budget

Requested that $3 million in budgeted animal services funds be specifically earmarked for the facility at 7201 Lavender Loop.

Supported Rosedale rezoning to grow the municipal tax base and support AISD.

Expressed concern over city debt issuance, loan costs, and fiscal responsibility regarding a $131 million loan.

Thanked the council for listening to public input on the budget and urged them to keep the police budget flat.

Praised staff budget work, supported APD funding based on contractual obligations and pension payments, and emphasized public safety.

Expressed concern over proposed cuts to the senior congregate meal program and criticized police budget increases.

Asked to keep APD's budget flat, fully fund social services, and move 911 out of the police department.

Spoke in support of the community investment budget, ending encampment sweeps, and moving 911 dispatch out of APD.

Criticized police collaboration with immigration enforcement and advocated for flat police funding.

Spoke on behalf of Equity Action supporting the community investment budget and moving 911 out of APD.

Spoke on behalf of Integral Care workers urging dedicated funding for the no wrong door crisis response program without cutting existing services.

Appreciated staff efforts to clarify overhead costs in the budget and urged clear communication.

Urged the council to reject the proposed increase to APD's budget following recent officer-involved shootings.

Expressed concern over increased spending, debt, and tax burdens on residents.

Spoke in favor of the community investment budget, re-entry services, housing, and keeping APD's budget flat.

Supported the community investment budget, cutting police recruitment funds, and creating a joint communications department.

Supported the community investment budget, restoring senior meal programs, and protecting youth services.

Supported moving 911 out of APD, keeping the APD budget flat, and funding housing and social services.

Spoke about experiences with homelessness, criticizing encampment sweeps and the lack of accessible storage for unhoused residents.

Called for genuine commitment to addressing homelessness through housing rather than temporary measures.

Requested funding for storage programs to protect unhoused people's vital documents instead of increasing police budgets.

Urged a pause on encampment sweeps and an expansion of safe storage and housing services.

Expressed a neutral stance on the budget, supporting funding for Austin Energy, shelters, and trusted community service organizations while keeping APD flat.

Spoke as a social worker against police recruitment spending and in favor of keeping the APD budget flat.

Criticized a shift away from community engagement and public service toward administrative efficiency.

Objected to encampment clearing strategies, police budget increases, and the erosion of equity initiatives.

Asked the council to restore full funding for emergency veterinary care in animal services using donation funds.

Advocated for reallocating funds from APD to social services and moving 911 dispatch out of the police department.

Spoke on behalf of FarmShare Austin about the importance of food access programs and requested fair evaluation of program effectiveness.

Opposed reductions in funding for fresh food access programs and social services.

Urged full funding for social services and requested transparency regarding reviews of these investments.

Critiqued bond fund allocations, pedestrian safety infrastructure, and transparency in city management.

Spoke in support of level funding for Capital Idea workforce development programs.

Supported ongoing funding for Capital Idea, citing life-changing results and economic returns.

Advocated for continued support of Capital Idea to ensure regional workforce strength and affordability.

Spoke in support of fully funding Capital Idea and social services to support vulnerable populations.

Encouraged prioritizing long-term workforce development programs like Capital Idea.

Spoke in support of Capital Idea's intergenerational impact and community importance.

Provided updated budget recommendations for early childhood networks, family stabilization grants, and immigrant support services.

Spoke in support of the community investment budget, keeping APD flat, and moving 911 out of the police department.

Spoke against encampment sweeps and in favor of funding non-profit service providers.

Requested continued funding for Communities in Schools mental health professional support in schools.

Urged the council to reject police budget increases and invest in rape crisis programs, shelter, and youth needs.

Asked the council to keep the police budget flat, increase funding for social services, and move 911 dispatch out of APD.

Urged full funding for social services, the safe alliance, and civilian oversight of police.

A physician spoke against encampment sweeps, citing negative health impacts on unhoused patients, and asked for flat police funding.

Asked to restore funding for the Conveniently Healthy Food Program and FarmShare Austin.

Asked for an independent emergency communications department staffed by civilians.

Shared youth mentoring experiences and requested continued funding for the African American Youth Harvest Foundation.

Questioned proposed police budget increases and enforcement practices while advocating for social services.

Highlighted the mental health services provided by the Trauma Recovery Center and requested budget amendments to prevent its closure.

Spoke against proposed budget cuts affecting the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Mark Thomas Foundation.

