The big picture
After several years in a more stable financial position, Austin's fiscal year 2024-25 budget—running from Oct. 1 through September 2025—is expected to be a much tighter spending plan that could see reduced funding for some city priorities.
“The anticipated deficit will limit our opportunity to fund any new initiatives, program enhancements or additional staff,” former interim City Manager Jesús Garza said in April.
The city's FY 2023-24 budget can be viewed here.
Get involved
The city's brief multilingual budget survey is available online. Austinites can rank three main city service areas they'd most like to see prioritized.
"Our residents are at the heart of everything we do, and their input is invaluable in shaping the priorities of our city," City Manager T.C. Broadnax said in a statement. “We encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity to share their perspectives and help shape the future of Austin."
What's next
The budget tool will remain accessible through May. More information on Austin's budget process is available here.
Looking ahead, City Council will hold several summer sessions focused on different aspects of the budget. Those include:
- A July 12 presentation and council Q&A on Broadnax's proposed FY 2024-25 budget
- A July 24 council work session centered on the budget's general fund—the operating fund for public-facing, tax-backed services, including public safety, parks, the library system, housing and homeless response
- A July 30 council work session covering the budget's enterprise funds—departments that operate on their own revenues, rather than taxes, such as the airport, and Austin Energy and Austin Water utilities. The session will also address the capital improvement program for major city projects.
- An Aug. 1 public hearing on the proposed FY 2024-25 budget and tax rate
