Let’s face it. Keeping up with everything Austin City Council members are up to is really, really difficult. So, if you’re looking for one issue to get involved with this summer that will have the maximum impact, it’s the city’s budget.
Why? Because the budget basically decides which city programs are going to get funded and at what level for the next year. It also impacts what we all pay in property taxes.
Now, if hearing the very word budget makes your eyes glaze over, don’t panic! Here are a few simple things you need to know:
How the Budget Process Works
- On July 16, the City Manager T.C. Broadnax will present a draft budget proposal to Austin City Council members.
- Council members will then spend the next month debating and making changes to that draft budget before approving a final version in mid-August.
- The new budget will officially go into effect on Oct. 1.
A Few Key Terms
- Operating budget: This is the annual day-to-day costs of running the city. It includes the funding for all of our city’s enterprise departments, like Austin Water and Austin Energy, which get the bulk of their income from the bills we all pay for using their services. Last year, the city’s operating budget was $6.3 billion.
- General fund: This is where most of the debate happens. The general fund makes up about a quarter of the operating budget and includes the budgets of all the city departments that are more heavily funded by property and sales taxes. This includes the police department, parks and recreation, libraries, and the animal center. Last year, the fund was $1.5 billion.
What To Keep Your Eye On
- Last year, Austin voters rejected Prop Q, which would have raised property taxes above the state mandated 3.5% cap. This funding would have gone to departments and programs in the city’s general fund. After it was rejected, cuts were made to many of the city’s social service contracts.
- City staff have projected additional cuts to social services in the forthcoming budget draft proposal, which has already stirred up a lot of concern among council members and the community. You can expect social services funding to be a major component of budget discussions this summer.
- The budget isn’t the only major decision city council members will make this summer. They’ll also decide whether or not to call for a bond election in November. A bond is like a loan, but for the city. It’s one of the main ways the city funds big capital projects like new parks, sidewalks, or affordable housing. It’s paid for via a property tax increase, so all of us get to vote on it.
How To Get Involved
- Fill out the city manager’s budget survey online.
- After the draft budget is released, every council member will host a town hall meeting in their district. A full schedule for those events will be posted here.
