Item #6 Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Process and Calendar Memo — original pdf

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M E M O R A N D U M TO: THROUGH: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Boards and Commissions Ed Van Eenoo, Chief Financial Officer Kerri Lang, Director of Budget and Organizational Excellence February 21, 2025 FY 2025-26 Budget Process and Calendar Board and Commission recommendations remain a vital component of stakeholder feedback in the budget development process. The FY 2024-25 budget contained investments that aligned to boards and commissions recommendations, budget priority survey results and community conversations. These enhancements included funding to improve parks maintenance, support homelessness prevention services, contribute to Austin’s creative sector, and temporarily expand the Gus Garcia Recreation Center. Starting with the FY 2024-25 budget, the City implemented a structurally balanced budget plan for the following fiscal year. This biennial budgeting approach provides a broader perspective on the timing of new investments and ensures their long-term sustainability. Previously, departmental unmet needs were evaluated annually, but under the new approach, enhancements will be planned for the subsequent fiscal year. For example, during the upcoming FY 2025-26 budget process, most enhancements will be considered for FY 2026-27. Enhancement requests under consideration for the FY 2026-27 planned year and other details of the FY 2025-26 Proposed Budget will become available once the budget is released and presented to City Council on July 15, 2025. Departments engaging with boards and commissions will focus their discussions on programs and services based on current funding. For FY 2025-26, boards and commissions are encouraged to reference materials from the previous year when drafting recommendations. The unmet needs for FY 2024-25 can be found here. The Office of Budget and Organizational Excellence will continue to coordinate with City departments to review recommendations passed by boards and commissions. To guarantee the recommendations are voted and approved by the full commission, please post the approved recommendation to the respective board and commission website, under meeting documents. New this year, commissioners must also complete an online form to ensure all budget related recommendations are recorded in the final report. The deadline for submitting recommendations and completing the online form is March 31, 2025. For your information, the proposed calendar for the FY 2025-26 budget is shown below: • March 31 • July 15 • July 23 & 31 Board and Commission recommendations due Presentation of the FY 2025-26 Proposed Budget to City Council Community Input Session • August 13 Budget Adoption Additional information can be found at www.austintexas.gov/budget. Should you have any questions, please contact our office at BudgetQA@austintexas.gov. cc: T.C. Broadnax, City Manager Myrna Rios, City Clerk Corrie Stokes, City Auditor Judge Sherry Statman, Presiding Judge Mary Jane Grubb, Municipal Court Clerk CMO Executive Team Department Directors and Assistant Directors