Thread by @BThompson_CI

Continuation of yesterday's #atxcouncil budget meeting kicks off in a few minutes here. Yesterday's session saw some discussion of council budget asks and the potential direction council may take relating to the tax rate, in addition to a few additional agenda items:

Council approved the language and ordered elections for 2 propositions Austinites will vote on Nov. 2. The first, Prop A, comes from the Save Austin Now proposal to staff up Austin's police department to a level of 2 officers per 1,000 residents

The city estimates that could cost $54.3 million-$119.8 million on average annually over the next five years and bring hundreds of new officers to APD's force, if approved communityimpact.com/austin/central…

The ballot will also include Prop B, relating to the possible transfer/lease of land next to Oracle's waterfront campus at Lakeshore Blvd and Pleasant Valley Rd

In addition to those election items, council also voted 7-4 for the controversial purchase of the Candlewood Inn & Suites in Williamson County for permanent supportive housing as a next step in the city's homeless strategy communityimpact.com/austin/northwe…

Starting off today with questions to CFO Van Eenoo about the differences in taxpayer impact/fiscal health based on the city adopting anywhere from a 3.5%-5% increase above no new revenue tax rate this year or next year, concerns over projected future budget shortfalls

CM Casar and staff have compiled all of council's budget asks, including amendments, riders (staff direction), and a slightly more extensive Casar amendment proposal assuming a 4.9% increase to tax rate: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…

For anyone following that document, here's Adler's proposal for the order council will work through these items today: Fuentes 1>Casar 1, 2, 3>Kitchen 1, 3>Pool 1>Ellis 1>Tovo 9>Alter 1, 2, 5>Adler 1, 2, 3

Adler says council will not work through items with anything "stuck" in city plans until the very end; they won't be making final decisions on officially building the spending plan and tax rate until later today

After diving into Fuentes amendment for 9 community health workers, council moves through Casar amendments: $4.54M one-time stipend boost for city employees making less than $80K, $1.8M CO authorization for domestic violence shelter contingency, $2.75M for anti-displacement

On displacement item, Alter wondering if the number should be reduced. Kitchen asks Casar for more info on how the money would go toward addressing community displacement, although she would be "reluctant" to see it cut. Casar now running through where the dollars would go

Before council breaks for an hour lunch, sounds like general agreement on Casar's $2.75M anti-displacement amendment broken up between emergency relocation, tenant stabilization, affordable housing dollars. Some members concerned about scope but most say the need is there

And we are back after a longer lunch. Starting mid-review of council amendments, leading off with Kitchen's plan to pay into the Iconic Venue Fund over several years

Shifting into discussion over a potential second phase of the city's HEAL program to clear homeless encampments and move residents to shelter. Kitchen amendment proposed $6M minimum in ARPA funding for the program to clear more encampments and 200+ people

Broad support for that item and phase 2 of a program council members agree has been a success so far. Now moving to talks over Pool amendment for scaleable after-school childcare, including part-time staff and new van purchases

Officials also seem to stand behind Pool proposal for Eastern Crescent rec center childcare funding that could go to serve hundreds of children daily. Now on $932K Ellis park ranger item, reduced from initial ask of 12 new rangers down to 6, on top of a few related items

Now on Alter amendment for $1.5M in EMS and AFD resilience funding, which would provide for: wildfire response training, ballistic vests, EMS attacker training and AFD "resilience investments." CMs speaking on this in agreement that the allocation is needed

Council now talking about expansion of city Homeless Strategy Office with 7 new full-time staff. Council looking into either $842K annual funding, or $2.63M one-time funding to get staffing in place for 3 years

Adler now speaking to his $1.82M amendment for Covid vaccine incentive providinig $100 to city employees who get the shot. HR Director Hayes shares a presentation on alternate methods of paying for the ask outside of Adler's proposal

Adler looks to change his amendment to a 2-week leave policy for vaccinated employees rather than a stipend, freeing up the $1.82M for reserve/other uses. Hayes notes that value to employees would end up being greater than $100, plus no need for the budget ask

Sounds like some council worries over $100 stipend were alleviated by shifting from financial incentive to leave policy. Pool says it'd end up being more valuable to city employees, Kitchen says concept aligns with "what we're trying to accomplish here" related to health

