FY 27 Budget Process
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2026 12:56 pm
Council Members:
Today, the City Manager will file the draft budget with the City Clerk. It will be posted online on the city website, which I've included the link below, and a physical copy will be delivered to Mayor and Council by City staff no later than Tuesday, July 14.
https://www.austintexas.gov/budget-exce ... ity-budget
As we move into this part of the process, now is a good time to talk about the budget timeline. In the past, setting out a timeline at the front end has been helpful. It also adds to the transparency of the process. And it should help us all prepare, stay aligned, and keep the conversation moving as we work through the major milestones.
One thing I want to highlight: We can make things work better if we have Council Members ask their questions (or most of their questions) during the work sessions instead of waiting to submit them via the formal Q&A written process afterward. While the written Q&A process is useful, it creates duplications, requires additional time for the financial staff, and creates an inefficient back-and-forth that slows things down. When we’re ready with our questions at a work session, staff can respond right away, we can talk through follow up questions together, and the whole process stays more collaborative and efficient. It’s a simple shift that really helps keep momentum and reduces delays.
We will still have the Council Budget Questions (CBQ) process, but, hopefully, this adjustment will help all of us and the public as we move through the complicated budget process. So please prepare for the work sessions by preparing your questions in advance.
With that, here’s the outline of upcoming meetings and information on the budget process:
Thursday, July 16, 2026 – 10 a.m.
We will hold a work session at which the City Manager and his team will present the draft budget to Mayor and Council. After the Manager and his team complete their full presentation, we will have the opportunity to ask questions.
July 16 will also mark the launch of the CBQ process. As before, this is a public facing process. The public will see the questions and answers.
Budget and Organizational Excellence (BOE) will email each Council Office the online form to submit questions. This form will allow BOE to track and provide responsive information.
While the Q & As will be a continuous process, I again ask that we use our work sessions to get most of our questions answered by staff at the meeting.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 – 10 a.m.
We will hold a work session focused on the City’s Strategic Priorities including Community Health & Sustainability and Homelessness & Housing. Additionally, staff will review impacts to Social Service Contracts.
The meeting will begin with public comment at 10:00 a.m. Public comment is not limited to the General Fund; it can be about any aspect of the budget.
Following the public comment, we will have a staff presentation and Council discussion. As this is meant to be a session to allow staff briefings (and council questions) on topics of specific interest to members, please know that City staff will be present in order to provide a more efficient way of getting your questions answered quickly.
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 - 10 a.m.
We will hold a work session focused on the City’s Strategic Priorities including Economic & Workforce Development, High Performing Government, and Mobility & Critical Infrastructure. Again, we will have a staff presentation followed by Council discussion, including any briefings and council questions that are desired.
Thursday, July 30, 2026 – 10 a.m.
Our work session focused on the Public Safety, the final Strategic Priority.
At 3 p.m., we will conduct a public hearing on the budget and hear public comment on the maximum tax rate. We will also set the maximum tax rate at this meeting. Please note: Setting the maximum tax rate is a requirement of the state’s Truth in Taxation process in which the city’s governing body publicly declares what maximum property tax rate it will consider for the upcoming budget process (by a vote of the governing body).
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 – 10 a.m.
This date is tentatively held in case we feel we need the additional time to work through any final questions or address specific topics of interest. I do not expect we will need this date, but we will discuss this as we get further along.
I’m requesting that we set a goal of filing all Council proposed Budget Amendments and Budget IFCs by Tuesday, August 4th at 6:00 p.m.
The goal is to allow for us to all have a feel for potential amendments and IFCs so that there’s more transparency for us and the public and sufficient time to allow staff to prepare fiscal notes for our proposals so that we will be able to determine budget impacts and increase efficiency. Please see the post about August 6th below. I’m suggesting the filing of proposed amendments and IFCs on the 4th so that we can walk through them on the 6th.
Proposed budget amendments can be filed with Katie Stewart in Budget and Organizational Excellence at katie.stewart@austintexas.gov
Proposed budget IFCs can be filed with Catie Powers in the Agenda Office at catie.powers@austintexas.gov.
