Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 10 a.m. (Austin time), Austin City Hall
The Austin City Council held its budget adoption meeting, opening with public hearings on the property tax rate and on Austin Resource Recovery, drainage, Austin Water, Austin Energy and citywide fee changes, followed by extensive public comment largely focused on social services, police funding and an independent 911 call-taking office. Council adopted staff amendments, including $4.7 million to continue social service grants, and a series of council amendments, among them $32 million in certificates of obligation for active mobility projects, $500,000 for foster youth voucher services, family shelter gap funding and funding for a new Office of Joint Emergency Communications, which passed 6-2 with three abstentions after a motion to table failed. After staff identified a roughly $2 million gap, council approved a revised staff balancing package, amended to cut the general fund transfer for development fee waivers instead of raising residential fees and to use $326,321 in reserves instead of cutting library contracts. The FY2026-27 budget passed 9-2, with Mayor Watson and Council Member Duchen voting no; the fees ordinance passed 10-0, the property tax rate of $0.579948 per $100 valuation (an 8.3% increase) passed 8-2, and the joint emergency communications resolution (Item 19) passed 6-2 with three abstentions. Council also approved the fire, EMS and police classification ordinances, a consent agenda of Items 12-18 and 20-22, and the Austin Housing Finance Corporation and Mueller Local Government Corporation budgets.
0:06 You're watching a meeting of the Austin City Council with Mayor Kirk Watson, Mayor Pro Tem chino Vela,
0:17 council members Natasha Harper Madison, Vanessa Fuentes, José Velásquez, Ryan
0:27 Alter, Krista lane, Mike Siegel, Paige Ellis,
0:38 zoe cowdrey, mark duchin, city attorney deborah thomas, city
0:48 clerk erica brady and city manager t.c. Broadnax.
0:59 Well good morning everybody. It's 10:00 in the morning on August 12th, 2026, and I will call to order this Austin City Council budget meeting.
1:09 Typically when we start these meetings, I run through what the schedule is going to be. And we finally made it to today, which is the first day that we will have the opportunity to vote on the actual budget.
1:21 Let me tell you how we're going to operate. And I posted it on the message board, but if somebody hadn't seen it,
1:26 let me be clear. What we're going to do today is the first thing we're going to do is we're going to run through a number of public hearings.
1:34 Items one through six on the agenda are public hearings.
1:39 We will open the public hearings, we will hear from people, and then we will close the public hearings.
1:44 We will then go to the next set of we're going to go to the next set of items.
1:51 And as I indicated on the message board, we will take those items up sort of like a consent agenda when we get to the end of
2:01 everything, including the amendments from staff and the amendments, proposed amendments from council,
2:07 then we will recess, and we will also have a moment. We'll go to Austin housing finance corporation board of directors meeting and the miller local government corporation meeting.
2:19 We will at the just by way of advice on this, what we will do is when we have finished the amendments,
2:27 we will take a short recess so that the financial staff will be able to do make sure the math,
2:35 maths, and we will come back and and look at how that plays out to see if we need to do any.
2:43 And we probably will if I anticipate this right, some adjustments in that regard, the way we will vote today.
2:51 Just again, I want to be really clear. It will be first vote we will take today after we've done all the listening will be item number seven.
3:01 Then we'll go to item number six, eight, nine, ten, 111.
3:11 Then we will have the consent agenda as I've described it, which will be items 12 through 22.
3:19 So treat that folks, treat those like the consent agenda. And if you have an item you want to pull from that consent agenda, we will do that.
3:29 And I anticipate that that will happen. Then we will I'm not going to adjourn the meeting at that point in time.
3:34 Even if everything's done, I'm going to recess the meeting so that we can have the a f c board meeting and the miller board meeting,
3:42 and then we will come back. And the only reason I'm doing that is in case somebody thinks of something while we're doing those board meetings,
3:49 I just want to make sure we've crossed t's and dotting the i's and, and can take care of it. If we can take care of it today and not need to come back if if we need to come back, it's no big deal.
3:58 But you get what I'm saying. So with that members, it's unless there's questions.
4:05 Yes, councilmember Alter, I just have one question for the public's edification on the website.
4:13 Like I'm looking at item seven, which I believe is the budget. I'm just wondering where the public can find all the amendments. And I, I guess just the amendments so that they can speak to the most recent versions.
4:29 Mr. Veneno, help us out. Good morning, Mayor and council members.
4:34 You know, chief financial officer those are the final compilation is being handled right now.
4:40 There was some changes even this morning, but it'll be posted very, very soon. Okay, good. Thank you. All right. Unless there's other questions or comments.
4:49 Yes. Councilmember Fuentes along the same lines. It will. Around what time will we receive an updated packet? I assume in the next few hours with council receive the updated packet with the updated amendments.
5:03 I'm sorry. Which packet? Beyond the packet of the packet of amendments or ifcs?
5:09 The the updated version. When do you think that to you. At the same time it's posted to the to the website. And you think that's any time now? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Well good morning everybody.
5:23 It's a big day. So what I'll do now is we will go to item number one.
5:30 Item number one is a tax rate hearing. Without objection we will open the public hearing on agenda item number one.
5:36 The proposed property which is the ad valorem tax rate of the city of Austin.
5:41 There being no objection, the public hearing is now opened, and I will turn to our city clerk to call folks to talk to us.
5:49 Thank you, Mayor for item one. Gen powell, valerie menard, jessica martinez, kate graziani and barry jones.
5:58 Please come on down and take a seat in open desk and remember to state your name when you begin speaking.
6:06 Please begin. Whenever you're ready, just state your name. All right. Good morning. My name is jennifer palermo. Shout out to zoo lane and michelle ramos as well.
