Austin’s $6.6B proposed budget goes to July 22 hearing: property taxes, social cuts

Austin City Council’s July 22, 2026 budget meeting starts the public review of the City Manager’s $6.6 billion proposed operating budget, with resident impacts that include higher City property taxes and proposed reductions in social service contract/grant funding. The meeting convenes at 10:00 a.m.

The Council agenda for July 22 says the session includes a presentation and discussion of the proposed budget and a community input session to receive public comment. It also states public comment will be allowed in-person and remotely by telephone.

What the City says is changing for taxpayers

In its July 16 release with the budget proposal, the City of Austin says the proposed City portion property tax rate is $0.57953 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation. The City says a typical homeowner would see an increase of $14.49 per month (or $173.87 per year) in the City of Austin’s portion of the annual property tax bill.

The City also says its rates and fees—including for electricity, trash service, water, drainage, and the clean community fee—are proposed to rise. The City projects the typical Austin tax-and ratepayer increase would be $28.83 per month (or $345.95 per year).

Social services: proposed contract and grant reductions

KUT News reports the proposed budget includes reductions affecting parts of Austin’s social services contracting and related grants, including:

• $5.1 million in reductions in grants to social services providers
• $2.9 million in ongoing funding to Travis County’s Sobering Center
• $652,000 for the Summer Youth Employment Program
• $500,000 reduction in Rally Austin contract funding
• $400,000 from a convenient healthy food program through the Public Health Department
• About $170,000 from Parks and Recreation programs for seniors and children

What happens next after July 22

The City says that over the next several weeks, Council will host community input meetings and budget work sessions, review the proposal, and may introduce amendments ahead of final adoption that begins August 12.

Dates listed by the City include:

• July 22, 2026
• July 28, 2026
• July 30, 2026 – Public Hearing on the Budget
• August 4, 2026
• August 6, 2026
• August 12–14, 2026 – Budget Adoption

Because this is a proposed budget, the tax/rate figures and the social service funding numbers described in City materials and reporting can change as Council debates and amends the plan. Residents can use the comment and review windows to ask what would be adjusted—or restored—before adoption.

Sources

• City of Austin press release on the $6.6B proposed FY 2026–27 budget
• Austin City Council agenda: July 22, 2026 budget meeting
• KUT News: breakdown of proposed budget cuts affecting social services and taxes