Mayor's push for more cuts rejected

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Mayor Lee Leffingwell’s attempt to introduce cuts in the budget process Monday was not well-received by other members of the Austin City Council.

The council is spending the week at city hall and trying to finalize the city budget for next year.

The current $3 billion budget plan calls for a 2.2 cent property tax increase.

During Monday's session, Leffingwell raised a few eyebrows when he recommended that tax increase be lowered significantly.

“That is a significant amount in my opinion and one I am not going to be able to support,” the mayor told the council. “I want to try and reduce the amount of property tax increase and still provide necessary services.”

The mayor’s proposal was an across-the-board cut to city departments, excluding those in public safety.

The proposal would have save around $4 million but was voted down, 6-1.

Police Chief Art Acevedo spoke at the budget hearing and said the proposed budget for the Austin Police Department would include hiring 22 new officers. He was also informed that the department’s overtime budget could be cut.

Acevedo says overtime is typically used to address crime spikes and other emerging threats or patterns.

The council is expected to meet Tuesday and Wednesday in hopes of finalizing the budget.