4 ms·

How do the budgets of the West Midlands Police and the Austin PD differ?

• os2warpman 1y ago
  For 2025: Austin: $525,190,972 https://budget.austintexas.gov/#!/year/2025/operating/0/fund_nm/General+Fund/0/dept_nm/Police/0/div_nm?vis=pieChart https://budget.austintexas.gov/#!/year/2025/operating/0/fund... West Midlands: £842,588,000 ($1,144,307,581) https://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Final-Decision-012-2025-2526-Revenue-Budget-Precept-and-Capital-Programme-and-Plan-MTFP-2526-to-2930.pdf https://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/... (page 17) Based on population that is $528 per resident in Austin and $387 per resident in the West Midlands. I can assure you that crime is way more than 36% higher in Austin. Income is approximately double in Austin, though. Austin has spectacular reporting on their spending. As far as I can tell West Midlands does not. They just have broad categories (not defined in the budget document) like "Local Policing", "Major Crime", and "Security" among others. There may be other resources but (shrugging guy emoji). A huge part of Austin's budget is.. drumroll... Healthcare!
  • skyyler 1y ago
    > I can assure you that crime is way more than 36% higher in Austin. Do you have any guesses on why that is? >A huge part of Austin's budget is.. drumroll... Healthcare! Wow, that's actually not surprising at all.
    • os2warpman 1y ago
      >Do you have any guesses on why that is? Mainly income inequality coupled with a severe lack of a social safety net. Contributing factors are guns and practically non-existent mental health care for the poor.