Budget Breakdown

Slicing up the Budget Pie:
Public safety eats up about two-thirds of the city's budget, with more than half of that going to the police. Reining in these costs is a major concern for council members.

Thursday, Aug. 24 is the Public Safety budget presentation to City Council, the second of three presentations concerning the proposed 2007 city budget. Several departments fall under the $345.8 million safety umbrella: Police, Fire, EMS, the Municipal Court, and Public Safety and Emergency Management, which oversees city marshals, and airport and parks police. But the largest slice is reserved for the Austin Police Department, which at $196.6 million accounts for fully 38% of the entire $525.3 million city General Fund budget. As police salaries have increased in recent years, so has alarm; with a steady drumbeat of concern over spiraling cop salaries, and recent salvos from the Austin American-Statesman concerning generous overtime provisions, council is seeking to rein in safety spending; left unchecked, the costs could exceed the whole of the budget in a few years. The Austin Police Association, however, has laid the problem at the feet of city staff, saying understaffing led to incentives like the department's overtime allowance. As evidenced by the APA's recent media blitz, the union is ready to go on the offensive to preserve its funding. The fireworks begin with the 11am presentation; citizen input is scheduled for 6pm.

Next Thursday, Aug. 31, sees the final presentation, on Major Utilities and Infrastructure and Growth Management. Departments include Energy, Water, Public Works, Watershed Protection and Development Review, Neighborhood Planning and Zoning, Economic Growth, and Redevelopment Services.

• $109.8 million for neighborhood based policing (patrol costs account for $75 million)

• $31.8 million for investigations

• $7.1 million of budget allotted for overtime costs

• $7.6 million toward "salary increase and incentive provisions [in the] Meet and Confer agreement"

• $22.8 million for operations support (dispatchers, forensics, etc.)

Adds: $165,000 to add an assistant chief

Unfunded adds: $479,000 to increase civilian staffing by 9 positions

• $86 million for fire/emergency response ("combat operations")

• $9.6 million for operations support (communications, education, wellness, etc.)

Adds: $160,000 to restore four "frontline" positions

Unfunded adds: $100,000 to standardize replacement cycle of protective gear

• $30.8 million for operations (emergency services and communications)

• $2.4 million for professional practice and standards (academy funding, quality assurance)

Adds: $543,000 for six employees to address high call volume; $378,000 for three employees to augment training and recruiting

Unfunded adds: $1 million to "recruit, develop and supervise future paramedics"

• $5.2 million for municipal court operations

• $1.8 million for judiciary

• $1.4 million for Downtown Austin Community Court

Adds: $314,00 to switch to 24/7 court hearings at central booking, $75,000 for graffiti removal

Unfunded adds: $37,000 to augment customer service at municipal court substations

• $3.3 million for parks public safety ($183,300 added for overtime costs)

• $687,100 for city marshal services

• $0 for airport public safety ($4.7 million program cost is fully refunded by the Deptartment of Aviation)

Adds: $65,000 to enhance emergency preparedness volunteer program

Unfunded adds: $286,000 for five employees to increase lake patrol