AUSTIN, Texas — In a 10-1 vote, the Austin City Council voted to approve a five-year contract with the city’s police union Thursday. It's estimated to cost $217.8 million. 

What You Need To Know

  • The approved meet and confer agreement between the City of Austin and the Austin Police Association (APA) follows over a year of negotiations since before the original contract expired on March 31, 2023

  • The vote came after hours of animated testimony from residents both for and against the new contract, including an effort from nonprofit Equity Action to block the vote through legal action

  • According to a news release from the City of Austin, the approved contract will include the elimination of confidential police personnel files and extend the time frame of when officers can be disciplined

  • The only person to vote “no” on the contract was Council member Zo Qadri. He said his decision to oppose the almost $218 million contract came after talking with constituents and stakeholders
The approved meet and confer agreement between the City of Austin and the Austin Police Association (APA) follows over a year of negotiations since before the original contract expired on March 31, 2023. In the interim, the City Council approved and extended a resolution to guarantee police pay and benefits until this new agreement was passed. 

The vote came after hours of animated testimony from residents both for and against the new contract, including an effort from nonprofit Equity Action to block the vote through legal action.

The group filed a lawsuit against the City of Austin claiming the contract would undermine the Austin Police Oversight Act, which was drafted by Equity Action and passed by voters in May 2023. The act gave the civilian-led Office of Police Oversight more investigatory power over the Austin Police Department. 

On Wednesday evening, a state district judge dismissed Equity Action’s request, which allowed the vote to proceed Thursday. 

According to a news release from the City of Austin, the approved contract will include the elimination of confidential police personnel files and extend the time frame of when officers can be disciplined. 

The release also said that, while not a part of the contract, the Office of Police Oversight will still be able to investigate complaints against officers. 

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Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax, who was chosen for the position earlier this year, said getting this contract finalized was one of his top priorities. 

“This is a truly momentous day. After a year-and-a-half without a police contract, we have achieved a major milestone,” Broadnax said in the news release. “I am proud that we have been able to achieve such a significant accomplishment through this five-year agreement today.”

The only person to vote “no” on the contract was Council member Zo Qadri. He said his decision to oppose the almost $218 million contract came after talking with constituents and stakeholders. 

“At the end of the day, I do not believe this contract reflects the values of the majority of Austinites, and agreeing to the contract is prioritizing the police department over all other city services and employees for the next five years,” Qadri said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter. 

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said previously about the contract that it will allow the city to fill vacancies in the police department and retain officers. 

“Since becoming mayor, I’ve pushed to get us to a long-term contract with our police. It is critical for us to achieve our staffing goals and our goals to assure Austinites are safe and feel safe,” Mayor Kirk Watson said. “This contract will move us in that direction. I’ve also pushed to assure that the will of our voters is met when it comes to police accountability. This contract does that.”

Here is a full draft of the police contract.