Austin News

The Austin City Council doesn’t use zero-based budgeting tools to ensure efficient spending of existing dollars, according to a former council member.

“The only spending that the council focused on was additional dollars,” said Ellen Troxclair, currently a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and a member of the Austin City Council between 2015-19. “We didn't go back and see whether existing programs were actually effective or meeting their stated goals or if the funding level was appropriate.”

The city’s budget office unveiled a proposed budget July 15, according to media reports, and it includes an $11.3 million cut in funding to the Austin Police Department, a property tax increase of 3.5% and a $1 per month charge in taxes and fees.

“I wish they would have started at no tax increases because so many Austin residents are facing a loss of income,” Troxclair told Austin News. “They can't afford any tax increases right now. We're all having to tighten our belts to live within these new circumstances.”

The state is currently experiencing a spike in COVID-19 exposure.

As of July 17, there were 307,572 coronavirus cases reported statewide and 3,735 deaths, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services dashboard, with Austin reporting 16,983 cases.

“I hope they will seriously consider the unintended consequences and ramifications of the impact their decisions will have on people of color and individuals who continue to be marginalized in Austin,” said Ora Houston, a council member who has been on sabbatical since January 2019 and is currently a member of Voices of Austin, a voter education group.

While the multimillion dollar cut in police funding reportedly will derive from eliminating 100 vacant officer positions, the Austin Justice Coalition previously told Austin News that ridding the police force of explosives, militarized weapons and mounted horses, plus the feed and stables required to maintain the horses, could free up funds to help people experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges.

“There are some inefficiencies that aren't necessary,” Troxclair said. “Maybe we don't need as many horses or new police cars every three years. We also have an entire city fleet of code enforcement vehicles for Austin water, Austin energy and transportation. They're buying new vehicles every three years as well, so this is a good idea and this level of scrutiny should be applied to the rest of our city departments and city spending.”

A series of meetings leading up to Aug. 12 will give current council members, residents and taxpayers an opportunity to comment on the budget before it is finalized.

“I would like to see a citywide performance audit that identifies inefficiencies and places where we should invest more money,” Troxclair said. “I would like to see them adopt a zero-based budget where they review all programs every year to ensure money is being spent appropriately and I'd love to see taxes kept flat this year and have no tax increases.”