Each August, City Hall watchers are treated to City Council returning from recess and beginning arguably their most important task. What’s that, you might be asking yourself? The answer is crafting and adopting the upcoming fiscal year’s budget.
Early each August, the City Manager presents to City Council and the public their proposed budget. This stage is both the culmination of a great deal of public engagement and listening to Council Member’s priorities, and the beginning of Council’s real work in sifting through what has been included and determining what they might add.
This work includes three main phases:
- Public Council Work Sessions
- Public testimony at budget hearings
- Final budget amendments and adoption in mid-September
So... How Can You Help Austin's Parks?
For you and I, our chance to share directly with City Council what city issues matter most to us and what we want to see get additional funding comes at the budget hearings, which are the only formal opportunities to speak before City Council on the budget.
While the Austin Parks and Recreation Department works tirelessly to protect and maintain our public parks, they simply don’t have the funding needed to properly do so. While additional park funding is always a need, this year is especially important because of action taken at the State Legislature. Because of revenue caps
Join APF at City Hall, Advocate for Our Parks
Our parks need you! Please join Austin Parks Foundation, our partners, and others at the budget hearing on August 28th at 6:00 pm to let City Council know you care about our parks and want to see them better funded. Let us know you’re coming by signing up here!
Can’t make it but still want to help? Write a note to City Council here letting them know Austin's parks matter to you, and help us spread the word by sharing with loved ones.
Join us at Austin City Hall on August 22nd @ 7:00 PM or August 28th @ 12:00 PM to tell City Council that our parks are important!
Use This Template to Email Austin City Council
*Share a personal story about why parks matter to you to amplify your impact!*
"My name is _____________, and as a user of Austin’s parks I urge you to better fund our parks system. Our parks are critical to the quality of life of all Austinites, and are a major part of what makes Austin a special place to live.
Every piece of our parks system is in need, with just a few examples being funding and staffing for general maintenance for parks, playscapes, and aquatics facilities, staffing for affordable out of school childcare and programming at our recreation centers, proper management of our preserve lands, and lighting for safe access to parks.
Please, help keep Austin a special place by giving our parks the funding they need!"
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