6:19 I can tell by everything I've seen over the last couple of months as we worked on the budget, that you guys are not only listening, but you're actually acting on what the public is saying.
6:29 So first and foremost, thank you so much. This is that for that reason, today is just a reminder.
6:35 It's just a reminder to continue funding the safe alliance, to continue contracting with them,
6:40 to support the cib, to keep the police budget flat for this year.
6:45 And that includes paying special attention to the items that have been proposed by Ellis, especially item number 17 listed here today.
6:52 In a further motion to expand that budget, please continue to listen to the public and say no to those items.
7:00 Finish moving the call center. I know you all want it. Just a reminder to finish up doing it. And then also civilian oversight committee.
7:09 You know, the recent case of anthony williams is going on. We should continue to push for an actual review of that case by civilian oversight and to give civilian oversight the teeth to do something about it.
7:20 I know that's new, but it's the next step in the process. When police have done something good, they should have the ability to commend the police. And when they've done something inappropriate, they should have some sort of economic
7:31 sanctioning power or to force further training, for example, on suicide by cop.
7:37 And with all of that, I was happy to take a moment before going over to Austin pets alive to speak to you guys,
7:44 to remind you to thank you, to acknowledge you, and just to let you know once again.
7:50 And we've got 20s left. So I just want to invite everyone to just take one deep, mindful breath because you deserve it.
8:01 Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate you being here. Please just state your name for the record. Jessica martinez. Great. Good morning, Mayor and council members, and I thank you for allowing me to opportunity to speak with you today.
8:13 My name is jessica. I work with the sickle cell association of texas mark thomas foundation. Been working there for the past ten years. I'm here to speak on behalf of individuals and families living with sickle cell disease in central texas,
8:25 and to emphasize the importance of continuing and strengthening the social service and support in this community.
8:31 For the past 29 years, the mark thomas foundation has been trusted resource for individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease.
8:38 For nearly three decades, the organization has provided more than just services. It has provided education, advocacy, resources, guidance and most importantly, a sense of community for families who are often navigating
8:50 an incredibly challenging disease. Sickle cell affects much more than a person's physical health.
8:56 It can impact a child's education and parents, parents ability to work, and a family's financial stability,
9:02 mental emotional well-being, and the ability to navigate medical and social system systems.
9:08 Families and support need the a strong support system beyond the hospital and doctor's office.
9:14 That is why social services are so important in the community that we're in.
9:19 When funding is available, organizations like the mark thomas foundation can help families connect to resources,
9:25 understand their options, advocate for themselves, and feel less alone, and managing the challenges that come with sickle cell disease.
9:33 So today, I respectfully, respectfully ask the council not to defund the mark thomas foundation program,
9:38 but instead increase the funding so that the organization can continue meeting the needs of this community and reaching even more families.
9:45 Investing in these services is an investment in healthier families, stronger communities, and a better quality of life for people living with sickle cell disease.
9:54 I ask that we show that we show up for these families and individuals, and for the families that we serve here in this community.
10:02 Thank you. Thank you. Continue with item one. Puma. Basa. Hannah. Daphne. Lovett. Grissom. Susan.
10:12 Spataro. Nadia. Barbeau. Please come on down. If your name has been called.
10:28 If you don't mind, we'll start with you. And thank you. Susan spataro, district eight and I have a few very brief comments.
10:37 First of all, I appreciate Council Member duchenne's proposal.
10:42 I like the fact that it's what families do and that is you look look at your budget.
10:47 You look at the money coming in, decide what you have to have and those things that maybe you could do without.
10:53 So I really think that is a fine proposal. Okay. Secondly, I am very concerned because legislatures coming to town, we need to remember that and remember when in fact,
11:04 the legislature and their people felt unsafe in Austin, texas, dps came in to maintain safety there coming in a couple of months.
11:14 So safety should be big, big for us. The third thing I'm very concerned with at this point with the social service agencies is that
11:24 article three, section 52 of the constitution, prohibits local governments from giving gifts.
11:32 If you are not sending out procurements, there's not a deliverable.
11:37 Or if there is, you're ignoring it. They're getting paid before that or anyway.
11:43 I think that's in violation of the constitution. I think one of the things that needs to be done is you need to get that money back. If you've paid money for no services, we need the money back or stop that contract right away.
11:57 Stop paying until they provide the services. And if they do, neither do not do business with them again.
12:03 We cannot give gifts, even though it May be something that, you know, we think is not a bad idea as a community.
12:14 This budget to me looks like another attack on public safety. I'm sorry. And the police and I don't know why we would do that. Continuing to say our community is safer as a joke. So I hope you will consider that for your constituents.
12:27 Thank you very much. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. My name is nadia barbo.
12:33 I'm with moms demand action. I want to thank Council Member Fuentes as well as my own Council Member Harper Madison,
12:42 for coauthoring an amendment to the budget to remove the 26% cut to cvi funding in the social services contracts.
12:52 And to allocate that $4.7 million back into those groups that are doing incredible work for community safety.
12:59 So thank you for the work you've been doing these last few weeks and listening to our feedback.
13:05 I also want to call on the entire council to fund the full cib budget, as many organizations and residents have given input there and that those
13:14 efforts are that investment will be valuable. Moms demand action in case people don't know, is a national member nonprofit. We have lots of members here in Austin and chapters all over the country, which supports evidence based strategies to reduce gun violence,
13:31 community violence intervention. Cvi is a proven evidence based strategy and an investment that cities all over the country are using to pull down
13:41 our rates of gun violence in the country. These numbers that we've seen in Austin prove that the amendment that you are,
13:49 I think, posed to approve today works homicides were at 90 in 2021 here in Austin and dropped to 55 last