to bar, their faces illuminated by neon lights. DJs blare their newest playlist, testing it on the crowds. Bands turn up their amps, drawing from the crowd’s energy and hoping to someday make it big. This is a surface level view of the “Live Music Capital of the World,” but few know the history behind the phrase. Now, with the slogan prompting more music tourism and concerts than ever before, and with the next season of music festivals about to start, a new era of music in
Jonathan Garza / Daily Texan Staff
MUSIC page 8
Musician Brian Pounds prepares to perform at Cactus Cafe on Saturday evening. Since 1979, Austin has grown from just a few music venues on Sixth Street to “The Live Music Capital of the World.”
CAMPUS
Philanthropy class teaches evaluation before donation
Austin Police Department Police Chief Art Acevedo called for a group of public transportation, law enforcement and criminal justice officials to discuss ways to reduce DWI incidents after a drunk driver killed a pedestrian in South Austin on Saturday, according to police. In a press conference Monday, Acevedo said the department has reported 22 fatal crashes this year, 12 of which involved alcohol or other drugs. “As we continue to have more bars in our city, we continue to be the No. 1 drinking city in the state of Texas, despite the fact that we are not the largest city in the state of Texas,” Acevedo said. “I’m calling for the state, the county, the city and all of our partners in transportation and in criminal justice to come together and talk about how we can do better.” Acevedo said the city needs to explore new and improved modes of transportation, including expanded bus routes, additional taxis and overnight parking. Acevedo said he believes people who are arrested for DWI are often treated too leniently. “If you look around Austin, Texas, and you see how many people are killing people drunk driving, they get probation and slaps on the wrist,” Acevedo said. “Enough is enough.” Acevedo said he hopes to hold the summit during the first two weeks of May.
PHOTO BRIEFLY
By Nicole Cobler @nicolecobler
Students distributed $100,000 among five charities Monday to mark the end of their semester in the UGS class “Philanthropy: The Power of Giving.” In its third semester, the course allows 41 students to research nonprofit organizations and give away the money after in-class debates and discussions. Sustainable Harvest, which teaches families of rural villages in Central America how to use sustainable farming techniques, will receive $10,000, Caring For Cambodia will receive $20,000, and $30,000 will go toward building two wells in Ethiopia through the nonprofit organization Charity Water. KIPP Austin, an Austin-based
Michelle Toussaint / Daily Texan Staff
Sociology and public affairs professor Pamela Paxton’s “Philanthropy: The Power of Giving” UGS class is distributing $100,000 among five charities as part of its last project for the semester.
nonprofit that sends underserved students to charter schools, will receive $20,000, and another $20,000 will go to Common Hope, a charity that works to send kids to secondary school in Guatemala. Each spring semester,
$50,000 is given by a foundation outside the University called the Philanthropy Lab to the course’s donation fund, and the rest of the money is raised by the
CHARITY page 2
Disabled students share experiences, defy expectations The University’s Office for Services for Students with Disabilities has about 2,100 students registered, which represents about 4.2 percent of the University’s student population. Despite their small population, many of these student are working hard to make their presence and influence known around campus. They all face various challenges and roadblocks every day,
but they work tirelessly to improve the University for themselves and for those after them. Visit www.dailytexanonline. com/disabilities to view videos with stories from students and staff about disabilities on campus, and how these students refuse to allow themselves be defined by their limitation. —Jackie Kuenstler
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