Budget Crisis: Power, Jobs, Transit Funds
- City leaders and state legislators discussed the severe impact of the state's budget crisis on Austin, requesting an analysis on potential local job losses from state layoffs.
- A significant financial concern was the potential loss of city revenue if the State decided to purchase electricity from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) instead of the city utility.
- A state representative proposed diverting a portion of sales tax funds, currently allocated to Capital Metro (public transit), to the local school district.
- Officials agreed to schedule future meetings with Travis County and school district representatives to further address these intergovernmental financial challenges.
Full Transcript
City Council Frank C.Cooksey Mayor John Treviño, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Council Members Mark Rose Smoot Carl-Mitchell Sally Shipman George Humphrey Charles E. Urdy Jorge Carrasco City Manager Elden Aldridge City Clerk FOUNDED 1920 Austin City Council MINUTES For SPECIAL CALLED MEETING STATE CAPITOL - - JULY 29, 1986 - 1:30 Ρ.Μ. SENATE CONFERENCE ROOM Council Chambers, 307 West Second Street, Austin, Texas Memorandum To: State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos called the joint meeting to order. Present from the delegation were Senator Barrientos and State Representatives Lena Guerrero, Wilhelmina Delco, Ann Cooper, Bob Richardson and Terral Smith. Present from the Austin City Council were Mayor Frank Cooksey and Councilmembers Sally Shipman, Smoot Carl-Mitchell and George Humphrey. Also present were Lias Steen, executive director, State Purchasing and and General Services Commission and Assistant City Manager Gary Hunt. Various individuals present discussed the effects of the State budget crisis in Austin as well as of the State. Of particular concern was the possible loss of revenue to the City if the State decided to buy electricity from the Lower Colorado River Authority. Members of the delegation asked that the City provide to them a scenario regarding the effect on the City of various levels of State layoffs. Representative Terral Smith suggested that a portion of the sales tax revenue presently committed by law to Capital Metro might be diverted to use by the school district. A future meeting to include other local entitiesв, such as the Travis County Commissioners, Capital Metro and the Austin Independent School District was proposed and agreed upon. The meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m. D