Spoke in opposition to the proposed police budget increases and urged reallocating funds to community health and social safety net programs.

Advocated against increasing the police budget beyond contractual requirements and supported shifting 911 out of APD.

Asked council to vote no on social service cuts and restore funding for Con Mi Madre.

Shared powerful student testimonials regarding the positive impact of Mexic-Arte's mural after-school programs.

Supported restoring social service funding and shifting 911 call operations out of APD.

Supported community investment budget priorities, moving 911 out of APD, and reviewing police budget allocations.

Spoke against social service budget reductions, highlighting Mexic-Arte's violence prevention programs for youth.

Urged council to restore proposed reductions to the congregate meal program for older adults.

Requested level funding of $350,000 for sickle cell programs and services in the fiscal year 2027 budget.

Urged council not to eliminate Mexic-Arte Museum's education programs funded under Austin Public Health.

Advocated for full restoration of social service funding and greater transparency in contract reviews.

Supported community investment budget priorities and urged establishing a joint emergency communications department.

Expressed concern over the compounding tax impacts of city budgets on small businesses.

Asked council to protect the city's investment in Con Mi Madre and educational youth programming.

Supported the community investment budget and highlighted economic returns of job training.

Supported the community investment budget on behalf of the Universal Tech Movement, highlighting workforce development and tech training.

Stressed the importance of rapid rehousing and intensive case management for older adults experiencing homelessness.

Demanded a racial and educational equity impact statement on the proposed budget and called for no raises for APD.

Supported the community investment budget and highlighted workforce training as a preventive measure for community safety.

Spoke as a social worker and board member for Family Eldercare, urging investment in prevention services for older adults.

Expressed concern over city employee healthcare cost increases while proposing a permanent raise for APD.

Stated that increasing APD's budget while cutting social services sends the wrong message, citing recent use-of-force incidents.

Argued that funding social services increases safety more effectively than police spending.

Strongly opposed additional funding for APD and cuts to social service contracts.

Supported the community investment budget, opposed APD budget increases, and called for an independent 911 dispatch department.

Called for better management models, harm reduction, and conflict resolution in city budgeting.

Discussed crime statistics and clarified that police budget increases largely reflect indirect support services.

Encouraged preservation of proposed funding increases for police, fire, and EMS to maintain service levels.

Expressed appreciation for public safety prioritization and support for first responder resources.

Asked council to reject new spending, conduct audits, and prioritize efficiency before raising taxes.

Supported workforce development and violence prevention funding through the community investment budget.

Requested maintenance of current funding for Austin PBS's Play to Learn program.

Encouraged council to listen to grassroots groups, preserve public goods, and keep the police budget flat.

Addressed proposed cuts to the Fresh for Less mobile market program and food access initiatives.

Asked council to reinstate social service cuts and keep the APD budget flat, highlighting Fresh for Less.

Expressed concern over recent use of force incidents and advocated for de-escalatory crisis intervention.

Offered prayers and support for council members facing difficult budget decisions.

Highlighted the shortage of accessible mental health services and urged halting funding cuts for senior and mental health programs.

Spoke as a 93-year-old resident in affordable housing, asking council to protect programs for older adults.

Spoke in support of the community investment budget and criticized police spending priorities.

Spoke as an AFSCME member urging a progressive COLA structure for lower-paid city workers and setting the tax rate at the ceiling.

Urged protection and increase of community violence intervention funding.

Requested greater clarity in budget documents and presentations for public understanding.

Challenged council to reimagine public safety and reject cuts to social service contracts.

Emphasized the connection between workforce development and community stability.

Expressed opposition to the proposed budget and supported community investment budget priorities.

Advocated for continued investment in evidence-informed community violence intervention strategies.

Highlighted Austin as a national example of evidence-based violence prevention and urged sustained funding.

Spoke as President of the Austin Firefighters Association regarding staffing, overtime transparency, and operational support.

Testified against the proposed budget and increased police spending.

Spoke about supportive housing for older adults and the importance of nonprofit funding.

Urged keeping the police budget flat and preserving community-based social programs.

Expressed support for the community investment budget and opposed APD budget increases.

Spoke on behalf of Family Eldercare, asking the council to maintain funding for senior and disability services.

Represented Integral Care workers, defending the agency's performance and urging no cuts to behavioral health services following an audit.

Spoke in support of continued funding for the Mark Thomas Foundation and the mental health needs of sickle cell patients.

