08.16.2024

Today’s Forecast

💵 It’s in the budget

What to know about Austin’s 2024-2025 city budget

The front of Austin's downtown City Hall

Austin’s new city budget was approved on Wednesday, Aug. 14. | Photo by ATXtoday

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.

What’s in the budget?

a pie chart titled "FY 2024-25 All City Funds Uses of Funds: $5.9 billion." It displays the distribution of funds for various city services and operations.

Here is the breakdown:

Austin Energy: 29%
General Fund Operations: 23%
Austin Water: 12%
Internal Service Operations: 7%
Aviation: 6%
Convention Center: 6%
Other Expenses: 6%
GO Debt Service: 4%
Transportation and Public Works: 3%
Austin Resource Recovery: 2%
Watershed Protection: 2%

The pie chart visually represents how each category contributes to the overall city budget/ — More than $2.4 billion goes into funding Austin Energy and Austin Water alone.
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Graphic via City of Austin

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

Where does the money come from?

A graphic titled "All City Funds Sources of Funds: $5.8 billion" — If you pay taxes, your money helps keep the city running.
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Graphic via City of Austin

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.

Take a deeper dive

Events

Friday, Aug. 16

Drag Bingo Happy Hour | Friday, Aug. 16 | 4-7 p.m. | Jo’s Coffee - Red River | $10 | Your ticket grants you one bingo ticket for each game, free chips + salsa, and 20% off your beer, wine, and frosé purchases.
Float Films: Boots + Suits | Friday, Aug. 16 | 5 p.m. | Austin Motel | $25 | Watch the 1989 film “Roadhouse” in the iconic motel’s pool with a themed cocktail in-hand.
Candlelight: A Tribute to ABBA | Friday, Aug. 16 | 8:45 p.m. | Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center at Southwestern University | $35 | Fans of “Chiquitita” and “Dancing Queen” can experience ABBA’s discography by candlelight.

Saturday, Aug. 17

Vendor Market | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 6-10 p.m. | Sign Bar | Free | Shop local goods under the neon lights of Austin businesses past.
Pioneer Ghost Tour | Saturday, Aug. 17 | Times vary | Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms | $45 | Take a spine-chilling trip through historic buildings and homesites led by the experts at Austin Ghost Tour.

Sunday, Aug. 18

OTOKO x Rosaluna Pool Party | Sunday, Aug. 18 | 3-6 p.m. | South Congress Hotel | $30 | Dip in the pool and enjoy Downtown views, a DJ set by Suxxy Puxxy, and specialty bites + drinks.
Santana and Counting Crows | Sunday, Aug. 18 | 7 p.m. | The Moody Center | $40-$400 | Spend the evening at the “Oneness” tour.
“Clue” | Sunday, Aug. 18 | 7:30 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $12 | This 1985 film based on the beloved board game has become a cult classic.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Sports

It’s official — the San Antonio Spurs will return to Austin for the third annual I-35 Series in February 2025. The team will play the Phoenix Suns (in addition to hosting UT Hall of Honor member Kevin Durant) on Thursday, Feb. 20 and the Detroit Pistons on Friday, Feb. 21.

Opening

El Paso-based Lucchese Bootmaker will open its South Congress Avenue location at the end of the month. Head over for grand opening celebrations from Tuesday, Aug. 29 to Thursday, Aug. 31, including a yet-to-be-announced special guest performance.

Number

$55 billion. That’s how much Texas is investing to address flooding statewide. The Texas Water Development Board will use the funding to reduce risks — which affect one in six Texans — with 4,600+ identified solutions. (KXAN)

Civic

Applications for the GoGrant program — which helps fund active mobility projects — are now open. Grants up to $7,500 can help small businesses install bike racks, implement ride sharing, jump start mobility clubs, or provide groups with car-free transportation. (KXAN)

State

Google will invest at least $1 billion to fund cloud and data center infrastructure in Texas this year, according to an announcement. The tech giant said it helped create $47 billion in economic activity last year, during which it invested ~$330 million in the Lone Star State. (Austin Business Journal)

Try This

Tacodeli’s Daily Specials menu is coming back after taking a hiatus for the pandemic. That means there will be a new special every day — some new, some returning — like the chicken tinga taco, scallop taco, ceviche, and $5 margaritas.

Film

The last day to catch a flick from Paramount Theatre’s 50th Summer Classic Film Series is Sunday, Sept. 1. For the final two weeks of programming, expect screenings of favorite films including “The Breakfast Club,” “The Big Lebowski,” “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” and “The Wizard of Oz.”

Listen

Speaking of the Spurs, center Victor Wembanyama just got back from the Olympics. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the San Antonio Spurs with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Home

Cringe alert: Every 24 hours, 27,000 trees are cut down for toilet paper. But this new bamboo toilet paper just might save the planet. It feels just like high-end TP, but doesn’t harm trees. Plus, code 6AM30 gives you 30% off your first purchase. Read more.*

Finance

Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster? (It sounds wild, but it’s true.) The secret: Find a credit card with a “0% intro APR” period for balance transfers. These are hands down some of the best.*

Wellness

Curious about CBD gummies? Cornbread Hemp is giving first time customers a second jar for free with code SUMMERTIMEBOGO. Choose from watermelon, berry, peach, or special sleep varieties.*

Weather

☀️ A storm is brewing

The Farmer’s Almanac predicts a wet summer and warm fall

A map titled "2024 Fall Temperature Forecast" from The Old Farmer's Almanac. It shows predicted temperature trends across the United States for the fall of 2024:

Above average temperatures are expected in the western half of the United States, covering states like California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and much of the Plains states.
Near average temperatures are forecasted for a band of states running through the central U.S., including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and stretching into the Midwest and Northeast.
Below average temperatures are anticipated for parts of the Southeast, including states like Georgia, South Carolina, and portions of Alabama, as well as the northeastern part of the country.
The map is color-coded: red for above average, orange for near average, and yellow for below average temperatures. Additionally, it includes numbered regions corresponding to different parts of the country.

It’s not just Texas — the entire Western US is predicted to have a hot fall. | Graphic via of the Farmers’ Almanac

Don’t bet a rain check from this warm weather — the 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a stormy summer and warm fall in Austin.

Austinites can expect a steady chance of thunderstorms (and even tropical storms) from now until Saturday, Sept. 24, when the almanac predicts a shift to weather warmer than average for October. The almanac has conflicting reports for chances of below average or above average precipitation in fall.

How accurate is that forecast? Using a formula developed in the late 1700s, the almanac claims to be accurate 80% of the time. A 2010 University of Illinois study showed it has ~50% overall accuracy, so let’s compare to the National Weather Service.

The NWS predicts a 50%-60% probability that weather will be hotter than average from September to November, so keep your sunscreen handy. As for precipitation, there’s a 33%-40% chance the same time frame will have less precipitation on the horizon.

The Buy

The Buy 8.16.24 (Affiliate)

These waterproof Chelsea rain boots. Prepare for rainy months ahead with these stylish rubber boots — available in three different colors — that will keep your feet safe and dry from any inclement weather.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

City Editor Figi poses with an adorable goat.

Today’s edition by:
Figi

From the editor

I just found out about the Sidewalk Joy libraries in Portland, Oregon, and I’m feeling inspired to create one of my own. Do you know of any little libraries for things other than books here in ATX? Let me know to save me a flight to Oregon.

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