FY27 Budget Forecast Direction

[Colleen Pate]

As we start the budget process, I’ve proposed we begin by asking our professional finance staff, as part of the forecast, to include calculations using the no new revenue tax rate. I’ve included some of my thoughts about this in a Watson Wire that I’ve put out today. You can see it here: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 121042.pdf

I’m joined in this request by Mayor Pro Tem Vela and Council Members Alter, Velasquez and Laine.

I look forward to our discussion going forward.

Thanks, everyone.

Kirk

On behalf of Mayor Watson

[Ryan Alter]

Mayor,

I want to thank you for your leadership on this effort and voice support for this process. This budget is going to be very difficult. It’s going to require prioritizing what we can and should be funding and what we simply cannot. To your point in your newsletter, this decision making requires us to have as much information about what departments view as vital to their mission and what is not. By being presented with a no new revenue budget, we will have better clarity into how we can balance community needs and the funds that we have.

As the Manager assembles this budget, it is my hope that he takes a sharp look at every department including public safety. We can’t balance the budget on the backs of those with the least. Slashing community programs that result in greater public safety spending is not a long-term solution. We can be smarter about how we provide basic services so that we get more out of every dollar we spend. I believe the process you are calling for here will further move us in that direction and look forward to reaching a balanced budget that best serves our residents.