The Austin City Council is discussing the police contract one last time before Thursday’s vote

AUSTIN, Texas – The Austin City Council is just two days away from voting on the proposed APD contract. Members held a work session Tuesday to hear public comments and share their own final thoughts.

Some citizens still oppose the treaty for several reasons. Some believe the money should be used in other government departments, while others believe the new contract undermines the voter-approved Austin Police Oversight Act.

“They are under duress and yet we give them more money,” one caller said during the public comment period.

Some Austin residents are calling on the council to either put the vote on hold or vote no.

“By passing this deal, this deal undermines not only our ballot measures, but also the values ​​of truth, democracy, transparency, justice, good governance and the common good,” said Chris Harris.

Harris co-authored the Austin Police Oversight Act. He’s calling on the council to vote “no” on Thursday because the current draft contract doesn’t contain the right language to hold police officers accountable.

District Councilman Jose “Chito” Vela understands what this vote is about.

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“It’s kind of a red line where we know we have to achieve the transparency and accountability that Austin voters have been demanding. If they don’t get that, I think we’re finished,” he told his colleagues.

Many Austinites who spoke during the public comment period shared Harris’ concerns about the language regarding oversight and accountability. Some want that money to go back to city-funded programs.

“Just last year, we funded a number of programs with a one-time allocation of $11 million. There is clearly a need for us to continue to sustain these investments,” said District 2 Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes.

If approved, the police budget will account for 36 percent of the city’s total budget over the next five years.

“The return on investment is simply not clear. “What we get for what we give to APD is this big chunk of the budget,” someone else said.

Bill Brice of the Downtown Austin Alliance says it’s time to move forward.

“We recognize that police alone do not make a community safe, but they are the core of a safe community,” he said.

The DAA released a statement on Tuesday in support of the proposed contract.

“We believe that the city negotiated in good faith, as did the APA, but on the city’s side it was, on the one hand, to ensure that a contract was reached, something that the city could afford, and on the other hand, ensuring all elements have been approved by them “May 2023 voters are included in this contract,” Brice said.

As things stand, APD has been without a contract since March 2023.

“We feel like this isn’t right. We have lost too many police officers. Patrol shifts and staffing are suffering,” Brice said.

The last time the council voted on a contract was in 2023; they didn’t approve it.