City of Austin Council Message Board

Colleagues,

This budget has been one of the most challenging in Austin’s recent memory. Throughout this process, we have been grappling with tough decisions, trying to strike a balance that is morally responsible and fiscally sustainable. To successfully navigate these rough waters, we must stand together as one community. We are putting forward a five-cent proposal that incorporates the Mayor's 5 cent proposal and adds items included in other council members proposals. We want to respect the hard work of all the offices and the values and priorities we all share. This plan makes responsible investments, cares for our most vulnerable and prepares for the future by also targeting a 17% reserve. We offer this as a base motion for our debate tomorrow, understanding that there will of course be changes and amendments. We also expect to get updates from budget staff clarifying and truing up some of these numbers as they get final input from the departments.

Please see our updated proposal here: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 181222.pdf

Despite the extraordinary circumstances we are facing, seeing the incredible and admirable work of our colleagues, we believe that we are closer than ever. We have faith that we can reach a consensus that does right by Austin.

Sincerely,
MPT Fuentes
CM Velasquez
CM Vela
CM Alter

Council Member Vela:

Thanks for this post. I’m open to using this as part of the primary motion for the budget tomorrow, even though there are aspects of it that don’t correspond with some of my thinking on the final budget.

If this is what we use, it would only be as a starting point. It would not be intended to gain any advantage over any other proposal. It is something that will allow us to have a primary motion, some structure for proposed amendments, and discussion. We would do this only so we could get started and because I can’t talk to everyone except here on the message board.

Others would be able to offer amendments to this to argue for their positions.

I’d like to hear from the other group regarding their position on using this a part of a primary motion.

Thanks for your efforts. In fact, thanks to all of the council members for their work.

Kirk

On behalf of Mayor Watson

Council:

I want to be clear about my last post.

I indicated an openness to using that proposal as part of the primary motion tomorrow. However, there needs to be a true up from financial staff to assure the numbers work. The true up would need to be what we use, otherwise, we might start with something that doesn’t work financially.

So, I’m open to using the proposal AS TRUED UP by our financial staff.

Thanks.

KPW

On behalf of Mayor Watson

Mayor,

I agree. Budget staff is still looking at final numbers and getting clarifications from department staff. Once we have those numbers, the proposal - as clarified by staff - would become the base motion for debate on the dais if a majority of council members agree.

Chito

Colleagues,

It is my understanding that staff is working on a document that combines all of our proposals as much as possible. I believe it will be cleaner to work off of a joint document that is trued up by staff and incorporates the things we all seem to be agreeing on rather than one subquorum bringing amendments to another subquorum’s doc. I also want to flag that seeing what the 4-year outlook will be for a TRE is really important to me since staff has suggested we do not propose TREs any more often than 4 years apart.

I’m looking forward to the discussion.

Thanks,
Paige Ellis

Good evening colleagues,

I'm writing to join Council Member Ellis is asking that the base motion be a staff proposal that reflects the best compromise of our various proposals. I also support a sustainable proposal that doesn't just balance out in year one, but that can maintain the quality of programs and services throughout a four-year cycle.

With respect,
Mike