Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo will make his first budget presentation to the Council during Wednesday’s budget workshop.   Council Member Mike Martinez is looking forward to the police chief's first budget presentation and knows one of the big battles could be over money for the Austin Police Department.

"There are no sacred cows,” said Martinez.

At a time when the city is facing a budget and sales tax shortfall, the city is looking for departments to tighten their belts.

“Police is going to be no different than any other department they are going to be asked to hold the line," Martinez added.

"Public safety is very important and no one wants to give up their piece of the pie,” said Lieutenant Catherine Haggerty, treasurer of the Austin Police Association.  “But tough times calls for tough choices."

If cuts have to be made, she says public safety won’t be compromised.

"Bottom line is the safety of Austinites is paramount and number one.  (If) you call 911, (then) you're going to get a cop.  That's not going to change.”

With a budget of about $180 million, the police chief oversees more than 2,000 uniformed officers and civilian personnel. 

It's the Councils job and responsibility to hold the line where they believe the best investment of tax payer dollars should go.  Martinez said there are so many important issues in this town.

He hopes that “Acevedo is mindful of all the other competing needs.”