FY25 Budget Amendments

[Jose Velasquez]

Colleagues,

The District 3 office is offering the following amendments to the FY25 budget. With a focus on improving outcomes for those in our community most in need, we are proposing budget allocations to crucial front line support services.

Velásquez 1: AISD Parent Support Specialists - $619,000
https://assets.austintexas.gov/austinco ... 152148.pdf

Through our continued partnership, the PSS Team has been able to help Austin families with essential needs such as housing, food, utility bills, and medical resources. This amendment will maintain funding for AISD Parent Support Specialists so that they may continue providing critical services to those most in need.

Velásquez 2: Substance Use Continuum of Care - $316,000
https://assets.austintexas.gov/austinco ... 152225.pdf

This budget amendment will expand access to harm reduction services, supporting and staffing drop-in centers, including extended weekend and evening hours, adding a mobile outreach clinic, and substance use treatment for individuals.

Velásquez 3: EMS Communications - $491,614
https://assets.austintexas.gov/austinco ... 152318.pdf

Since 2014, ATCEMS Communications has experienced a 25% increase in call volume. In that same time frame, minimum staffing levels have not increased in response to the increased call volume. This amendment will increase our EMS Communications to effectively triage calls and fund four FTEs to add an extra call taker to each shift.

Velásquez 4: Office of Violence Prevention Community Violence Intervention programming - $200,000
https://assets.austintexas.gov/austinco ... 152349.pdf

The Office of Violence Prevention focuses on ensuring equitable access to safety across our city through evidence-based, community-led programming targeted towards those who need it most. Community Violence Intervention programs prevent gun violence, youth violence, and support healing in the community. In FY24, the funding provided personalized support for more than 280 high-risk individuals, prevented or de-escalated 52 potential shootings and responded to 15 shooting incidents to prevent further violence. Currently operating in the Rundberg/Georgian Acres and Riverside/South Pleasant Valley communities, the program is led by ATX Peace, a coalition between Jail to Jobs and Life Anew. This increase will help fill a federal funding gap and maintain service levels to the community.

Velásquez 5: Domestic Violence Unit - Fleet - $81,117.00
https://assets.austintexas.gov/austinco ... 152505.pdf

This amendment provides funding to increase the current vehicle resource from one to two, a critical need that will allow the two DVU sergeants, who are frequently out in the field with officers, to work efficiently and effectively to help individuals at risk.

Velásquez 6: Feasibility Study: LGBTQIA+ Community Center - $180,000
https://assets.austintexas.gov/austinco ... 152439.pdf

This amendment supports the forthcoming Velásquez Budget IFC, funding the LGBTQIA+ Community Center Task Force and Feasibility Study.

I would welcome the support of colleagues who are interested in co-sponsoring any of these amendments.

I am grateful for the thoughtfulness and consideration that all of our Council offices have put into this year’s budget, and particularly thank CFO Ed Van Eenoo, Budget Officer Kerri Lang and their teams for their expertise, time, and professionalism through this process.

a sus ordenes,

- Council Member José Velásquez

[Jose Velasquez]

All,
I wanted to share an update regarding the amendment for Velásquez 2: Substance Use Continuum of Care. The funding amount has been revised from $316,000 to $140,000 one-time expenditure, which will support staffing and operations at drop-in centers.

https://assets.austintexas.gov/austinco ... 091748.pdf

a sus ordenes,

- Council Member José Velásquez