Tag Archives: city budget
Proposed police budget increase sparks community pushback
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 city budget proposal would increase the Austin Police Department’s operating budget by $31.7 million, or slightly more than 7 percent, prompting pushback from police reform advocates. Some of the major cost drivers…
Budget • By Emma Freer • Aug 3, 2023
Garza says reorganization ‘will in no way diminish’ offices of Civil Rights, Equity
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza has clarified his plans for reorganizing a handful of city offices, including the Equity and Civil Rights offices, which will be located in different buildings despite being part of the newly created Community and Business…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 2, 2023
Proposed budget includes small changes at Austin Energy, Austin Resource Recovery
Citing Austin Energy’s critically low levels of cash reserves, the utility’s financial planners are proposing that it raise base rates by 2 percent, which will cost the typical residential customer about $1.04 per month, Budget Officer Kerri Lang told City…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 2, 2023
Proposed budget emphasizes city basics, long-term financial stability
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza and city financial staff on Wednesday presented their proposed $5.5 billion budget for 2023-24. Austin taxpayers currently pay 46.27 cents per $100 taxable value. That rate will decline to 42.42 cents for next year, although…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Jul 20, 2023
Garza explains motivations behind proposed changes to Equity, Civil Rights offices
At Wednesday’s budget work session, interim City Manager Jesús Garza offered some of his rationale behind the proposed reorganization of four city offices, a change that has drawn criticism from community groups involved in equality and racial justice. During the…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 20, 2023
Proposal to reorganize Equity, Civil Rights offices draws criticism ahead of budget release
The proposed reorganization of a handful of city offices under the early draft of the city budget is drawing criticism from community groups, who argue the changes will undermine years of work to improve equity, civil rights and services to…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 18, 2023
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What you need to know about Austin's budget season
It’s that time of year again. The process to adopt the annual city budget is set to begin late next week and last through mid-August, according to a detailed schedule released by Mayor Kirk Watson last Friday. Over the next…
Budget • By Jonathan Lee • Jul 7, 2023
Council seeks bigger Downtown Austin Community Court budget
City Council last week endorsed adding funds to the budget of the Downtown Austin Community Court and expanding the area served by the court. The court concentrates on providing justice diversion and community services to the city’s homeless population. It…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jun 13, 2023
Community groups propose community investment budget
Representatives of more than 30 community groups, led by Equity Action, will release their proposal for what they call “long overdue investments in public safety,” including higher wages for EMS workers and 911 call takers, at a press conference at…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • May 11, 2023
City Council hears mixed news on financial future
Austin Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo gave City Council both good and bad news at Tuesday’s briefing on the city’s financial forecast. Van Eenoo said General Fund revenues, especially sales tax proceeds and interest earnings, have put the city…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • May 3, 2023
City officials say no to bond elections before 2026
The city of Austin has promised voters it would build a wide variety of projects, ranging from roads to affordable housing to parks, libraries and health centers. City financial advisers told the City Council Audit and Finance Committee on Wednesday…
Bonds & Propositions • By Jo Clifton • Apr 28, 2023
Record $5B budget includes pay increase for city workers – and for Council members
City Council’s $5 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2022-’23 includes a pay raise for city workers, including Council members themselves. Council voted to adopt the budget, which includes increasing the minimum wage for city workers to $20 per hour, in a 10-1 vote late…
