The Austin City Council held a budget work session on August 7, 2025, focusing on several key amendments aimed at enhancing community services and addressing staffing needs across various departments.

The first amendment discussed was related to the varsity generation outreach program, which aims to provide social engagement for older adults and underserved communities. This amendment allocates funding to close a staffing gap and introduces two part-time senior programming positions to expand services to centers lacking such programs. This initiative builds on a previously adopted council resolution affirming Austin's commitment to becoming an age-friendly city.

Next, the council addressed an amendment concerning historic preservation. An audit from 2017 revealed that the historic preservation office had one of the lowest staffing levels compared to peer cities. In response, the council adopted an equity-based preservation plan last year, which recommended increasing staffing to better engage the community and address preservation priorities. This amendment proposes adding two full-time equivalent positions to assist with the implementation of the plan and to review recommendations regarding demolitions and construction activities.

The third amendment focused on home-delivered meals for older adults, particularly for those unable to prepare their own meals or facing economic hardship. With many organizations experiencing federal funding cuts, this amendment aims to fill funding gaps and increase capacity for meal delivery services. Currently, over 140 seniors in Austin are on a waitlist for meals, and the amendment anticipates a growing need due to cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Council Member Alter expressed support for the home-delivered meals amendment, indicating a collaborative effort among council members to address these pressing community needs.

Lastly, Council Member Velasquez introduced an amendment for an IT geospatial analyst position to enhance the city’s homeless response system. This role is intended to support the management of encampments and improve outreach efforts in District 3, ensuring that the department is not overburdened while implementing new technology for better service delivery.

The meeting concluded with a focus on these amendments, highlighting the council's commitment to addressing community needs through strategic funding and staffing enhancements. Further discussions and decisions on these amendments are expected in upcoming sessions.