Austin’s Technology Commission unanimously approved five recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, based on a digital needs assessment, to address digital equity in Austin including funding for affordable devices, expanded public internet access and increased digital skills training for underserved residents. City staff presented findings from the city of Austin and Travis County’s collaborative […]
city budget
The city’s plan for expenditures based on income.
Posted inCity Council
Council vows to make homelessness a top financial priority
City Council last week reaffirmed its commitment to tackling Austin’s homelessness crisis, pledging to use a recent data-driven report to guide housing and services investments over the next 10 years. City officials will work with Travis County, service providers and other regional partners to finance upward of $350 million to strengthen the local homelessness response […]
Posted inPolice
Public lines up to oppose police contract
The Austin City Council sat through hours of speeches from the public on Tuesday, mostly from citizens who oppose the proposed five-year contract with the city’s police union. A few spoke in support, but the vast majority of the 236 speakers said they were opposed to the $218 million contract and wanted Council to instead […]
Posted inBudget
Fuentes airs budget concerns over move to keep Marshalling Yard shelter open indefinitely
City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes has signaled her concerns with a resolution scheduled for next week’s meeting that could result in keeping a 300-bed emergency shelter open far longer than it was originally budgeted for. The resolution directs the city manager to find the estimated $9 million it would cost to keep the Marshalling Yard […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin faces lawsuit for providing financial support to people seeking out-of-state abortions
The city of Austin is being sued for a provision in the budget providing money to people seeking out-of-state abortions. City Council last week approved $400,000 to fund travel – including airfare, gas, hotel stays and food – for people seeking the procedure, which is banned in Texas. Former City Council Member Don Zimmerman, who […]
Posted inBudget
Taxes are rising, as are charges for city services
Money paid by city of Austin taxpayers and Austin residents who pay monthly bills for water and wastewater, electricity, trash and recycling collection (as well as a drainage utility fee and a clean community fee) will see their cost-of-living increase starting in October. That’s pretty much the case every year, and this year the city […]
Posted inBudget
Council OKs raising property tax, adding funds for homeless services in new $5.9 billion budget
Austin taxpayers will see an increase in their property tax bills next year, but not so much that it will require their approval. Taxpayers will be charged $0.4776 per $100 taxable value, with a homestead exemption of $154,000 for homeowners 65 years of age and older. Child care facilities will also be exempt from city […]
Posted inBudget
Parks, pools, trees – and dogs – get a boost in new city budget
The new city budget City Council passed Wednesday delivered good news for parks and park lovers with the creation of a land acquisition fund, improved parks maintenance, additional funding for tree-planting projects and a dog park in Southwest Austin. Additionally, the Parks and Recreation Department withdrew its unpopular proposal to increase entry fees at specialty […]
Posted inCity Hall
Animal Services Office turns to outside boarding to address shelter crowding
The Animal Services Office has recently resumed use of third-party boarding facilities to handle space constraints and crowded conditions at Austin Animal Center. A memo published last week from Don Bland, chief animal services officer, gave City Council an update on the move to use outside boarding providers, including Austin Pets Alive!, which has become […]
Posted inBudget
Council budget requests include weatherization expansion, despite Austin Energy reservations
City Council has many possible budget amendments to consider this week. Although city staff has made clear that the city’s growth has not been sufficiently robust to support many expensive changes to the city’s budget, Council will still move forward with what they see as important additions when they meet on Wednesday. The Austin Monitor […]
Posted inBudget
Council lays out budget priorities for a lean year
In a nearly three-hour session on Thursday, Mayor Kirk Watson and City Council members offered support for a lengthy variety of amendments to the budget they will vote on next Wednesday, and possibly on Thursday and Friday. With a lengthy list of proposed amendments, almost all of which would increase the General Fund budget, Chief […]
Posted inBudget
Message board shows some of Council’s budget wish list
Although Tuesday’s City Council work session focused almost exclusively on gaps in the city’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget for services related to homelessness, Council members have highlighted a variety of needs in their message board posts. Today, Council will once again talk about its proposed changes to the budget. Here is a selective list of […]