City of Austin Council Message Board

PROPOSED RESOLUTION:

RESOLUTION NO._________________ (DRAFT)

WHEREAS, the new 10-1 City Council has made, and continues to make, significant changes in the way that City business is conducted in Austin; and

WHEREAS, there has been, and continues to be, a shift of more authority to the Mayor and to Council Members—such as their ability to determine their own staff (as authorized by Proposition 12 that was approved by Austin voters as recently as 2012); and

WHEREAS, given the expansion of responsibilities that the Mayor and Council Members find themselves confronted with, it is necessary to provide to the Mayor and to Council Members the additional human resources that are called for in order to properly carry out the added responsibilities that the Mayor and Council Members are required to address; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN:

The City Manager is directed to re-allocate, from the existing City budget, three Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) to the Mayor’s budget and one FTE to each of the 10 Council Members’ budget; this re-allocation will start immediately and shall expire on September 30, 2015. The budget value of each FTE will not exceed the salary of a sitting Council Member. The amount paid to any individual staff member, and decision on number of employees is a decision of each elected officeholder.

Council Member Zimmerman – We believe the intent of your amendment is for each council member to have discretion with how the reallocated funding is used within each council office. It also appears the intent is to re-allocate funding for the equivalent of three FTEs at salaries not to exceed that of a sitting council member, and funding for associated benefits costs, to the Mayor’s office personnel budget, and funding for the equivalent of one FTE, at a salary not to exceed that of a sitting council member, and funding for associated benefits costs, to each council office personnel budget. Is this a correct understanding of the intent of your amendment?

If so, the Mayor would accept your resolution as a friendly amendment to Item 26 on tomorrow's Council Agenda.

Many thanks - jmvc

That's a good question and yes, that is the intent.

I support the amendments proffered by CM Zimmerman.