The City of Austin's FY20-21 Budget Process

Overview

This week, beginning on Wednesday (and ending Friday), the Austin City Council will take up formal discussions on the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 budget. Outside of COVID-19, the central focus will be around police reform, with other issues including Project Connect, homelessness, and institutional inequality in the mix. All these issues have dominated public and Council conversations in the recent months.

Council Members had until 5PM Monday to post draft budget amendments and riders to the message board. From there city staff will compile and distribute tomorrow. 

The Budget Process

On Wednesday, the meeting with begin with speaker testimony. Each speaker will have one minute and there are no donations of time. Following speaker testimony, city staff will present any updates to the Manager’s proposed budget.

After hearing from everyone, Council will make a motion to establish a base budget.

Each Council Member will then present their budget priorities generally without offering specific amendments. Currently Council Members have heavily championed amendments around public safety including police reform, emergency medical services, mental health resources, domestic violence mitigation, and homelessness resources.

Council Members will then present their proposed amendments and to receive questions and feedback from staff and the dais.

During this time, amendment wording may be amended. This can vary from simple interpretation changes to substantial edits. For example, council may accept an amendment that finds or frees up revenue but reject the proposed spending.

Next, Council will take up amendments for programs they seek to fund with any available monies and amendments that seek to cut spending in the budget so as to free up funds. Budget riders, changes to financial policies, and performance measures may be introduced to items being added to or taken out of the budget.

Council will then consider any changes to enterprise funds and the fee schedule, before voting on the budget.

Finally, Council will vote on the final budget.

But even after this whole process, Council Members may still vote to reject the budget. Last month, Mayor Pro Team Garza (District 2) threatened to vote no without significant budget cuts from Austin Police Department. Last year, Council Member Flannigan (District 6) voted against the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget.

If the budget does not pass with the majority six votes, Council will restart the budget process with the base budget motion.

For more information or comments, contact us at: info@binghamgp.com

//The Bingham Group Team