Senior service groups say city cuts still bite. Here is what the council did with social services this year

Nonprofits that help older Austinites say this year's city budget cuts are still forcing them to do less. KUT reported Thursday that Family Eldercare has scaled back its financial advocacy and mental health programs. RBJ Senior Housing, an affordable housing provider, said 10% cuts to its city contracts left it unable to meet demand, even after the city restored some money.

For residents, the timing matters. New Medicaid eligibility changes take effect in January, KUT reported, and Family Eldercare's chief executive said that without help navigating them, thousands of seniors could lose health coverage.

What KUT reported

• RBJ Senior Housing grew from 279 units to 503 and is at 90% occupancy, its executive director told KUT, but its services have not scaled up to match.
• The city's restoration of some social services funding this year was one-time money, so it will not carry into the next budget. Family Eldercare said it is pushing for recurring funding.
• Richard Bondi, who chairs the city's Commission on Aging, called for better coordination among senior advocates. "We need to not wait until they announce the draft budget," he said.
• Council Member Vanessa Fuentes said she met with organizers before the budget vote. "What makes my role challenging is that we don't have collaborative partners at the state level," she told KUT, before this week's election changed who holds several state offices. She said she hopes this year's social services budget becomes the baseline for future talks.

What our records add

The budget vote. The council adopted the $6.6 billion budget on Aug. 12. Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Member Marc Duchen voted no, KUT reported at the time. The budget included more than $5 million in cuts to social service contracts. An unexpected $4.7 million in property tax revenue let the council restore some of them with one-time money. That is the money KUT says will not carry over.

Where the $4.7 million idea came from. On Aug. 6, Watson discussed allocating the $4.7 million to social services during budget work. On Aug. 12, Fuentes moved an amendment to cut general fund consultant contracts by 10% and send the savings to social services facing reductions, using the city's grant evaluation rubric. Council Member Krista Laine proposed an amendment to restore ongoing funding for a health navigation program. She said 10% of its 400 clients came through a new senior navigator program.

The rubric. In February the council unanimously approved a Public Health Committee resolution telling the city manager to build a rubric for deciding which social service contracts get full, partial or no funding.

Senior contracts already on the books. In September 2025 the council approved agreements with four agencies for senior aging services, up to $2,073,690 over 60 months, 11-0. In August 2025 it added money to Family Eldercare contracts for supportive housing at Pecan Gardens and rehousing older adults.

The review now under way. Staff told the Audit and Finance Committee on Oct. 21 that social services spending across eight departments totals $101.4 million this year, with new agreements planned for October 2027. Our Oct. 29 story explains that timeline. Our story on Austin's aging population shows why demand is growing.

What's next

• Ongoing: The social services review, with new agreements planned for October 2027.
• Summer 2027: The city manager's proposed budget. Bondi says advocates should start before then.
• January: The new council is seated, including three members chosen in the Dec. 12 runoffs.