“Budget Amendments” are items where a Council Member seeks to amend an appropriation in the budget. This could be by increasing it, reducing it or eliminating it. The amendment will need to be drafted like we do amendments in the ordinary course so that it will flow into the body of the main motion (the Budget Ordinance).
“Budget IFCs” are items from a Council Member that address policy that a member wishes to be made as part of the budget process. That includes direction to the City Manager and our professional staff. The procedures we use for IFCs generally will apply. For example, an IFC will need four sponsors.
To assure transparency and openness, Budget Amendments and Budget IFCs need to be in writing. This process will allow each of us to have a good idea of what to expect and not be surprised. It will also be good for the public and staff to know what is being contemplated.
The FY27 Budget Amendment form will be sent to Mayor and Council by Budget and Organizational Excellence with instructions in the coming weeks.
Thursday, August 6, 2026 – 10 a.m.
We will have a work session to allow each Council Member to publicly lay out any proposed Budget Amendments and/or Budget IFCs. This will allow members to ask questions, provide comments and, in some cases, determine if we have redundant proposals or proposals that could be consolidated. The plan is to also have as many fiscal notes as possible from staff to assist in our analysis and discussion.
Following all budget discussions, we’ll move into a public hearing to formally consider calling a 2026 Bond Election. The community will have the opportunity to weigh in before Council decides whether to call an election.
Wednesday, August 12 - Friday, August 14, 2026 – 10 a.m.
We will vote on the budget. I will call for a motion and a second to adopt the budget.
After that, we will take up each proposed Budget Amendment and Budget IFC that has been pre-submitted and discussed. My plan is to take these items up in this order: 1) amendments that generate revenue; 2) revenue neutral amendments; and 3) amendments that require an additional expenditure, beginning with those carrying the highest fiscal notes.
We will then consider Budget IFCs. My plan is to take up Budget IFCs once the budget is adopted since IFCs do not impact the budget numbers but are policy matters.
Adopting the FY27 Budget is a key moment for this Council and is especially important as we focus on maintaining long-term financial stability, ensuring the delivery of essential services, and strengthening public trust in how we prioritize and manage City resources. This effort is how we safeguard what makes Austin a great place to live and support the future our community deserves.
Thank you.
Kirk
Posted on behalf of Mayor Watson
Today, the City Manager will file the draft budget with the City Clerk. It will be posted online on the city website, which I've included the link below, and a physical copy will be delivered to Mayor and Council by City staff no later than Tuesday, July 14.
https://www.austintexas.gov/budget-exce ... ity-budget
As we move into this part of the process, now is a good time to talk about the budget timeline. In the past, setting out a timeline at the front end has been helpful. It also adds to the transparency of the process. And it should help us all prepare, stay aligned, and keep the conversation moving as we work through the major milestones.
One thing I want to highlight: We can make things work better if we have Council Members ask their questions (or most of their questions) during the work sessions instead of waiting to submit them via the formal Q&A written process afterward. While the written Q&A process is useful, it creates duplications, requires additional time for the financial staff, and creates an inefficient back-and-forth that slows things down. When we’re ready with our questions at a work session, staff can respond right away, we can talk through follow up questions together, and the whole process stays more collaborative and efficient. It’s a simple shift that really helps keep momentum and reduces delays.
We will still have the Council Budget Questions (CBQ) process, but, hopefully, this adjustment will help all of us and the public as we move through the complicated budget process. So please prepare for the work sessions by preparing your questions in advance.
With that, here’s the outline of upcoming meetings and information on the budget process:
Thursday, July 16, 2026 – 10 a.m.
We will hold a work session at which the City Manager and his team will present the draft budget to Mayor and Council. After the Manager and his team complete their full presentation, we will have the opportunity to ask questions.
July 16 will also mark the launch of the CBQ process. As before, this is a public facing process. The public will see the questions and answers.
Budget and Organizational Excellence (BOE) will email each Council Office the online form to submit questions. This form will allow BOE to track and provide responsive information.
While the Q & As will be a continuous process, I again ask that we use our work sessions to get most of our questions answered by staff at the meeting.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 – 10 a.m.
We will hold a work session focused on the City’s Strategic Priorities including Community Health & Sustainability and Homelessness & Housing. Additionally, staff will review impacts to Social Service Contracts.
