Parks News

Austin's parks lose $5.2 million in new city budget

A loss of funding to the Parks and Recreation Department means some maintenance will be left to volunteers.

Photo courtesy of KVUE

Some Austin city departments are figuring out what to do next after having their budgets slashed.

On Thursday, the Austin City Council approved the amended budget for the next fiscal year. The city had to revise the budget after voters rejected Proposition Q, which would have generated $110 million each year.

One of the most significant impacts falls on the city's Parks and Recreation Department, which will operate with $5.2 million less than originally budgeted. City officials say the department will likely need to reduce staffing and cut back on resources that are typically used for routine park maintenance. That could mean fewer employees available to clean restrooms, mow grass, empty trash cans and repair damaged play structures — tasks already strained by longstanding understaffing.

Joy Casnovsky, chief mission officer for the nonprofit Austin Parks Foundation, said the cuts only deepen an existing gap. She noted that Austin’s parks system has been chronically underfunded for years, mirroring a trend seen in cities across the U.S.

“We’re still about 85 positions short of what we need if we want to service our parks in the way that people expect,” Casnovsky said. “That’s cleaning bathrooms, that’s mowing, that’s taking care of trash, that’s fixing playgrounds that maybe need repairs.”

Casnovsky said Austinites should expect to see the effects of the budget cuts not only in the quality of their neighborhood parks, but also in the pace of new park development. A 2026 parks bond could help fund major projects and expansions, she said, but bond dollars cannot be used for long-term operations or basic upkeep. That means maintenance — the area already hit hardest — is unlikely to recover without additional annual funding.

She pointed to Bond District Park as an example of a project caught in the funding gap.

Read the full story at KVUE.com.

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Airline Perks

Southwest Airlines makes deal with City of Austin to hire 2,000+ locals

Photo courtesy of KVUE

Southwest will get a $2,750 incentive for each Austinite it hires over the next five years.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson held a press conference Friday to discuss a new deal with Southwest Airlines and its expected impact on the city.

The deal, approved Thursday by the Austin City Council, awards Southwest $2,750 for each new Austin-based hire over the next five years. In exchange, the airline plans to add 2,000 high-paying jobs with an average salary of $180,000 and invest in local workforce initiatives, including the city’s new Austin Infrastructure Academy.

Officials say the deal will strengthen Southwest’s presence at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where the carrier already handles more than 40 percent of all passenger traffic.

The partnership is expected to bring in nearly $20 million in local tax revenue, and the incentive program will last for five years and pay Southwest up to $5.5 million.

Mayor Watson said the agreement will not only create new jobs in Austin but will improve the overall experience at AUS.

“We’re building lives and careers at the same time we’re building tarmacs and terminals,” Watson said. “Southwest is choosing Austin because our people, our workforce, and our future make us a smart investment. This deal creates thousands of good-paying jobs, improves the passenger experience, and ensures the benefits flow directly to Austin workers, families, and tourists. This agreement is proof that Austin means business and cares about the success of its people.”

Read the full story at KVUE.com.

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