BY HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON
Austin revising budget after failed election Austin leaders are preparing to trim about $100 million from the city’s budget after voters rejected a tax increase that would’ve provided added funding for services like public safety, homelessness response and parks maintenance. The setup With the failure of Proposition Q in the Nov. 4 election, City Council members must now adopt a revised fiscal year 2025-26 budget based on less tax revenue than was included in the spending plan they approved in August. That two-day process came after weeks of consideration of an initial budget proposal forwarded by City Manager T.C. Broadnax in July. Officials are now likely to approve a final plan closer to Broadnax’s original outline, with some changes based on their priority spending areas and slightly higher-than-anticipated tax revenue
Austin-San Antonio rail study launched Travis County officials approved a $124,953 feasibility study exploring com- muter rail options between Austin and San Antonio. The big picture The study into an initiative will evaluate passenger rail options on state-managed land along major highways, including exist- ing rail infrastructure, with potential service options from the Amtrak station in San Antonio to the Austin-Bergstrom Interna- tional Airport. It’ll examine rail on existing transportation corridors without requiring significant private land acquisition, making the route potentially more feasible and faster to develop. A summary report on project management is expected in 175 days.
Austin Prop. Q results
For
Against
Proposition Q
62,952
109,375
SOURCE: HAYS COUNTY, TRAVIS COUNTY, WILLIAMSON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
for the coming year. Following the election, Mayor Kirk Watson called for a “coherent, straightforward budget process” focused on the basics and with minimal edits. The city budget office released its recom- mendations for the more limited spending plan Nov. 7, and council held work sessions Nov. 13 and 18. Council could adopt it as soon as Nov. 20, after press time. Proposition Q was projected to add about $109.5 million to Austin’s general fund, which accounts for almost one-fourth of the overall $6.3 billion city budget.
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