AUSTIN, Texas — With Austin City Council just three weeks away from voting on a new city budget that takes effect Oct. 1, residents urged leaders to protect funding for nonprofits and social services as the city considers tax and spending increases.
Council heard public comment on the proposed $6.6 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins in October. The meeting opened with public comment from Austinites, and there are two more meetings scheduled before the final meeting when council will vote on the budget.
The current proposal includes the state-mandated cap of a 3.5% property tax increase, but the median homeowner would see about a 6% increase when higher utility rates are included. Several departments and service areas are slated for increases under the proposal, including a 5.4% increase for animal services and a 6.9% increase for resource recovery.
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Funding for homeless services would rise 12.8%, and housing — including rental assistance — is proposed to increase by nearly 20%. The proposed budget also includes increases for the police department and the fire department.
Much of the public comment focused on maintaining city support for nonprofits that provide social services — the area in the proposed budget that faces cuts.
“If we pay attention to areas of the budget that are overinflated and notice areas of the budget that are alarmingly underfunded given the needs of our city, meaningful adjustments can be made. I ask that you have an open mind and listen to what is proposed in the community investment budget,” said Austinite Sharon Blythe.
A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for July 30. Whatever City Council decides, the new budget will go into effect Oct. 1.