RT @KirkPWatson: Latest #WatsonWire: Time to Trust Our Voters. I’ve been speaking out about the difficult city budget (and why it’s so diff….

Austin's November TRE is set. So far, Texas cities to call TREs have all had success:. Austin '20 (Project Connect): 58%✅.Mequite '21: 64%✅ & '23: 63%✅.Cibolo '24: 60%✅.Copperas Cove '24: 59%✅. Locally, TREs for both Travis County and Austin ISD passed last year as well.

Officials formally call the TRE, and after just over 18 hours of meeting time that wraps up council's budget and tax adoption session.

That action also included this resolution from CM Siegel, outlining how Austin's budget will be handled if city voters reject a tax rate election:

A slate of itens without immediate funding impacts is also approved. Some highlights:.-Exploring new utility fee for parks maintenance.-Implementing universal spay/neuter.-Creating "Climate Revolving Fund" for energy upgrades, savings.-Calling to increase homeless family shelter.

Council unanimously approves Austin's FY 2025-26 tax rate of $0.574017 per $100 of taxable property value, 5 cents above the voter-approval rate and setting up a November tax rate election.

Next, CMs approve new fees/fines/charges. CMs Velásquez, Harper-Madison have some reservations over negative small business impacts. This passes with amendments from Vela to cap residential development inspection fees, Fuentes to waive fees for building new child care centers.

Austin's FY 2025-26 budget and tax rate (requiring voter approval) passes 10-1, with CM Duchen against.

Watson: "It is time for us to trust our voters" now that council is passing a budget and tax rate election plan. Says the end product isn't perfect, but investment in people and services must be made.

Qadri: This budget, tax election proposal reflects an Austin that "works for everyone". Duchen: Residents are worried about "skyrocketing" cost of living; funding cuts affecting the vulnerable. He's against a TRE, calls budget a "Band-aid" with more financial issues likely ahead.

Fuentes: Toughest budget she's worked on, says the plan reflects Austin's role as a "force for good" benefiting residents. Velásquez: Not an easy budget, but council "redefining" what essential services mean from public safety to food pantries to domestic violence shelter.

Alter: This budget "puts people first" given concerns about state+federal funding impacts, says Austin's values will be on the ballot with this fall's TRE. Ellis: Supports where the TRE ended up given projected reserve levels, calls out several amendments incl. a few D8 upgrades.

After all that, council has reached a final vote on the heavily amended budget.

A few more comments about the impact of these ongoing to one-time spending shifts, and the proposal is adopted (Duchen abstains). Qadri closes with a note of thanks to other CMs, says he expects many of these items will return for consideration in future budget cycles.

Duchen says he’s increasingly worried about council’s approach with these items given Austin’s “structural deficit,” and the potential for city finances to be in the same spot or worse annually going forward.

Here's that plan. As noted: family stabilization/"guaranteed income" program, school district parent support specialists, new homeless navigation center funding would still stay as ongoing funding if this passes

After the break, Qadri lays out changes that will move $8M+ in council amendments from ongoing to one-time funding. He says this compromise update would keep the city closer to the 17% reserve line by the late 2020s, also leaving room for future cost increases and the 2026 bond.

CMs taking another 45-minute recess to sort out further changes aimed at upping reserves. For now, here's all amendments approved yesterday and today (pending any further changes after the break):

Council a bit divided on approach here, but trying to reach a consensus. Pausing a bit so CMs on the new package, making some amendments one-time spending with the goal of keeping higher reserves, can revise their proposal for consideration before a final vote.

Getting back to it, some CMs brought a broader amendment item that Watson ruled out of order due to lack of clarity. Doesn't seem to be posted yet so no details on that. Moving onto the amended budget vote now.