Austin’s public safety departments – police, fire and EMS – are preparing for the annual budget process in July and August by forecasting budgets and drafting wish lists, all of which include additional funding to fill vacant positions. Meanwhile, a group of more than 30 community organizations has drafted a Community Investment Budget for Fiscal […]
city budget
The city’s plan for expenditures based on income.
Posted inBudget
Economic rebound, spending efficiency point to rosier budget picture
The city’s immediate financial outlook is looking more optimistic due to a strong rebound in sales tax collections, increased development, and City Council and city management’s efforts to slow the growth of city cost drivers over the last three years, according to Budget Officer Kerri Lang. However, city budget writers are also anticipating a budget […]
Posted inCity Council
Austin postpones vote on pilot program to provide basic income to struggling families
Elected officials in Austin decided Thursday to delay a vote on a program that would have sent a monthly stipend to low-income families, no strings attached. City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, who represents far Northwest Austin, first called for a postponement. “There are parts of this item that have raised questions that remain to be answered,” […]
Posted inBudget
Community groups push for safety, public services in $73.5M budget request
More than 30 community groups and service organizations have created a list of recommendations for the next city budget, with 16 proposed expenditures focused around safety and public health totaling $73.5 million. Details on the Community Investment Budget were released to members of City Council and staff on Wednesday, ahead of budget talks that will […]
Posted inEMS
EMS union, city at odds over pay
Twenty-six Emergency Medical Services employees have quit their city jobs so far this year, and according to Austin-Travis County EMS Association President Selena Xie, that’s double the number of separations in 2020 and 2021. She added that, in all of 2019, before the pandemic, 28 medics left the city. She blames required overtime and low […]
Posted inCity Hall
Compensation study for Council staffers could lead to pay increases
City Council members appear ready to pursue increased salaries for their office staff as an answer to the city’s affordability crisis and the current competitive hiring environment that makes it difficult to retain workers. At last week’s work session, Joya Hayes, director of human resources and civil service, gave an update on a request made […]
Posted inPublic Safety
City seeks to separate forensics lab from APD while complying with state law
It’s never too soon to talk about the 2023 city budget, especially as it relates to the Austin Police Department and the divisions that were separated out from under APD before the state Legislature penalized cities for thinking outside the box. The Public Safety Commission kick-started the budget conversation Monday with a discussion about the […]
Posted inEMS
EMS contract talks center on salary and staffing needs
With the city’s rejection of the Austin EMS Association’s proposed wage increase, the two sides now move to the interest-based bargaining phase of negotiations in an effort to achieve common ground on quality-of-life issues such as work-life balance and mandatory overtime. Eventually, both sides will come to an agreement on wages. The association had asked […]
Posted inPolice
Austin police should budget for 100 more patrol officers, study says. Chief unsure if he’ll ask for funds.
The Austin Police Department should budget for 108 more patrol officers to respond to emergency calls more quickly, researchers hired by the nonprofit Greater Austin Crime Commission say. In an analysis of about 2 million 911 calls going back to 2016, researchers with the University of New Haven and Texas State University determined officers had a better […]
Posted inBudget
Park rangers get funding for six additional staff members
For months, the Parks and Recreation Department has been pleading for additional park ranger staffing resources. Finally, the city has answered its prayers with $615,000 in increased funding for the department’s Park Ranger program. In a memo sent to Mayor Steve Adler and City Council last Friday, Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano detailed a number of budget items and […]
Posted inBudget
Austin passes $4.5 billion budget, increases police budget per state law
Austin city leaders approved a new budget that boosts spending on policing and puts dollars toward public transit planning and housing. All told, City Council members OK’d a $4.5 billion budget Thursday evening, representing a 7 percent increase over the current budget. The city’s fiscal year begins Oct. 1. “We unanimously passed a budget today […]
Posted inBudget
Last year Austin cut its police budget by millions. A new state law means it’ll likely reverse that move this week.
The same day Austin City Council members voted to reduce the police budget by roughly $150 million, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pledged to make it so cities could never do it again. “Austin’s decision puts the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department and their families at greater risk, and paves the way for lawlessness. […]