What is City Council?
Austin's government is run by 10 City Council members plus the Mayor. The Mayor runs City Council meetings — but he is not the “President of Austin.” He doesn't run the city. The Mayor handles many ceremonies. The person who actually runs Austin is the City Manager.
What City Council does
- Hires and fires the City Manager.
- Oversees the $6 billion-per-year city government.
- Writes a City Plan — a guide for City staff on roads, zoning, and placement of City buildings and services.
- Passes a yearly budget.
- Makes recommendations for new laws and ordinances.
How City Council is elected
City Council elections are held every two years, and half of the Council is elected each time. Austin has 10 districts, and in 2026 there will be elections in Districts 1, 3, 5, 8, and 9.