It's Official: We're Cell Phone Free

Tonight our cell phones ceased contact with Sprint. We're cut off from the mothership. We've sent out the emails telling people about the change, we've answered the questions, and we're starting to get a little bewildered ourselves.

Really, I'm fine with the change. I don't get that many phone calls anyway, and the people that need to contact me know how to do that. But I know that Ryan will have a harder time with the change than I will, because he has more of a need to be connected than I do.

Nevertheless, three days ago we pulled the trigger. Tonight the service is off. We are continuing to answer the questions of "how" and "why," even to ourselves, but it's become more than an exercise in frugality. We're throwing ourselves into what many are calling a social experiment - can a couple with a kid and full-time jobs survive in the modern world without the constant tether of a cell phone?

We spoke with Jay Carter of LivingInAustin.com and the Financial Survival Podcast about how the decision has affected us so far. The entire interview will be part of the Financial Survival Podcast next Thursday, but here's a preview (click the play button above).

Gubernatorial Candidates Battle Over Budget

Dallas-based public television and radio station KERA talked to the two candidates in a showdown for Texas governor.  Specifically, the budget is of big concern.  News director Shelley Kofler sat down with each candidate to discuss how Gov. Rick Perry and his opponent, Democrat Bill White, will lead Texas through budget cuts.

The former Houston Mayor told KERA Governor Rick Perry is trying to hide the state's financial problems until after election day.  White says he believes the deficit is probably double what Perry claims, and that Texas should anticipate an additional shortfall this year, according to KERA News.


Friday, Governor Rick Perry told Kofler the upcoming budget gap is expected to be around $11 billion.  He also said there is no televised debate planned.  Still, each candidate is keeping budget talks on top of their priority list.

Is Perry downplaying the severity of a funding crisis?  Listen to KERA's interviews and decide for yourself.  Then let us know what you think.

City of Austin Approves $2.8 Billion Budget

The Austin City Council held an unusual Monday meeting today and unanimously approved a balanced $2.8 billion budget that will take effect on October 1.

A previously estimated $11 million to $28 million shortfall was made up in part by eliminating about 22 vacant positions in city offices and by cutting costs in what the council calls departmental "budget scrubbing."

Among the highlights from the approved budget, the city is adding an additional 48 police officers, 30 paramedics, and 10 firefighters. The council is also going forward with the no-kill plan for animal services, increasing staffing in the Planning and Development Review Department, and allocating an additional $500,000 to purchase library materials. However, $300,000 that would have funded the Trail of Lights is being reallocated to fund park maintenance instead of the city's annual holiday walk.

The new budget comes with increases in public service rates. Austin Energy customers will see their electric bill go up an average of 79 cents for residential customers. Residents who use 90-gallon garbage carts will have their bill increased by $1, but 60 and 30 gallon carts will remain the same. In addition, Austin Water customers will face an average increase of $3.84 to their bill.

In addition to approving the budget for Fiscal Year 2011, the city council held their first public tax rate hearing on a proposed property tax rate of 45.71 cents per $100 in assessed property value. Another public hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. on September 29. The council expects to adopt the new tax rate on September 30.

For a detailed look at the approved budget, visit the City of Austin's dedicated budget website.