AUSTIN, Texas —
The city of Austin is hosting a budget work session to get feedback from the public on next year's budget.
It's the second public comment meeting the city council has had so far, and it starts at 10 a.m. Thursday at Austin City Hall.
Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes was at that first session and also hosted a budget town hall of her own. She said the feedback is important as the city move forward so it knows what people's priorities are.
"It's important that we provide these opportunities for Austinites to get engaged, for them to learn about what's all included in the budget," Fuentes said. "Also for us, as policymakers, to hear directly from our community members about what more should we be investing in? What are areas that we should tweak and perhaps any gaps that we're seeing in the city services that are available?"
She also said some of the biggest concerns people have brought up are about Austin's mental health response, how the city will help the unhoused population and how to provide better access to parks and greenery.
The work session Thursday will start with a presentation and discussion of the $5.9 billion proposed budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. It's a chance for people in the city to learn what's included in the budget and have their voices heard about what they want to see.
That's something Fuentes said is important.
"I'm a firm believer that the best solutions come from the people closest to the problems. And so, absolutely, hearing directly from our community is a great way for me as a policymaker to understand what are the areas that I should be plugged into?" Fuentes said. "Where can I offer support and where can I ensure that the city of Austin is actively addressing?"
One of Fuentes' priorities is the family stabilization grant. She said it has proven to help address and prevent homelessness, which she said she knows is an important concern to Austinites.
The work session will also discuss setting a maximum proposed property tax rate, which would be increased to go toward operations and maintenance for next year's budget.
You can find the work session agenda here.
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