July 22, 2026 Austin City Council Budget Meeting Testimony by CEO, Dr. Pierre Berastain on behalf of The SAFE Alliance

Written by SAFE

Mayor and Councilmembers, my name is Dr. Pierre Berastaín, CEO of The SAFE Alliance.

Before joining SAFE, I led the Centre for Public Impact, founded by the Boston Consulting Group to help governments strengthen public systems and improve outcomes around the world. 

I believe deeply in accountability. But accountability requires precision.

The recent audit does not support a blanket conclusion that Austin’s nonprofits are failing. The report states that its findings cannot be projected across the City’s full portfolio of nonprofit contracts. It also identifies weaknesses in the City’s contracting and performance-management processes, including inconsistent performance measures, communication challenges with providers, and inconsistent monitoring of contract performance.

This audit should strengthen contracting and accountability. It should not become a shortcut for indiscriminate cuts.

SAFE is part of Austin’s essential public safety and public health infrastructure.

Across every Council district, we provide a connected system of care for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, sex trafficking, and child abuse. Every 20 minutes, someone reaches out. Every time, SAFE answers, 24/7. 

SAFE is where a family finds shelter before escalating violence becomes fatal. It is where a sexual assault survivor receives compassionate care, where we intervene when a child may face serious or fatal harm.

This work carries real economic value. It reduces avoidable reliance on emergency rooms, police, jails, and homelessness systems. Cutting these services shifts that cost into more expensive systems.

Alongside our partners in One Voice Central Texas, SAFE is part of the civic infrastructure that keeps Austin safe, housed, healthy, and connected.

Austinites are asking you to reduce waste. We agree. But this audit does not tell us to abandon effective services. It tells us to build a stronger system of accountability.

Fiscal responsibility means correcting what is not working while protecting what Austin cannot afford to lose.

Thank you.