Revised Budget Process Timeline

[Colleen Pate]

Colleagues—

As I promised on Tuesday night, I’m laying out a proposed timeline for adopting a revised budget after the voters’ decision on Proposition Q. This timeline is intended meet the mandate of our voters and builds upon my Tuesday night statement. I said that we should meet the voters’ mandate with a coherent, straightforward budget process that focuses on basic services and basic budgeting. Voters want stable, efficient governance. Our city government needs to show it can act in a thoughtful, structured way.

This timeline seeks to do that. It is straightforward and focused on efficiently and thoughtfully adopting the budget.

The City Manager, our professional financial staff, and I have talked. The Manager will lay out a proposed draft budget tomorrow, Friday, November 7th. The timeline for consideration will be as follows:

•Friday, November 7th – City Manager releases an updated proposed budget.
•Thursday, November 13th – We will post for a budget work session.
•Tuesday, November 18th – We will have a budget briefing/work session as part of the already scheduled work session.
•Thursday, November 20th – We will post for potential adoption of the new budget.
•Friday, November 21st- We will post a special-called meeting in case it is needed for final passage of the new budget.
•Monday, November 24th- We will post a special-called meeting in case it is needed for final passage of the new budget.

As I also mentioned earlier this week, it is imperative to have a process going forward to evaluate the performance of city services. The City has already started some of this work with technology services. We’ve retained Gartner Consulting, an outside entity, to evaluate the City’s structure for delivering these services with the objective of finding ways to increase the value of technology across the government. The goals include reducing costs, enhancing governance, streamlining and modernizing applications, and improving operational effectiveness.

On Wednesday of this week, the City Manager released a memo regarding the process we will use to do a broader systemic evaluation to better balance the cost of services with the need for those services and to optimize those services. This will be like what we’re doing with technology services and, in my view, is an important part of restoring our public’s trust.

Finally, I think it’s also important for the City Council to reform City Council spending, including but not limited to the criteria used for the type, the amount, and purpose of expenditures. If we want to assure trust, it is critically important for us to be the model for best practices and a place that sets the highest standards. I intend to bring ideas forward to the full Council for new policy at the November 20th meeting. I’m asking for co-sponsors on this reform initiative. I’m asking for co-sponsors on this reform initiative.

I’m looking forward to further discussions. Voters told us that city government can’t be all things to all people. We can’t pick up all the expenses, grants, and needs that other levels of government don’t cover, even if they’re for things we think are important. Voters want us to avoid adding to Austin’s unaffordability. Well, as I’ve said this week--message received. This process and the steps it initiates will need additions and refinements as we go. But it’s responsive and disciplined action.

Thanks

Kirk
On Behalf of Mayor Watson

[Krista Laine]

Mayor Watson,

Thank you for taking the lead on this City Council budget reform initiative. I would like to co-sponsor your efforts.

Best,

Krista

[Ryan Alter]

Thank you for proposing this reform initiative. I would like to join you as a co-sponsor for this item. I believe it's an important step in building trust and transparency for the public.

- Ryan

[Marc Duchen]

Mayor,

Thank you for laying out the timeline and priorities for the coming weeks regarding the budget and systemic evaluation. I also appreciated the manager's memo yesterday outlining the coming work they intend to do in this space as well, including shared services. I would like to support your efforts by co-sponsoring.

Thank you,

-Marc

[Natalie Deller]

On behalf of CM Qadri:

Thank you, Mayor, for laying out the timeline as we move forward with reevaluating our City budget in the following weeks. I would also like to join as a co-sponsor on this reform initiative.

Best,
CM Qadri

[Jose Velasquez]

Mayor,

I'd be honored to be a cosponsor and be part of this sub-q.
The city needs us to step up, regain trust and offer greater transparency.
I'm here for it, this is a great step forward.

- CMJV