Council members reveal amendments, cuts as Austin nears budget finish line

Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax is proposing another record-high city budget at $5.9 billion.

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Next week, Austin City Council is expected to finalize its budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. After the city manager released his proposed budget last month, city council members having been working to gather public input, file amendments and in some cases, propose cuts.

Here's an idea of the remaining timeline:

• August 6: City Council will host a work session to discuss homeless services spending
• August 8: City Council is expected to have its final budget work session with a focus on discussing, consolidating and finalizing council amendments to the budget
• August 14-16: City Council scheduled to finalize the budget

Proposed amendments

Heading into the final work session, Austin City Council members are releasing proposed amendments to the budget Monday. KXAN also invited each council member to join our newscast for a longer-form interview.

Here's what they're proposing so far:

Council Member Mackenzie Kelly

Kelly has been most critical of the proposed property tax increase. She released a list of possible cuts Monday that amount to roughly $50 million. Those include: eliminating pay raises for council members and the mayor, nixing the equity, innovation and sustainability offices and cutting city "spin classes."

“We can’t keep telling people they are in an affordability crisis while increasing their costs every year,” Kelly said. "The City of Austin will do fine without increased property taxes, but Austinites will fare worse if we do. I choose Austinites.”

You can find all of Kelly's budget amendments here.

Council Members Alison Alter and Paige Ellis

After the proposed budget was released, many community members expressed concerns about a lack of funding for needed park staff.

Alter and Ellis led the way on a budget amendment that would fund staff and equipment in the Parks and Recreation Department budget to "address a variety of core tasks, such as mowing and other vegetation management, litter abatement, restroom servicing, natural area servicing, preventative maintenance, and work order completion."

Alter also brought forward an amendment that would add an additional 10 weeks of paid maternity leave for sworn firefighters. You can find Alison Alter's proposed budget amendments here.

You can find Ellis' proposed budget amendments here.

Council Member Jose 'Chito' Vela

Vela is proposing a shuffling of two sworn APD officers to the vehicle abatement unit which addresses abandoned and "inoperable" vehicles.

He is also proposing an International Office "as a standalone division within the Economic Development Department, as proposed in their unmet needs presentation." You can find Vela's proposed budget amendments here.

Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool

Pool is proposing an EMS "demand unit" pilot.

"This pilot program would serve the needs of the Domain entertainment district in the North Burnet/Gateway area over the next year, ensuring timely response to the Domain area without drawing EMS resources away from the surrounding communities," Pool wrote.

Council Member Jose Velásquez

Velásquez has a number of proposed amendments including adding an additional unit to the domestic violence unit and funding a task force and feasibility study for a LGBTQIA+ community center.

You can find all of Velásquez' proposed amendments here.

Mayor Kirk Watson

Watson's amendments included the following:

• Support services for permanent supportive housing
• Funding for bridge and emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness
• Creating a downtown command area for EMS
• Additional staff to help the Austin Animal Center better facilitate fosters and adoptions

You can find Watson's proposed amendments here.

Council Member Ryan Alter

Ryan Alter has led the way on several major climate change initiatives this year. Though Austin City Council voted to have city staff bring back a climate bond package no later than 2026, Alter says he's still looking for ways to work climate goals into this year's budget.

"We as a city pride ourselves on being green and I think there is a little more that we could invest here, whether that's more land acquisition dollars, looking at weatherizing people's homes...similarly the city is a huge user of electricity," Alter said.

Council Member Vanessa Fuentes

Fuentes brought forward seven proposed amendments including what is being called a "reproductive justice fund."

"The City’s Reproductive Health Grant must be expanded by $500,000 to support Austinites traveling to access abortion care, including support for airfare, gas reimbursements, hotel stays, ride shares, childcare stipends, companion travel, and food," the amendment reads.

She is also proposing additional funding for AI training, help for flood insurance for Austin residents and a family stabilization grant. You can read all of Fuentes' proposed amendments here.

Other council priorities

Alter, Vela, Velásquez, Fuentes and Zohaib Qadri also released general budget priorities late last week.

Those included investments in public safety and homelessness response along with several miscellaneous priorities like flood insurance, land acquisition and the reproductive justice fund.

You can read all of those priorities here.

How we got here

Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax is proposing another record-high city budget at $5.9 billion. That's up from the previous fiscal year which was $5.5 billion.

To get there, a “typical Austin homeowner” will see property taxes go up roughly $8.52 a month. Add rates and fees, and you’ll see a roughly $22 increase overall monthly.

As additional Austin City Council members released proposed amendments to the budget we will keep this article updated.