Yesterday, the City hosted an Austin’s Citizen Input Meeting at the City Convention Center regarding the upcoming city budget. We are pleased to report that no animal services budget cuts are on the table at this time. Additionally, they stated that the cost of the Implementation Plan has been included in next year’s budget. If you remember back to last year, initial budget cuts included a $200,000 decrease in spay and neuter funding.
The City has not announced any additional Citizen Input Meetings regarding the budget. However, you can complete an online survey for the city. This exercise includes voting on proposed budget cuts and other unmet initiatives. Click on Prioritize Unmet Service Demands and Service Reductions within the “Give Us Your Feedback” section.
Here is the link to the City website: http://www.cityofaustin.org/citymgr/budget_input.htm
Additionally, there is a place on the right side of the Prioritize Unmet Service Demands and Service Reduction web page to “contact the City”. Please click on this link and send an email to the city and tell them to fully fund all animal services budgets and to fully fund the Implementation Plan To Improve Live Outcomes and Reduce Intake at Townlake Animal Center.
While no cuts are planned at this time, we know that the budget building process is fluid. We should not take anything for granted.
Please contact others in the animal welfare community and ask them to complete the online survey including sending an email to the city via this feedback process.
