Budget exercise flagged downtown EMS staffing for possible cuts before Sixth Street shooting

City leaders say first responder programs in place during the mass shooting saved "countless, countless lives"

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A budget prioritization exercise had flagged possible cuts to the Downtown Area Command (DTAC) program run by Austin-Travis County EMS, but the program ultimately remained fully funded. City leaders credited DTAC and the Counter Assault Strike Team (CAST) with saving lives during the Sixth Street mass shooting in Austin.

Why it matters

The Sixth Street shooting has put a renewed focus on the importance of the city's first responder programs, which were nearly subject to budget cuts. The incident highlights the need to maintain adequate funding and staffing for critical public safety initiatives, even during budget exercises.

The details

A city budget prioritization exercise had included a proposal to "Reduce the budget for the Downtown Area Command (DTAC) Program, deploying fewer personnel downtown" in the EMS department's section. This would have resulted in nearly $500,000 in cuts to the $1.3 million program. However, the DTAC program was ultimately fully funded in the final city budget. City leaders credited DTAC and the Counter Assault Strike Team (CAST) with saving lives during the Sixth Street mass shooting, as these programs allowed for a rapid response by first responders.

  • The budget prioritization exercise that flagged possible DTAC cuts took place prior to the Sixth Street shooting.
  • The Sixth Street mass shooting occurred in 2026.

The players

Zo Qadri

Austin City Council Member who said the CAST and DTAC programs were critical in the Sixth Street shooting response.

Lisa Davis

Austin Police Chief who said the amount of resources spent on Sixth Street was justified by the life-saving response.

Austin-Travis County EMS

The emergency medical services agency that runs the DTAC program, which was nearly subject to budget cuts.

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What they’re saying

“Believe me, as new chief when I came here I thought, 'my gosh look at the amount of overtime and the resources that we spend on Sixth Street,' but this is why.”

— Lisa Davis, Austin Police Chief (KXAN)

“The fact that we were able to pass it during the budget and it was in place, that's how you saw APD and EMS work so in sync together and be properly staffed and resourced.”

— Zo Qadri, Austin City Council Member (KXAN)

What’s next

The city will likely continue to evaluate the funding and staffing needs for the DTAC and CAST programs to ensure they are adequately resourced to respond to future emergencies.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the importance of maintaining funding for critical public safety programs, even when budget pressures arise. The life-saving response during the Sixth Street shooting demonstrates the value of these specialized first responder teams and the need to preserve them.