HISTORY. The Austin Downtown Public Improvement District (DPID) was created in 1993 and reauthorized by City Council in 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012. On June 9, 2022, Council approved Resolution No. 20220609-81, which authorizes DPID from 2022-2032.  

ASSESSMENT RATE AND PROPERTY ROLL. DPID costs are based on a proposed assessment rate of a maximum of $.10 per $100 on the value of the real property improvements above $500,000 as determined by the Travis County Appraisal District. Property used as hospitals, schools, religious organizations, charitable nonprofits, public facilities, or homesteads will continue to be exempt from assessment. The City of Austin contributes $360,000 annually as a payment in lieu of assessment for city-owned downtown properties; therefore, the apportionment of costs falls primarily to property owners’ assessments. The PID will not incur bond indebtedness.  

DPID MANAGEMENT:  The City contracts with the Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA) to manage the DPID.  On February 23, 2023, Council authorized staff execute Management Agreement with DAA for a period of five years from 2023-28 for more than $79 million. Additional information can be found under agenda item 10.

2022 -2032 DPID Authorization  

The City received a petition from 229 downtown property owners whose parcels have a taxable value that represents 51% of the total taxable value of the new DPID.  The petitions sought to authorize the DPID for ten years, instead of a minimum of five years under City rules, and to make significant changes to the DPID boundaries.  The City Clerk certified the petitions  were sufficient to meet requirements of Chapter 372 of Texas Local Government Code.  Given the impact and visibility of the Downtown PID, DAA was invited to present at the following City Boards and Commissions, which are open to the public. 

The City Council conducted a public hearing on June 9, 2022 to approve Resolution No. 20220609-81, which authorizes DPID from 2022-2032.  Notice of the public hearing was published in the Austin American Statesman and mailed to all property owners within the proposed DPID 15 days prior to the hearing, as required by State law.  

ANNUAL ACTIONS

Each year, typically in the summer, City Council adopts DAA’s annual service plan and DPID’s assessment rate and property roll.

2022-23 FISCAL YEAR

The current DPID fiscal year began May 1,2022 and ends April 30, 2023.   The current DPID ordinance and property roll for 2022-2023 is ORDINANCE NO. 20210729-129.The current DAA Service Plan and Budget totaling $10.8 million is RESOLUTION NO. 20220421-005.

On February 23, 2023, City Council took the following actions to increase DPID funding.  These updated figures were not available last summer when Council adopted the DAA’s Service and Assessment Plan or the City’s DPID Fund. The actions taken were: 

  • Approved an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Economic Development Department Operating Budget Special Revenue Downtown Public Improvement Fund (Ordinance No. 20220817-004) to increase appropriations in the amount of $1,818,270 for operating the Downtown Public Improvement District. Information can be found here under agenda item 9.
  • Approved an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20220728-009, which adopted the Austin Downtown Public Improvement District Service and Assessment Plan and Budget, to include additional funding for 2023. Information can be found here under agenda item 11.

2023-24 FISCAL YEAR

For DPID funding and services from May 1,2023 to April 30, 2024, the following actions occurred:

  • On June 16, 2022, City Council Approved Ordinance NO. 20220616-005 which set the proposed 2023 assessment rate and property roll for the DPID. City Council action and backup materials can be found here under agenda items 5
  • On June 16, 2022, City Council set a public hearing to consider the Downtown Public Improvement District 2023 proposed assessments. City Council action and backup materials can be found here under agenda items 57. 
  • On July 28, 2022, Council took the following actions as required by State law related to DPID:
    • Approved an ordinance adopting the Austin Downtown Public Improvement District Service and Assessment Plan and Budget for 2023. Information can be found here under agenda item 9.
    • Conducted a public hearing and considered an ordinance setting the 2023 assessment rate and property roll in Council Chambers located at 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, Texas. The hearing was conducted during the City Council’s public meeting. Information can be found hereunder agenda item 112.
    • Action taken by City Council on items 9 and 112 can be seen here.
  • As part of annual budget process on August 17-19, 2022, Austin City Council will approve the Downtown Public Improvement District Fund reflecting actions taken on July 28, 2022.