Austin looks to cut EMS and parks funding after Prop Q defeat
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Millions of dollars planned for parks and emergency medical services could be eliminated from Austin's budget following the recent electoral defeat of a city property tax hike, city officials say.
Why it matters: The proposed cuts could lead to longer response times, less wildfire mitigation, fewer new library materials, less new parkland and a drop in programming for older adults, per a menu of budget adjustments offered to City Council members.
Catch up quick: City officials estimate they will collect $109.5 million less revenue than the amount they budgeted for the 2025-26 fiscal year after voters rejected Prop Q last week.
- The city charter requires the budget to be balanced — so the city now has to streamline planned spending, which had figured to be about $1.5 billion.
By the numbers: In a Nov. 7 memo, Austin budget director Kerri Lang proposed cuts the council could make.
- Among them, roughly $6.3 million in EMS funding, down from $154 million to $148 million, and $1 million from the Fire Department, from $264 million to $263 million.
- $5 million from the Parks and Recreation Department, from $142 million to $137 million.
- About $40 million for public health and social services, including reductions to planned spending on domestic abuse programs and the city's sobering center.
Zoom in: To soften the blow of the cuts, Lang proposed the council use $40 million earmarked for a rainy day fund.
- In the new proposed budget, the Homelessness Strategy Office would get a roughly $3.7 million increase.
- "Other states invest in homeless services. The state of Texas doesn't do that," Council Member Ryan Alter, who represents parts of South Austin, told KVUE. "So it's up to us to deliver those services because we're on our own."
What they're saying: "Inadequately funding" emergency services "will weaken emergency response," Austin emergency workers unions said in a joint statement to council on Monday.
- James Monks, president of the Austin EMS Association, told KVUE he was shocked by the proposed budget.
- "We're solving a lot of problems for the city, and it just kind of makes us feel a little bit unappreciated, honestly," Monks said.
- The cuts will mean fewer medics on the streets, leading to slower ambulance response times, he predicted.
Cuts to public safety are "totally unacceptable," Matt Mackowiak, who helms the anti-spending PAC that led the opposition against Prop Q, said Monday on KLBJ.
- Noting that half the council is up for reelection in next year, Mackowiak said that "anything short of" fully funding emergency services "opens them up to significant political blowback in their reelection campaigns."
What's next: City Council members are scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss the budget and could pass an amended version by the end of the month.