AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin City Council reviewed several agenda items for approval on Thursday. Three agenda items were green-lit. But council members postponed the vote for a promising income program that could ease the financial burden weighing many families down.

What You Need To Know

  • The 2021-22 Austin water budget will increase by $1.4 million for "operational resiliency" at drinking water treatments

  • A $65,000 grant was approved to be allotted for the study of SARS-CoV-2 in cats and how its possible mutations may affect humans

  • Council members approved to execute a contract with Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile USA 

  • The vote for the guaranteed income program was postponed and will be revisited next month

Austin’s 2021-2022 water budget will be increased by $1.4 million given the council’s ordinance approval. “Operational resiliency” is the goal of drinking water treatment plants. Those approved dollars will aid in making that happen by advancing their software and opening up full-time positions.

City Council also approved a $65,000 grant from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists for a study on cats and the coronavirus. The council will devote those funds to testing cats for SARS-CoV-2, to see if there are coronavirus mutations in animals that could affect humans.

The Austin Humane Society and Austin Animal Center will work with Texas A&M and the Texas Department of State Health Services to administer the study. If a throat swab sample is positive, the National Veterinary Diagnostic Lab will verify it for mutations and report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Council members agreed to a contract with Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile USA “to provide wireless data network connectivity, related services, and equipment to all City departments. This will streamline operations for first responders, inspectors, field crews and more,” according to the City of Austin. An estimated $40.73 million will be split amongst the providers to pay for each five-year term contract.

As for the guaranteed income program delay, council members had concerns and felt it was better to revisit later. The program would aid 85 families $1,000/month, and those at a higher risk of losing their home would be prioritized. They plan to vote again next month after an executive session on the proposal.