Council Budget Is Finally Here
Includes a landmark living wage increase
By Amy Kamp, 3:20PM, Fri. Sep. 11, 2015
On Thursday, Sept. 10, Council (finally) passed a budget for FY 2016.
In a press release, Mayor Steve Adler said, “Austin can be proud of this budget, which reduces taxes while increasing social services. This is a responsible budget that includes significant investments in affordability and equity, all while ensuring that the taxpayers of Austin are able to realize a dividend from the tremendous growth in our community.”
Labor advocates won a significant victory from Council, as Austin Interfaith noted at a press conference today, Friday, Sept. 11. Not only did Council raise its living wage – the minimum wage a city employee can be paid – from $11.39 to $13.03 per hour, but they extended that wage standard to include both part-time and temporary employees.
Several council members and the mayor spoke at the Austin Interfaith press conference, expressing their pride in the fact that the budget would, as Council Member Greg Casar put it, "help those who really need help." Casar also praised his colleague CM Ann Kitchen for her determination in making sure that health care benefits would be offered to part-time and temporary employees – some of whom have been working for the city for years.
Look for more in-depth coverage about the budget and the implications of the living wage increase next week, both online and in our upcoming issue, on newsstands Thursday, Sept. 17.
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