City Manager Marc Ott pitched his $2.8 billion budget recommendation to city council Wednesday, proposing 113 new hires and a higher tax rate.  The budget is slightly higher than last year's $2.75 billion ledger and includes about $650.2 million for the general fund. Austin City Council members are scheduled to vote on the plan in mid-September. The plan includes trimming about 20 vacant positions saving about $500,000.  The 2011 proposed tax rate is 46.13 cents per $100 valuation, higher than the current 42.09 cents rate. It would be the first increase in four years.

2011 budget highlights include:
• Police – $250.8 million, adds funding for 48 new officers and maintains funding for the next cadet class scheduled to begin at the end of February 2011

• Fire – $126.2 million, provides funding to add 10 firefighters; maintains funding for the next cadet class scheduled to begin January 2011; eliminate funding for a training academy and the LBJ High School Fire Academy

• Emergency Medical Services – $46.2 million, adds funding for 30 new paramedic positions to staff stations at Avery Ranch, Harrisglenn Dr. and Harris Branch.

• Municipal Court – $12.3 million, includes funding to maintain services at the downtown location and two substations, as well as continued funding for the Downtown Austin Community Court

• Parks and Recreation – $43.5 million, reallocate five vacant positions to address maintenance needs in the downtown parks and two vacant positions to meet staffing requirements at the expanded Dittmar Recreation Center and the newly annexed Canyon Creek Park

• Health & Human Services – $25.7 million, adds funding for the animal services implementation plan and increases funding provided by Travis County for the spay/neuter program, adds two new positions to improve internal controls and increase oversight of third party contracts

• Social Services – $13.9 million, maintains funding at fiscal year 2010 levels for contracts with local social service agencies and increases funding for a homeless services

• Library – $25.9 million, increases the library’s system-wide book budget by $500,000 and adds two new positions for additional branch delivery units

• Planning and Development Review – $21.2 million, adds funding for four new senior planners, five administrative positions, a business enterprise manager and an environmental coordinator

Read more: City of Austin's proposed $2.8M budget released - Austin Business Journal
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