NewsAmerica in Crisis

Actions

Austin cuts police budget by 1/3 amid national 'defund' push

Austin cuts police budget by 1/3 amid national 'defund' push
Posted

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Austin City Council has voted to cut one-third of the city's $434 million police budget amid national calls for "defunding" law enforcement in favor of spending more money on social services.

Council members voted unanimously Thursday to reallocate just over $150 million in the 2021 fiscal budget to social services.

That budget starts Oct. 1.

Of that, $21 million will fund community resources including response to the coronavirus pandemic, mental health aid programs, victim services, and food, housing, and abortion access in October.

Approximately $80 million will be redistributed to similar city services over the year.

Another $49 million will be spent on alternative forms of public safety and community support.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Monday

03/23/2026

Clear

-° / 58°

2%

Tuesday

03/24/2026

Clear

87° / 58°

2%

Wednesday

03/25/2026

Mostly Clear

87° / 56°

1%

Thursday

03/26/2026

Partly Cloudy

83° / 57°

3%

Friday

03/27/2026

Partly Cloudy

87° / 60°

0%

Saturday

03/28/2026

Partly Cloudy

89° / 57°

0%

Sunday

03/29/2026

Partly Cloudy

89° / 60°

0%

Monday

03/30/2026

Partly Cloudy

84° / 53°

10%