Austin Town Hall meeting Thursday night

AUSTIN (KXAN) - City Manager Marc Ott will host a Community Town Meeting Thursday about how the recession is affecting the City's finances and to gather the public's input about priorities.

The session was at 6 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St. People asked many questions about the stimulus package and where it will go in the city.

"I see all the cuts we're looking at, how are we looking at bringing money back into Austin," said an Austinite. "Specifically having to do with the stimulus plan."

Leslie Browder, Austin's Chief Financial Officer, decided to field that question.

"I think most of that is going to be more geared toward capital projects, trying to get, you know, those construction dollars into the community, get those jobs underway and those projects completed," said Browder.

"Another key component that we've heard regarding the stimulus plans has to do with dollars going to public safety, specifically police and fire so of course, we're watching that very closely," said Michael McDonald, assistant city manager.

"We've devised a strategic management team that's going to be looking at across the board at all of our departments to see what opportunities are there to actually access some of the dollars through the stimulus," said Anthony Snipes, assistant city manager.

The City is in the midst of closing a projected $20 million budget shortfall as sales tax revenues, development fees and interest income all are below projections. The City already has reduced the budget an additional $33 million since last summer.

In recent weeks, the City Manager has met with various community groups ranging from the Real Estate Council of Austin to social services agencies; from the Austin Neighborhoods Council to chamber of commerce organizations. Ott unveiled possible budget reductions to the City Council on Feb. 11 and will bring his intended action plan to Council on Feb. 26.