Several non-profit agencies in Austin — including the Welcome Center, Community Band and Austin Symphony — will be put on notice that funding for 2010 will be tight.

The Austin City Council has been discussing eliminating the city’s contribution to entities for 2010 in an effort to lessen the burden of Local Government aid cuts.

Some included for reduction included the Human Rights Commission, Welcome Center, Fourth of July festival, Community Band, Local Artist funding, Austin Symphony and Christmas in the City. In the public safety budget, Police Explorers would receive half of its usual funding in 2010, and the adult school crossing guard funding would be eliminated in 2010.

Council members decided Monday to send them notices instead of taking action for reductions. The proposals could be changed when the city discusses the 2010 budget in June.

“Some of these I believe we could cut and save some money,” council member Dick Pacholl insisted, mentioning the Welcome Center, Fourth of July festival, symphony, city employee appreciation event and city newsletter.

“We could save ourselves $18,000 on just those alone,” Pacholl said. “Police Explorers also — I think they could be self-sufficient.”

Pacholl added he believes the Austin School Board should reconsider funding the crossing guard program.

A couple council members expressed confusion over what exactly the council was doing by voting on the reductions if they were just sending the agencies notices about the anticipated lack of funding, rather than just implementing the cuts.

“Most of these agencies already have their money (for 2009),” Mayor Tom Stiehm said, explaining they have already authorized cuts for 2009.

Council member Brian McAlister said he thought they were going to make the reductions, then agencies could contest them in front of the council if desired.

“They have an opportunity to come in and make their case,” McAlister said. “This is an amendment to make budget cuts. That doesn’t make any sense to me.”

“Recognize you are going to have the regular 21010 budget process this summer,” city administrator Jim Hurm said. “Any action can be changed before then. We will just put them on notice.”

The council unanimously approved putting agencies on notice of 2010 budget issues.