In it: raises, more police funding, and restructuring

(data via City of Austin / photo by John Anderson)

Interim City Manager Jesús Garza was officially unveiling his $5.5 billion budget for the city of Austin's 2023-2024 fiscal year as the Chronicle went to press Wednesday, July 19, but already the manager's proposed budget has made news.

Last week the budget document, which clocks in at over 1,000 pages, was made public – but not accessible. A single print-and-bound version of the budget was delivered to each Council member office around 4:30pm Friday, July 14. The binders that held the budget came with a note indicating that a digital version of the document would be available the following week, one day before a 196-item City Council meeting and one week before the only Council meeting devoted to a public hearing on the budget, held to allow community members a venue to provide comments on the city's spending priorities.

Council adoption of the budget is scheduled for Aug. 16-18 and every day leading up to that vote is valuable; Council offices and advocacy organizations need time to analyze the details of the proposed budget, talk with constituents, and consult with stakeholders so they can offer thoughtful amendments. Following an outcry from CMs, community advocates, and the media, the city relented and published the budget online on Sunday, July 16. But delaying publication of the budget online, as a digital file, where it could be accessed by anyone and...

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