Split council approves agreement with state commission
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A new interlocal agreement between the Austin City Council and the Texas Facilities Commission will pave the way for a study which will assess how to best use state-owned property within city limits.
Under the agreement which was approved with a split vote late Thursday night, Austin will contribute up to $400,000 to evaluate state-owned sites including the Austin State Hospital, Camp Mabry and the Capital Complex.
The Texas Facilities Commission had stated it was interested in exploring partnerships with private companies as a way to capitalize on the properties.
Because the TFC is currently under review by Texas lawmakers, skeptics worry that state leaders could strip the TFC of its ability to partner with private businesses, preventing it from ever following through with any plans.
The agreement approved by council Thursday includes a clause in which the city or the TFC could walk away if either side cannot perform its duties.