Monday Budget Meeting

Earlier this year, it looked like library hours and the budget for new books would become a victim of Austin's budget cuts.

After months of number crunching, a final budget prediction looks like very few changes will be made to the budget for city libraries.

Many of the items originally on the budget chopping block look as though they will be saved.

The big ones include an Austin Police Department cadet class, police overtime, new library books, library hours and funding for a teen summer job program.

Even though the city did prepare for the worst, property taxes will increase to help pay for everything.

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The average homeowner will pay roughly $110 more per year.

Even if you're not homeowner, you'll also be helping during these tough times. On average, individual utility bills will increase by roughly $6 per month.

The city will save a big chunk of money by eliminating more than 100 empty, full-time positions.

Council will vote on the 2010 budget Monday at 9 a.m. Technically, council has until Wednesday to approve the budget, but council staff said it should only take one day.

Randi Shade

City Councilwoman Randi Shade met with News 8 this week.

"My priorities have always been, from the time I was a candidate, to be focused on public safety and the social services, parks and the kind of basic needs people can count on," Shade said.

Those areas were under major consideration during city budget talks.

"If there's a silver lining, I think it's the fact that we have a budget that's a little bit more structurally sound," she said. "It's definitely in alignment with the community values, for the most part. There's never 100 percent agreement, and then, on top of that, it's less dependent on the sales tax which is the most volatile."