CM Fuentes also notes recent APH update providing HEB gift cards for vaccinations, and says council could consider upping that incentive ($50 card per shot+survey) in the future communityimpact.com/austin/central…

CM Tovo now asks if council members can plan to put forward their preference for tax rate before further discussions. But first, the final amendment Q&A: $888K Adler ask for a pilot program for guaranteed income. Equity Officer Brion Oaks speaking to the concept

Pool speaks through concerns she has on the concept and says she can't support it, notes she'd want such a program to be implemented federally rather than via a local "patchwork." Fuentes follows, saying she's comfortable skipping study on the concept to move straight to payments

Adler says he's interested in seeing Austin working ahead of the curve on policies like this that would provide for the pilot program for ~100 people, making the city part of the national conversation on the guaranteed income idea

Council about to take a 15-minute break here after getting through questions on proposed budget amendments. They'll be coming back at ~3:45 to talk through budget riders and tax rate

Council's been working through a lot of details over the past while, now moving into discussion over where CMs want to land in terms of tax rate increase

Several CMs are comfortable with a $0.5418 per $100 valuation tax rate in order to fund their priorities, some would like to stick slightly less at $0.541 or lower. Interim Budget Officer Lang says difference between those numbers would be ~$2.55 for average taxpayer's bill

Discussion now has centered on Fuentes proposal to up Cultural Arts Fund balance by around $3M. CMs Alter, Ellis among those expressing some concern that it might pose a risk, given that the fund is backed by hotel taxes which may not remain firm over the course of the year

After deliberation, Fuentes withdraws the item with plan to revisit the topic at an upcoming council meeting, after getting more feedback from commissions/community, to firm up how Arts Fund could get a boost. Fuentes asks for anyone in creative sector to send input before then

Council is back from dinner and now working through budget riders. First, Adler had direction on his rider for staff to follow "standard solicitation processes" with vendors on budget amendments, rather than having outside groups/businesses go through council members

Adler says he's treating council's slate of budget riders as a consent agenda, so CMs have pulled a few for further discussion: Kitchen item on APD academy curriculum review, Kelly ask for additional modified cadet academy, Kitchen's on CapMetro/ATP displacement funding

First up, Kitchen and Kelly items on APD academy. Alter starting off discussions by noting she has "sincere concerns" about the rollout of reforms at the academy and new classes going forward, while also understanding the city is in need of new police officers

Kelly speaks to her rider allowing APD to roll out a modified cadet academy this fiscal year if it has the resources. Interim Chief Chacon notes that "modified" class would bring in existing officers from elsewhere for a shortened 4-month training to help staffing at APD

Kelly asks for examples of issues at the academy that have been corrected since its relaunch this spring. APD Academy Division Manager Anne Kringen cites prioritizing de-escalation, curriculum review process, culture change, "owning when we don't meet the community expectations"

Kelly also asks for updates on any breaks/changes by the community-led curriculum review in the future. Kitchen now speaking to her rider on that review process that holds the 145th cadet class until evaluation/recommendations from 144th class are reviewed and implemented

Harper-Madison asks who chose to pause community curriculum review this week. Chacon says he made the decision, and the review committee will restart at its next scheduled meeting. And with that, sounds like council is ok proceeding with Kitchen and Kelly riders on cadet training

Now moving to Kitchen rider about direction for $300M in anti-displacement funds included in last year's tax rate election. Some questions from Harper-Madison about the outlook for this ask and anti-displacement measures

Kitchen anti-displacement item added to council's rider list on a 6-4-2 vote: Fuentes, Pool, Renteria, Kitchen, Ellis, Tovo for; Adler, Alter, Harper-Madison against; Kelly, Casar abstain

After a few more notes, council is now moving ahead with vote for approval of the budget and other city fees/charges

And that's an 11-0 vote for Austin's amended FY 21-22 budget

Next up: approving staffing and ranks for APD, AFD and EMS. Another unanimous vote on the dais

Once again, unanimous votes for budgets of the Austin Housing Finance Corp. and Mueller Local Government Corp. Also votes for an amendment to Mueller corp. bylaws and 2 appointments to its leadership

Council votes 10-1 for tax rate of $0.541 per $100 property valuation, Kelly against

After passing city budget and tax rate, City Manager Cronk thanks city staff: "This was incredibly important to set our city on a path forward." To wrap up the evening CMs now speaking to the votes tonight, challenges of the past year, and thanking their staffs