| Dear Neighbors,
As a council member, I believe the creation and passage of a budget that reflects our priorities as a community is one of my greatest responsibilities. Today, the City Council and the Austin community received City Manager Broadnax’s proposed budget. I invite you to read the City Manager’s Budget Message and press release, access the full budget here, and review proposed increases to property taxes and fees in this taxpayer impact statement. Slides from today’s presentation are accessible here, and video will be available here soon.
My staff and I will review the proposed budget in detail over the coming days and look forward to your feedback. I am writing to you today to share some key budget adoption dates and ways for you to get involved– including by attending the District 10 Town Hall and Resource Fair.
FY 24-25 Budget Adoption Process My colleagues and I will meet to discuss the budget on July 24 and 30, and on August 1, 6, and 8, with the budget vote taking place Wednesday, August 14 through August 16. All budget work sessions will be streamed/recorded on ATXN.
There will be opportunities for you to testify publicly during dedicated budget hearings on Wednesday, July 24 beginning at 3 p.m. and Thursday, August 1 beginning at 10 a.m. For the July 24 hearing, we are looking at ways to make it easy for residents whose schedules do not permit them to join us before 5 p.m. to do so. Learn how to sign up to speak here and monitor the Council Message Board for process updates.
| | | District 10 Budget Town Hall and Resource Fair
I look forward to connecting with you before the Council votes on the City budget. Join me for an (in-person) budget town hall and resource fair in Huffman Hall at Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, August 5! I will discuss my plans to advance our District 10 priorities, and the City Budget Office will offer a presentation on the City Manager’s proposed budget and adoption process.
I’ve invited several City departments and partners to table at the town hall and answer questions you may have about their services, including:
More guests are confirming their attendance, and they will be announced soon!
Budget Questions and Resources
I wish you and your family a safe and fun summer and I hope to see you on August 5 for my town hall or at one of our budget hearings!
Regards, | | | Alison Alter Council Member, District 10 | | Table of Contents Surgeon General Declared Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis Free Training on Home Wildfire Safety Assessment Help Shape I-35 Caps to Reconnect Austin Austin Animal Center Intake Closed City of Austin Fair Chance Hiring Job Fair Support Shoal Creek: 2nd Annual Shopping Cart Corral
| | | | Surgeon General Declared Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis
Last month, the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence to be a public health crisis and called for action similar to the strategies we’ve been implementing here in Austin. Learn more about the important work of ATX Peace and Austin’s Office of Violence Prevention, which I created in FY21, in this KXAN story. See my June newsletter for an overview of my work on gun violence prevention. | | | Free Training on Home Wildfire Safety Assessment
The River Place Firewise Committee, The Austin Fire Department, and Westbank Library are partnering to provide interested residents the opportunity to participate in a FREE Structural Ignition Zone Evaluator training class. The training, provided by Austin Fire Department, will provide instruction on how to assess a home & landscaping for vulnerability to wildfire and ember-ignition.
The class will be held on Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Westbank Community Library (1309 Westbank Drive). Class size will be limited to the first 25 sign-ups. To register, email your name, address, phone, and neighborhood to erichburg44@outlook.com.
| | | Help Shape I-35 Caps to Reconnect Austin
Our Future 35 is the City's goal is to create public spaces along the I-35 corridor in Central Austin and connect East and West Austin. With TxDOT’s plans to lower the highway’s main lanes between Lady Bird Lake and US 290 East, the City of Austin has an opportunity to construct “caps” and “stitches” over those sections. These caps could include parks, trails, small buildings for dining or cultural events, outdoor art exhibitions, and more.
Learn more about the project in the virtual open house or in this short video. Share your feedback in this survey by August 2.
| | | Austin Animal Center Intake Closed
Due to critical capacity issues, Austin Animal Center is temporarily closing intake. If you encounter a sick or injured animal, please call 311. If you find a loose pet, please visit this website or text “foundatx” to (844) 764-2125 for guidance. Local vet clinics, 24 hour pet hospitals, fire stations, and Austin Recreation Centers can scan found pets for a microchip for free. You can also add the pet to Austin Animal Center’s system by creating a Found Report, and view pets that have been reported as missing or found here. You can also post a found animal to Austin Lost and Found Pets on Facebook, Nextdoor, and Craigslist both in ‘Pets’ and ‘Lost and Found’.
For more information on fostering and adopting, visit their website. Austin Animal Center is open for adoption and reclaim Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. All adoption fees are currently waived. | | | City of Austin Fair Chance Hiring Job Fair
The City of Austin’s Fair Chance Hiring Job Fair will take place on Thursday, July 25, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Delco Activity Center. This job and resource fair will provide opportunities to meet with City departments and local employers committed to hiring and assisting individuals from all backgrounds including justice involved, individuals who are 50+, veterans, and people with disabilities. For more information, visit AustinTexas.gov/JobFairs. | | | Support Shoal Creek: 2nd Annual Shopping Cart Corral
Are you and/or your family looking for summer service opportunities? Join Shoal Creek Conservancy, Austin Resource Recovery, and Austin Watershed Protection Department on July 27 from 8-10 a.m. for the 2nd Annual Shoal Creek Shopping Cart Corral! The corral is a volunteer cleanup to remove hard-to-reach shopping carts from Shoal Creek! Learn more and sign up here.
July is also Shoal Creek Conservancy’s membership drive month. Sign up to support this organization and keep D10’s trails clean year-round here.
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