Local NewsTaxes & Spending$42 Million in COVID Spending on Austin Council Agenda Two Months After Emergency Orders End

Agenda item 18 for Thursday’s Austin City Council meeting spotlights “multiple emergency contracts with various contractors to provide goods and services related to the Coronavirus pandemic.” 

The 19 items up for approval amount to a total of $41,913,374.

Citing the state and local emergency declarations made at the beginning of the pandemic, the agenda says, “The response by the City has required temporary housing agreements, alternative care sites, both large testing and large vaccination operations, as well as tasks in support of special at-risk populations.”

This batch of items, it adds, encompasses contracts for services that exceeded the authority of the city manager to approve unilaterally.

Earlier this year, the City of Austin was one of the last places in Texas still dragging its feet on coronavirus restrictions, digging in further when the omicron variant spread. But in March, the coronavirus metrics dropped substantially and Mayor Steve Adler rescinded all orders mandating masks and requiring businesses to post a coronavirus precaution checklist.

But these items continue coronavirus-oriented services from the city.

They include $10.4 million for temporary housing agreements like rental, mortgage, and utilities assistance; $14.7 million combined for coronavirus tests, support services, and a new testing center; $1.6 million for food deliveries to the homeless population; and $130,550 for ultrasound devices.

The agenda adds that other such expenditures may come down the line. “Staff will be bringing forward additional ratification requests at future Council meetings, as purchases continue to be made to support the City’s response to the COVID-19 emergency,” it says.

In April, the council proposed, then postponed, then canceled a $15 million contract for vaccination marketing and outreach services. The city’s coronavirus metrics continue to remain low.

See each item below: