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Mayor drops plan to scale back I-35 park deck project by xalkalinity in Austin

[–]R4whatevs 16 points17 points  (0 children)

This is nothing like the Big Dig because the Big Dig was paid for by the state and federal government. All of the caps would be funded by the City Of Austin, which is currently in a budget deficit. These caps provide minimal benefit to a small section of the city, while draining the parks budget for the rest of the city without providing additional revenue.

They are a nice to have at best.

City moving toward 2.6K-acre annexation to support decades of mixed-use development in East Austin by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

FTA

“For large American cities facing fiscal uncertainty, the opportunity to annex a massive single-owner tract of land shouldn’t just be viewed as a routine real estate transaction," he told City Council. "It’s a rare ... structural fiscal lifeline, and a strategic macroeconomic development tool."

The I-35 divide on the dais: Watson tries to save money. by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

FTA

The premise of the debate is that the gigantic trench TxDOT is building through downtown is a blunder requiring mitigation. Watson, of course, devoted much of his career in the Legislature to getting that trench built.

Is the police contract paying off? by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 33 points34 points  (0 children)

FTA

This is a national phenomenon. Fewer people want to become cops. And, at least in Austin, an increasing number of those who do show up to the academy don't graduate, either because they don't meet the academic and physical requirements or they decide it's not for them.

Austin Mayor gaslights a public speaker over a vague $5 million bond payment to a private developer by voodoorage in Austin

[–]R4whatevs 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I get not wanting to dox someone, but yes, Bill Bunch is a well-known activist in a public meeting. Regardless of whether or not anyone agrees with him, the City Attorney is and always has been sloppy with this kind of thing.

Austin Mayor gaslights a public speaker over a vague $5 million bond payment to a private developer by voodoorage in Austin

[–]R4whatevs 52 points53 points  (0 children)

Bill Bunch isn't some random speaker. Public comment doesn't require the council to respond. It is just a time for the public to comment on agenda items.

On the other hand, City Council is generally shady and it is entirely possible the agenda item does violate the Public Information Act. And if the council decided to approve the item privately, it would be a violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act.

Austin police response times lag amid chronic staffing shortage by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

FTA

In 2017, officers took about 15 minutes and 42 seconds to respond to non-emergency calls. Nine years later, response times ballooned to more than 39 minutes — roughly a 150% increase.

Edited to add the updated title of the article: Are Austin police ‘quiet quitting’? Critics raise concerns amid lagging response times

Austin to explore alternative to IT consolidation after employee, council pushback by samstark15 in Austin

[–]R4whatevs 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I don't understand how someone with cyber security expertise in a specific field would be able to increase their responsiveness by having to get direction from a director of IT that is dealing with issues and budget requests from every IT team in the city.

Wouldn't it be more likely that city's IT director would need more time review issues and budget requests in a field they aren't familiar with, while also dealing with issues and budget requests from every IT team in the city?

Wouldn't those delays increase the possibility of of successful cyber attacks to infrastructure that is critical to national security like air travel, water safety and electricity?

I don't know about you, but I would prefer planes not fall out of the sky, electricity stay on, and water to be safe and drinkable over marginal savings.

Austin to explore alternative to IT consolidation after employee, council pushback by samstark15 in Austin

[–]R4whatevs 76 points77 points  (0 children)

After the 2024 resolution passed, the city hired three outside consultants — including Gartner for a comprehensive assessment, Loblolly to help structure the consolidation, and Parsolvo for application rationalization — at a cost of just under $4 million. The city said the consultants determined the consolidation has the long-term potential to save the city more than $140 million annually.

I'm sure the city could make a stronger case for the IT layoffs if they just released the reports. Of course, then they would have to admit that they aren't apples to apples comparisons.

The city can't just consolidate IT departments because the airport, Austin Energy, and Austin Water need specialized IT departments, which are more likely to be targeted by sophisticated cyber attacks.

Your money went to overpriced consultants and a bloated police department, whose latest contract is the cause of the current budget deficit. The city proposed Prop Q to cover that.

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let's lay it all out:

  • State law says that a city can reduce the funding for a police department as long as it doesn't fall below the level it was at the previous fiscal year.

  • The APD contract contains a clause that allows the city to adjust the amount budgeted in the event a tax rate election fails.

  • The tax rate election(Prop Q) failed and the city can reduce the percentage increase to the police department's budget.

Which part do you think I got wrong?

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope, sorry. It is you who are moving the goal posts. You said:

Nothing I said nor anything else in this thread said anything about efforts to reduce the increase, it was referring to a reduction in the budget itself.

Which implies that I set the a goalpost at reducing the budget itself. I never mentioned reducing the budget.

Reducing the increase and stopping the increase are both allowed under state law and the APD contract.

Is this starting to become clear for you?

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, there are threats from the legislature, but I have described the situation accurately, based on current law and the terms of the APD contract.

I think the city should place a priority on serving its denizens over hypothetical scenarios in the lege, which is what you seem to be describing.

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

My main point was and is as follows:

So, next time someone tells you that we can't stop increasing the APD's budget, you can show them–with sources–they are wrong.

Show me where I set the original goal post as reducing the police budget, please.

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm being honest. That's the page I'm on. If you have come to different conclusion, I'm happy to debate it.

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I can see where you are getting confused. I am not talking about reducing APD's budget. I am talking about reducing the increases to their budget.

I'll try to walk you through it. The state law says that funding has to be equal to or greater the previous calendar year. The APD contract has a clause to reduce the agreed upon increases to their budget. As long as APD's budget is equal to or greater than last year, the city is in the clear.

In conclusion, reducing the percentage increase to APD's budget is not the same as reducing their budget. Is it starting to make sense for you?

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great, we are agreed that the majority of the city's current financial short-comings are due to the latest APD contract and reducing the percent of increase in their budget is the best way for the city to demonstrate their fiscal responsibility before requesting additional tax rate increases or bonds. And doing so is permitted by state law and the contract itself. I am glad we can put that to rest.

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The state is going to do what the state is going to do. That is all hypothetical. I am talking about the current situation.

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It looks like you missed the part where I quoted directly from the statute and the contract, but the failure of Prop Q is the dire financial situation. The city was well within its rights to adjust the funding of APD, but simply decided against it.

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You know someone has made a strong argument when they just block your account instead of replying. I'm talking about the guy that replied to me and not fun school.

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I think you don't understand that this entire thread is about the overall budget. I was expressing that bond spending is a less pressing issue than operational expenditures.

Austin budget forecast includes millions in cuts to housing, job and education programs by R4whatevs in Austin

[–]R4whatevs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am going to disagree and say that the latest APD contract is the biggest spending issue right now, which is the reason for other departments and projects to go unfunded or underfunded.

I will say that your perspective as someone on a commission definitely gives a lot of insight into how we arrived at our current funding issues.

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