The Austin City Council has decided to slash the budget this year for its flower program in half, citing likely cutbacks in Local Government Aid.

Nearly $20,000 in community donations is expected, and council members considered the possibility donors may not want to contribute to the program anymore if more than 50 percent was cut by the city.

Between the contributions and about $3,350 in carryover donations from 2008, about half of the flower program’s funding comes from the community. The other half, $20,000, was budgeted to come from the city.

Council members debated cutting the program altogether, but positive community feedback in addition to committed donors influenced their decision to keep their cut at 50 percent.

Funding encompasses not only the flowers, but the containers, flats, materials and maintenance labor as well.

Bonnie Rietz, the former mayor and creator of the project — a beautification effort including baskets, pots and other decorative flower arrangements across Austin — told the council she understands their need to cut, but also believes the flowers make the city a more desirable place to live.

“When you have a city that’s beautiful like this, people want to stay here,” she said. “Flowers are something that raise your spirits.”

Growers are demanding an answer from the city about how much flowers they will need this year. The flowers are usually planted along Main Street, Fourth Avenue Northeast, the Law Enforcement Center, Todd Park and East Side Lake, among other places.

Rietz proposed reductions in the number of flower locations, including eliminating the Mill Pond site.

“To be prudent during these times, you do have to look at these things,” Rietz said. “We’re facing some pretty stiff cuts form the state.”

The flower project has come under criticism over the years, some calling the priority a waste of taxpayers’ dollars.

“There are a lot of people who like the flowers in town,” said Mayor Tom Stiehm, who has been critical of the project in the past, but said he acknowledges many residents like the flowers.

Two council members — Marian Clennon and John Martin of the Third Ward — said they have been receiving complaints from constituents about the flowers.

“By my constituents, I would have to vote against funding any of it,” Martin said.

All council members except Martin voted to cut the city’s contribution by 50 percent to $10,000.

The mayor approved notifying growers they have made a decision because of the urgency of the matter. Final votes are not usually taken a work sessions, but forwarded as recommendations to the regular council meetings.