City Government
The 10-1 Council
Austin elects its City Council from ten geographic districts, with a mayor elected citywide — a structure voters adopted in 2012 and first used in 2014.
Welcome back
A plain-English guide to how Austin governs itself.
In Fact Daily has covered Austin city hall and local politics for years. We are rebuilding it as an independent, nonpartisan explainer: clear notes on how the city works, who decides what, and how any resident can follow the decisions that shape the city. No spin. Just the facts, explained.
City Government
Council-Manager System
Elected officials set policy and budget; a professional city manager, hired by the council, runs day-to-day operations and city departments.
Your Money
The City Budget
Each year the council adopts a budget and a property-tax rate that fund police, fire, parks, libraries, transit and more — with public hearings before adoption.
How to follow city hall
Austin city government is designed to be watched. A few durable ways to keep up:
- City Council meetings are public and posted in advance with agendas.
- Most boards and commissions publish agendas and minutes online.
- Public comment is part of the process — residents can register to speak on agenda items.
- The city budget and tax rate are set on a published annual schedule with hearings.
About
About In Fact Daily
In Fact Daily is an independent, nonpartisan publication focused on Austin city hall and local politics. It first published as an Austin civic newswire and is being relaunched here as a clear, factual explainer of how the city works. Read more →