Thanked the council for past support and asked for continued funding for the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Mark Thomas Foundation.

Urged the council to reduce the police department budget and reinvest in mental health and community safety services.

Spoke on behalf of Moms Demand Action in support of community violence intervention funding.

Presented Universal Tech Movement's annual report, highlighting job placement success in tech and requesting continued funding.

Supported the community investment budget and digital inclusion work through Universal Tech Movement.

Advocated for extending the budget review timeline from one month to three months for better community engagement.

Discussed the success of Family Eldercare's employment program for formerly unhoused individuals and urged no cuts.

Shared how the Mark Thomas Foundation helped her family navigate her daughter's sickle cell diagnosis.

Expressed concern over proposed cuts to social service contracts and highlighted their role in economic mobility.

Highlighted the financial strain on young city workers and students, asking for a larger raise than the proposed 10 cents.

Advocated for higher wage increases for temporary city employees compared to regular employees.

Urged fiscal restraint, reducing consultant spending, and completing efficiency audits before raising taxes or debt.

Shared personal testimony as a Capital Idea graduate whose life and family stability were transformed by the program.

Asked the council to support level funding for Capital Idea to help adults access living wage career training.

Urged the council to maintain funding for social service contracts, early childhood education, and keep the police budget flat.

Supported the Community Investment Budget, urging the city to preserve funding for the Office of Violence Prevention and immigrant legal services rather than increasing police spending.

Read testimony from an occupational therapist advocating for the Community Investment Budget and addressing collective trauma.

Urged support for the CIB, emphasizing that public safety requires preventative investments in housing, mental health, and social services.

Echoed calls for the CIB, independent 911 dispatch, and the reduction of police budget increases in favor of social services.

Advocated for funding early childhood education, home-based childcare networks, direct assistance pilots, and immigrant support services.

Expressed deep concern over proposed cuts to the Office of Equity and Inclusion, urging the council to restore its funding.

Criticized the prioritization of police spending over social services alongside rising property taxes and corporate incentives.

Supported the CIB, arguing that upstream investments in housing and workforce development cost less than emergency interventions.

Spoke against encampment sweeps and increased police funding, defining public safety as having housing and basic necessities.

Urged the council to prioritize essential public services, maintain a 17% general reserve fund, and act as fiduciaries to taxpayers.

Expressed concerns regarding police oversight accountability and delays in public library renovations, suggesting funding adjustments.

Called for a living wage increase for temporary city workers and restoration of training stipends and dental insurance.

Raised concerns about transparency in city leadership compensation, real estate impacts, and the need for better communication with working-class residents.

Sang a testimony urging the council to protect social services and avoid balancing the budget on the backs of low-income residents.

Shared personal testimony on the success of ATX Peace and community violence intervention in driving down citywide homicides.

Spoke on the vital role of harm reduction services and crisis response teams in supporting unhoused and vulnerable residents.

Highlighted how the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance saves public dollars through early health interventions and de-escalation.

Argued against increasing the police budget while cutting social services and housing funds, supporting the Community Investment Budget coalition.

Shared how Life Anew helped her develop conflict resolution skills and asked the council not to cut youth and social service budgets.

Requested adequate funding for animal services to simultaneously achieve open intake and no-kill standards.

Cautioned that cutting preventative community violence and youth programs merely shifts greater costs into the future.

Asked the council to oppose proposed reductions to health and human services and provide program-level impact analyses for all cuts.

Stated that cutting social service contracts, CVI, and reentry programs is contrary to community safety and well-being.

Highlighted the positive impact of CVI on Burton Drive and urged the council to view these investments as non-negotiable.

Praised the 3:00 p.m. public hearing time for accessibility and urged genuine consideration of public feedback on the budget.

Encouraged full funding for community violence interrupter programs based on firsthand experience with ATX Peace near Travis High School.

Urged the council to fully fund community violence intervention programs and reject proposed budget cuts to gun violence prevention efforts.

Advocated for investments in early childhood education, home-based child care support, family stabilization grants, and immigrant support services.

Expressed concern over planned cuts to workforce development programs for individuals returning from incarceration.

Called for funding violence prevention, workforce development, and immigrant legal services rather than police increases.

Asked the council to invest in affordable housing and legal support for immigrants.

Requested increased city investment in immigrant legal defense services following a family detention incident.

Criticized administrative spending in the Equity and Inclusion Office, mobility contracts, and social service cuts.