CONTACT: Cate Graziani, cate@vocal-tx.org, 919-360-1007

VOCAL-TX RESPONDS TO AUSTIN’S COSTLY NEW POLICE CONTRACT AFTER LIFE-SAVING SERVICES WENT UNFUNDED

City Officials Failed to Make a Plan to Prevent the “ARPA Cliff” That Cut Funding for Services, but Now Have Millions for Added Policing

VOCAL-TX Members Plan to Testify at the City Hall Tuesday and Thursday, Calling for More Transparency and Funding for Services – Not Policing

AUSTIN, TX — In response to ongoing discussions about increasing Austin’s police contract by $218 million, VOCAL-TX released the following statement, attributable to Cate Graziani, Co-Director of VOCAL-TX:

“Just two months ago, the City told us that we were facing a budget shortfall, with no plan to replace ARPA funds for housing, services, and care, but now there’s an additional $218 million for the new police contract. Where has this money magically appeared from and why were Austinites kept in the dark about these critical funds?

Policing is not the solution to record homelessness, an affordability crisis, a historic overdose crisis, and unmet mental health needs — it’s just costly, ineffective, and often makes things worse. People deserve to see real improvements in their community, but that means meaningful funding dedicated to housing, services, and care. No vote should move forward before the City shows us the math and how we got here.”

BACKGROUND:

Just a few months ago, VOCAL-TX members rallied at City Hall and pleaded with City leaders to provide adequate funding to help people get off the streets and to save lives. Millions of dollars in ARPA funds were drying up and would not be replaced, meaning homeless services would return to pre-pandemic levels—a skeleton of what they have been with federal dollars. But the story has now changed. City officials are saying that we are no longer in a budget deficit, and we have an additional $218 million for the new police contract. 

VOCAL-TX calls on the City Council to address the City’s new fiscal position, how calculations were made and what changed, and the consequences of an investment this size while so many other needs went underfunded during the budget process. Specifically, service providers deserve to learn why the City made no plan for the “ARPA cliff,” which has already resulted in shrinking programs and staff layoffs, but is now prioritizing funding for policing.   

###