The Austin City Council on Thursday approved a series of mid-year budget amendments related to what is being called the “re-imagining of public safety.” The council vote will lead to the creation of a new Emergency Services Department, separate from the Austin Police Department, which will handle 911 calls.
“Today’s action allows us to take another step in creating public safety systems which remove barriers to access for everyone in the community while providing fast, equitable and appropriate response and resources to those who call for help in their time of need,” said City Manager Spencer Cronk.
The mid-year budget amendment takes 222 full-time civilian employees out of APD, and reallocated $16,085,640 out of the APD budget.
“My office and APD leadership are working together to develop a timeline for establishing this new department. Input from staff will be a key part of that process,” said Cronk.
The amendment also moves a number of administrative functions from APD to other city departments including:
- Transfers the positions and funding for the APD Alarm Administration Unit to the Development Services Department.
- Transfers APD Human Resources to the City’s general Human Resources Department.
- Transfers the APD Public Information Office to the Communication and Public Information Office.
- Transfers APD Facility Maintenance to the Building Services Department.
- Transfers APD Finance to the Financial Services Department.
