A $11.30 increase in a "typical" customer's monthly bill is projected[/caption]
Austin City Council will begin the process of crafting the first budget by a geographically represented while trying to meet the needs of a rapidly growing city after city staff unveiled the proposed budget July 30.
The budget would have Austin spend $3.5 billion, about $39 million more than the last budget, with a tax rate of 48.14 cents per $100 of valuation, said Ed Van Eenoo, the city's deputy chief financial officer. The proposed tax rate would be an increase from 48.09 cents with a monthly tax bill increase of about $11.30 for the "typical" customer, he said.
An increase in expenditures is mostly because of city services trying to keep up with Austin's growth as well as residents voicing a desire for more investment in services.
Austin's growth has put a strain on some services, and the proposed budget includes 347.4 new employees, an increase from 12,976.5 city employees to 13,321.9 since FY 2015.
Twenty-two new employees will be added to the transportation department at a cost of $2 million. The department would also receive $15.1 million for corridor improvements, pedestrian hybrid beacons and new signal installations.
Since 2008, Austin's total property tax bill has been the second highest of five similar Texas cities with San Antonio coming in first and Dallas in third, Van Eenoo said. In 2015, almost 7 percent of an Austin household's median family income MFI went toward its property tax bill compared with about 5.5 percent in 2008.
The financial office received resident feedback on budget priorities through a survey conducted by a third party consultant and the Budget in a Box activity designed to educate citizens on what the budget funds.
Survey participants ranked Austin 10 percent or lower than the national average in regards to satisfaction with traffic flow on major streets and how well the city plans for growth. However, Austin was ranked 10 percent or more than the national average in areas such as neighborhood and park safety, number of hike and bike trails, and quality of services.
More than 50 percent of Budget in a Box participants wanted more of their tax dollars invested in streets, infrastructure, parks, libraries, health care and housing. No category had more than 35 percent of respondents saying they wanted less money spent in that area.
Van Eenoo said the feedback informed city staff Austin's taxpayers value the services provided and okay with paying what is needed to fund or improve those programs.
Council members and city staff will continue to fine-tune the budget in the next few weeks, and City Council is slated to approve the final budget Sept. 8-10.
A $11.30 increase in a "typical" customer's monthly bill is projected[/caption]
Austin City Council will begin the process of crafting the first budget by a geographically represented while trying to meet the needs of a rapidly growing city after city staff unveiled the proposed budget July 30.
The budget would have Austin spend $3.5 billion, about $39 million more than the last budget, with a tax rate of 48.14 cents per $100 of valuation, said Ed Van Eenoo, the city's deputy chief financial officer. The proposed tax rate would be an increase from 48.09 cents with a monthly tax bill increase of about $11.30 for the "typical" customer, he said.
An increase in expenditures is mostly because of city services trying to keep up with Austin's growth as well as residents voicing a desire for more investment in services.
Austin's growth has put a strain on some services, and the proposed budget includes 347.4 new employees, an increase from 12,976.5 city employees to 13,321.9 since FY 2015.
Twenty-two new employees will be added to the transportation department at a cost of $2 million. The department would also receive $15.1 million for corridor improvements, pedestrian hybrid beacons and new signal installations.
Since 2008, Austin's total property tax bill has been the second highest of five similar Texas cities with San Antonio coming in first and Dallas in third, Van Eenoo said. In 2015, almost 7 percent of an Austin household's median family income MFI went toward its property tax bill compared with about 5.5 percent in 2008.
The financial office received resident feedback on budget priorities through a survey conducted by a third party consultant and the Budget in a Box activity designed to educate citizens on what the budget funds.
Survey participants ranked Austin 10 percent or lower than the national average in regards to satisfaction with traffic flow on major streets and how well the city plans for growth. However, Austin was ranked 10 percent or more than the national average in areas such as neighborhood and park safety, number of hike and bike trails, and quality of services.
More than 50 percent of Budget in a Box participants wanted more of their tax dollars invested in streets, infrastructure, parks, libraries, health care and housing. No category had more than 35 percent of respondents saying they wanted less money spent in that area.
Van Eenoo said the feedback informed city staff Austin's taxpayers value the services provided and okay with paying what is needed to fund or improve those programs.
Council members and city staff will continue to fine-tune the budget in the next few weeks, and City Council is slated to approve the final budget Sept. 8-10.
