Resist the Attack on our People with Investment in our People!
Now is not the time to roll over and accept cuts to local health, housing, or food benefits or stray from the path of environmental responsibility. We deserve better and if we lean on each other, we can do better and be better. Migrants are going to need lawyers. Kids are going to need a place to get the books that are being banned. Families will need to be able to use all our beautiful parks, community centers and pools to feel supported and safe. Let’s make Austin a True Sanctuary City, free of unwarranted government intrusion and safe for everyone who lives here.
The Community Investment Budget, a collaboration by two dozen community based organizations, identified critical spending needs that can help protect our residents from the terrifying actions of our state and federal government while preserving the city we all love. This year, our residents face serious new challenges from state and federal leaders who have already reversed the nation’s course on climate, equity, inclusion, civil rights and citizenship. As American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds run out, and the Trump administration continues to cut off already approved grant funds, critical city services to our most vulnerable are on the chopping block including our housing for the unhoused. We urgently need to help one another right here at home, and we do that with our decisions about how to spend our local tax dollars.
We understand that Council cannot print money, but the Community Investment Budget demands that Austin stay the course on the environment, wages and housing the unhoused, while also making the following modest spending increases to address new needs and service gaps called out by those closest to the problems, our own residents:
- Reentry navigators for jobs/housing formerly incarcerated [$1.4M]
- Immigration Legal Services for Low Income Families [$1M]
- Library books/materials to reduce long waits for books [$900K]
- Workforce Development with emphasis on formerly incarcerated [$7.46M]
- Climate Plan Coordinator [$90K]
- Outreach and Engagement for Sustainability Incentives [$270K]
- Implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan [$270K]
- Sustainable Purchasing program manager [$110K]
- Pro-Climate/Pro-Health Food Implementation [$75K]
- Food Plan Waste Reduction/Diversion Programs [$755K]
- Austin Public Health new funding and NO CUTS [$734K]
- Forensic nursing pay increase [$300K]
- Early Childhood Education and Development [$550K]
- Family Stabilization Grant [$1.7M]
- Funding for Prepared Meals [$700K]
- Estate and probate legal support for seniors [$300K]
- Office of Violence Prevention [$2.3M]
- EMS mobile weekend drinking response [$2.4M]
- EMS mental health response team [$4M]
- Cool corridors pilot projects [$2M]
- Capacity building grants for very small food access groups [$670K]
- Community Coalition Crisis Response [$2.3M]
- Tenant Education and Community-based Agreements [$300K]
- Inclement Weather Shelter Model [$4.5M]
Download the full Community Investment Budget with detailed discussion of every line item.
Here’s the schedule of events — this is coming fast, but there are a lot of opportunities for public input.
Friday July 11, City Manager releases CM proposed budget
Tuesday July 15, City Manager presents CM proposed budget to Council
July 17, City Council D9: Austin Central Library, 6pm
July 19, City Council D6: location TBD, 2pm
July 21, City Council D8: VIRTUAL, 5:30 to 7:30
July 22, City Council D7, ACC Northridge Campus, 111928 Stonehollow Drive, 6pm
July 23: Council budget work session and community input session
July 28: City Council D3: location TBD, 6pm
July 29: Council budget work session
July 30: City Council D2, Uphaus Early Childhood Center, 5200 Freidrich Ln 5:30-7:30
July 31: Council budget work session and public hearing on the budget
August 2, City Council D1 and D4: location and time TBD
August 4, City Council D5: location and time TBD
August 5: Council budget work session
August 6: City Council D10, location and time TBD
August 7: Council budget work session
August 13 – 15: Budget and Tax Rate VOTE on Adoption by City Council
We will update this list of dates with details as we get them. We will also post talking points and summaries as data becomes available. We will be reading the proposed City Manager budget as soon as it is issued on Friday July 11, so look for the first summary that weekend.