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Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Aug. 16, 2023
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council voted in favor of adopting its $5.5 billion budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year, marking the largest-ever budget in city history.
Alongside its budget, council approved the FY24 ad valorem property tax rate of 44.58 cents per $100 valuation, marking a 3.4% increase. Both the budget and tax rate were adopted on a 10-1 vote, with Council Member Mackenzie Kelly voting against both items.
“My vote against the budget stems from my concerns regarding certain budget items that deviate from our core priorities and don’t align with a back-to-basics approach,” Kelly said, in part, in a statement shared with KXAN Wednesday. “While I recognize the importance of various services, there are areas where government funding should not be directed.”
Included in the property tax discussion are several property tax exemptions for qualifying parties.
- Disabled veterans: Exemptions range from $5,000 to $12,000, depending on the percentage of disability the veteran has sustained. Disabled veterans with 100% disability “are entitled to a tax exemption of the total appraised value of the residence homestead,” per council documents.
- Residence homestead: Those with a residence homestead are entitled to a 20% tax exemption of the assessed valuation of their home
- Straight disability local option: Disabled persons who aren’t able to hold a job and are on social security or forced retirement “can apply for and receive an $124,000 tax exemption”
- Elderly homestead: Resident homeowners ages 65 years and older can apply for and receive a $124,000 tax exemption on their home
Amendments approved Wednesday
On Wednesday, council approved three amendments to the FY24 budget that came with financial changes.
The first was an amendment proposed by Council Member José Velásquez to approve a nearly $614,000 increase in funds for parent support specialists, in coordination with Austin ISD. Parent support specialists primarily work with Title I schools’ students and their families to assist with housing support, homelessness prevention, food access and attendance.
Velásquez said these specialists can help aid and change both a child and their family’s trajectory and future.
Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri proposed a $100,000 one-time fund for fair housing education and support resources. The goal of the funds were to assist residents looking to “counter discrimination in the housing and employment markets, [with] a particular focus on support for people with disabilities,” per council documents.
That amendment passed and was incorporated into the FY24 budget.
A final amendment proposed and approved by council Wednesday was made by Council Member José “Chito” Vela, related to human resources employees in the Austin Police Department. His motion called for HR employees handling APD-related materials to remain in the City of Austin’s corporate HR office.
During a discussion prior to council’s vote, city staff said it isn’t uncommon for city departments with more than 50 staff members to operate their own internal department HR team. That motion to keep APD-related HR employees in the corporate HR department passed.
The FY24 budget marks a half-billion increase over the FY23 budget, and a $1 billion increase above the FY22 budget.
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