Austin City Council approved its $5.9 billion 2024-2025 budget — a $400 million increase from last year and the city’s largest budget yet.
It’s the first budget proposed by Austin’s new city manager, T.C. Broadnax, and prioritizes investing in community projects, sustainability, and city maintenance.
The upcoming budget is scheduled to go into effect on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Here’s what you need to know.
How is it structured?
As of last year, the budget follows seven strategic priorities:
- Community Health and Sustainability
- Economic and Workforce Development
- Equitable Service Delivery
- Homelessness and Housing
- Mobility and Critical Infrastructure
- High-performing Government
- Public Safety
What’s in the budget?
Well over half of the spending will go toward Austin’s essentials. The city’s largest departments — Austin Energy and Austin Water — make up 41% (or ~$2.4 billion) of the expenses.
The General Fund — which includes departments like Parks and Recreation, Austin Public Library, police, fire, EMS services, and more — represents 23% (or ~$1.4 billion).
The last 36% (or ~$2.1 billion) of the budget covers funding for debt + internal services, financial reserve, aviation, the Austin Convention Center, and more.
Notable investments include...
- $121.2 million in capital spending for affordable housing developments
- $3.6 million for rental assistance and eviction vulnerability through “I Belong in Austin”
- $2.7 million in one-time funding and $440,000 in ongoing funding to support Austin Civilian Conservation Corps
- $2.6 million to fund equipment costs and 28 sworn positions for the upcoming Canyon Creek Fire/EMS Station
- $2.2 million to preserve and revitalize the African American Cultural Heritage District, Red River Cultural District, 5th Street Mexican Heritage Corridor, and East Cesar Chavez District
- $506,000 to go toward repair crews on local streets
- $463,000 will be allocated to investigating criminal dumping
- $425,000 in funding for food, medical supplies, and maintenance — plus $30,000 in one-time funding for animal boarding to address capacity — for the Austin Animal Center
- ~$200,000 to implement accurate and more robust translations for languages on the City of Austin website
From proposal to approval, City Council added in amendments to support parks, homelessness services, EMS, the Austin Animal Center, and the Downtown Austin Community Court program. Read more notable investments for the upcoming fiscal year.
Where does the money come from?
Most of it comes from taxpaying Austinites. Utility charges for Austin Energy and Austin Water make up 43% (or ~$2.5 billion) of source funding, 29% (or ~$1.7 billion) comes from taxes, and the rest comes from fines, fees, permits, service charges, interest, and other places.
What does this mean for property taxes and service fees?
This fiscal year’s tax rate is 47.76 cents per $100 of taxable value, which amounts to an average increase of ~$15.67 per month, or $188.02 per year, for the average homeowner. You can use this website to get a more personalized view of how your property taxes might look.
Services and fees will increase an average $30.16 per month, or $361.92 per year, for the average taxpaying Austinite.
Phew — want to dig even deeper? Read the entire proposed budget document.
