Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax this week presented a $6.3 billion operating budget to the mayor and city council. According to Broadnax, the proposed budget aligns with three critical focus areas: people, place, and partnerships.
Budget Highlights:
- Expanding shelter space for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, and funding new positions to bolster the size of the team doing outreach and encampment management.
- $8 million in one-time funding, provided through the Housing Trust Fund, for emergency shelter operations at the Marshalling Yard.
- $3.5 million for a contract to continue operations at the 8th Street Shelter.
- $925,000 for twelve new positions to expand outreach and improve encampment management.
- Increasing emergency rental assistance by $400,000 for a total investment of $4 million.
- Bolstering inclusive engagement and our commitment to foster a community where all identities are respected.
- Establishing a Human Rights Division in the office of Equity and Inclusion.
- $150,000 for We All Belong, a public campaign against hate crimes and incidents.
- $250,000 to develop the American Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan to improve accessibility in public places.
- Expanding emergency response operations and providing much needed safety equipment for wildfire response teams.
- $345,000 for expanded emergency response and cold weather shelter operations.
- $280,000 for wildfire shelters and equipment to improve the safety of wildfire response teams.
- Additional $3.7 million in Austin Energy for Customer Energy Solutions rebates, incentives, and solar program.
- $375,000 for the Youth Athletic Field maintenance.
- Two staff positions and $125,000 to support and maintain the Colony Park pool.
- Creating an essential new department – Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment – to be the centralized hub for Austin’s creative ecosystem.
- Planned spending of $2.9 billion for critical infrastructure projects such as wastewater treatment facility improvements, the new Convention Center, and the expansion project at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Impact on Taxpayers:
The proposed property tax rate is $0.5276 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation. The typical Austin homeowner will still see an increase of $12.90 per month, or $154.83 per year, in the City’s portion of their annual property tax bill.
The City’s rates and fees, including for electricity, trash service, water, drainage, and the transportation user fee, are proposed to rise in response to escalating operations costs. The projected increase for the typical Austin tax-and ratepayer is $22.35 per month, or $268.23 per year.
There will be numerous discussions in the coming months, and final adoption by the Austin City Council will begin on August 13.
To learn more, visit AustinTexas.Gov/Budget.
