Austin City Hall hosts public town hall on proposed $6.6B budget

Austinites listened to staff presentations, gave feedback, and asked questions before City Council’s mid-August vote on the final plan.

AUSTIN, Texas — The City of Austin is giving residents a closer look at its proposed $6.6 billion budget before the Austin City Council votes on a final spending plan later this month.

City staff hosted a budget town hall Saturday at City Hall to answer questions from community members and explain the proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins in October.

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The proposed budget would increase property tax revenue by 3.5% to help close a projected $26 million budget deficit. During the meeting, residents heard presentations from city staff, asked questions and offered feedback on the proposal.

Several questions focused on transportation funding, affordable housing and the budget amendment process.

Residents also asked whether the proposed budget is expected to change before adoption.

“Of course, council is having a continued discussion about what pieces, all or some of social service contracts will be restored in the any of their amendments,” Austin Budget and Organizational Excellence Director Kerri Lang told the crowd. “They’re also having conversations of what areas will be their priority areas.”

The city has scheduled two additional budget meetings, for Aug. 4 and Aug. 6, before the Austin City Council votes on a final budget the following week.