The meeting will begin with public comment at 10:00 a.m. Public comment is not limited to the General Fund; it can be about any aspect of the budget.
Following the public comment, we will have a staff presentation and Council discussion. As this is meant to be a session to allow staff briefings (and council questions) on topics of specific interest to members, please know that City staff will be present in order to provide a more efficient way of getting your questions answered quickly.
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 - 10 a.m.
We will hold a work session focused on the City’s Strategic Priorities including Economic & Workforce Development, High Performing Government, and Mobility & Critical Infrastructure. Again, we will have a staff presentation followed by Council discussion, including any briefings and council questions that are desired.
Thursday, July 30, 2026 – 10 a.m.
Our work session focused on the Public Safety, the final Strategic Priority.
At 3 p.m., we will conduct a public hearing on the budget and hear public comment on the maximum tax rate. We will also set the maximum tax rate at this meeting. Please note: Setting the maximum tax rate is a requirement of the state’s Truth in Taxation process in which the city’s governing body publicly declares what maximum property tax rate it will consider for the upcoming budget process (by a vote of the governing body).
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 – 10 a.m.
This date is tentatively held in case we feel we need the additional time to work through any final questions or address specific topics of interest. I do not expect we will need this date, but we will discuss this as we get further along.
I’m requesting that we set a goal of filing all Council proposed Budget Amendments and Budget IFCs by Tuesday, August 4th at 6:00 p.m.
The goal is to allow for us to all have a feel for potential amendments and IFCs so that there’s more transparency for us and the public and sufficient time to allow staff to prepare fiscal notes for our proposals so that we will be able to determine budget impacts and increase efficiency. Please see the post about August 6th below. I’m suggesting the filing of proposed amendments and IFCs on the 4th so that we can walk through them on the 6th.
Proposed budget amendments can be filed with Katie Stewart in Budget and Organizational Excellence at katie.stewart@austintexas.gov
Proposed budget IFCs can be filed with Catie Powers in the Agenda Office at catie.powers@austintexas.gov.
“Budget Amendments” are items where a Council Member seeks to amend an appropriation in the budget. This could be by increasing it, reducing it or eliminating it. The amendment will need to be drafted like we do amendments in the ordinary course so that it will flow into the body of the main motion (the Budget Ordinance).
“Budget IFCs” are items from a Council Member that address policy that a member wishes to be made as part of the budget process. That includes direction to the City Manager and our professional staff. The procedures we use for IFCs generally will apply. For example, an IFC will need four sponsors.
To assure transparency and openness, Budget Amendments and Budget IFCs need to be in writing. This process will allow each of us to have a good idea of what to expect and not be surprised. It will also be good for the public and staff to know what is being contemplated.
The FY27 Budget Amendment form will be sent to Mayor and Council by Budget and Organizational Excellence with instructions in the coming weeks.
Thursday, August 6, 2026 – 10 a.m.
We will have a work session to allow each Council Member to publicly lay out any proposed Budget Amendments and/or Budget IFCs. This will allow members to ask questions, provide comments and, in some cases, determine if we have redundant proposals or proposals that could be consolidated. The plan is to also have as many fiscal notes as possible from staff to assist in our analysis and discussion.
Following all budget discussions, we’ll move into a public hearing to formally consider calling a 2026 Bond Election. The community will have the opportunity to weigh in before Council decides whether to call an election.
Wednesday, August 12 - Friday, August 14, 2026 – 10 a.m.
We will vote on the budget. I will call for a motion and a second to adopt the budget.
After that, we will take up each proposed Budget Amendment and Budget IFC that has been pre-submitted and discussed. My plan is to take these items up in this order: 1) amendments that generate revenue; 2) revenue neutral amendments; and 3) amendments that require an additional expenditure, beginning with those carrying the highest fiscal notes.
We will then consider Budget IFCs. My plan is to take up Budget IFCs once the budget is adopted since IFCs do not impact the budget numbers but are policy matters.
Adopting the FY27 Budget is a key moment for this Council and is especially important as we focus on maintaining long-term financial stability, ensuring the delivery of essential services, and strengthening public trust in how we prioritize and manage City resources. This effort is how we safeguard what makes Austin a great place to live and support the future our community deserves.
Thank you.
Kirk
Posted on behalf of Mayor Watson