>> Not a single police budget was actually cut "In fiscal 2020-2021, the Austin police budget was $292.9 million, down from $434.5 million the previous year. T

>> Not a single police budget was actually cut "In fiscal 2020-2021, the Austin police budget was $292.9 million, down from $434.5 million the previous year. The City Council slashed $31.5 million directly from the police budget last year. It also put $121.7 million in a reserve fund that was intended to 'decouple or reimagine some public-safety functions' from the police department but which ended up funding police operations, says Alicia Dean, a spokesperson for the city. The City Council also canceled three cadet classes and cut 150 officers from the budget last year, says City Councilor Mackenzie Kelly, an outspoken supporter of the police." - https://www.wsj.com/articles/austin-texas-defund-the-police-murder-burglary-response-budget-cut-staffing-shortage-11633881864 https://www.wsj.com/articles/austin-texas-defund-the-police-... The homicide rate went from 4.7 to 6.2. Yes, I know that doesn't prove causation. But if the homicide rate is going up 32% year over year I want more cops on the street not fewer.