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During its meeting Monday night, the Austin City Council approved an 11.97% tax levy increase totaling $9.8 million for 2025.

The measure was approved 4-1, with council members Mike Postma, Laura Helle, Paul Fischer and Joyce Poshusta voting for the increase and Jason Baskin voting against.

Council members Geoff Baker and Jeff Austin were not in attendance.

Along with the tax levy increase, the council voted unanimously for a 2025 budget of $49.8 million.

The resulting tax impact for the average homeowner of a $161,000 home will now be an increase of around $75 to $80.

Driving the higher tax levy is the addition of two new positions — a Human Resources Generalist, which would handle internal and external communications, and a Housing Resource and Code Enforcement Officer dedicated to a proactive approach to blighted properties in the city.

Together, the two positions added $234,000 to the budget, but during the process it left those opposing such a high levy increase still questioning what the need was in light of the increase.