Advocates launch 'Love Austin' campaign in support of tax rate election proposition
AUSTIN (KXAN) — After the Austin City Council signed off on its Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget, which triggered a tax rate election under Texas law, groups advocating for that property tax rate hike are now highlighting services Austin will lose without.
Friday, advocates launched the “Love Austin” campaign. That group — spearheaded by Joe Cascino, who also ran Mayor Kirk Watson’s reelection campaign — will be behind a Political Action Committee (PAC) in support of that ballot item called Proposition Q.
“Proposition Q will be an opportunity for Austinites to fight back against the Trump Administration’s cuts to Austin, get more people off the streets, and improve quality of life with better funding for public safety and parks,” a news release for that launch said.
Friday’s “Love Austin” launch included Rep. Greg Casar, AFSCME Local 1624 President Brydan Summers, Austin-Travis County EMS Association President James Monks and several homelessness and parks advocates.
If voters approve Proposition Q, it would mean the average homeowner’s property tax bill will go up by $302.14 annually, $197.92 of that from the TRE. That does not include rates.
That funding would go toward homelessness services, parks, public safety programs and public health.
Lawsuit filed over TRE language
Meanwhile, Jeffery Bowen — who filed a lawsuit over ballot language — says he feels like the city isn’t being truthful with Austinites over what this property tax increase would look like and for how long.
“It is a forever tax, and you need to be very transparent and very clear to me what you’re planning on spending this on, and I don’t see a lot of that in what they’ve written so far,” Bowen said.
Because of state law, your ballot will have “THIS IS A TAX RATE INCREASE” printed across the top of the item — which will be Proposition Q. You will get the option to vote for or against it.
According to city council documents, the proposition ballot language does generally break down what the money will go toward, saying in part:
“…for the purpose of funding or expanding programs intended to increase housing affordability and reduce homelessness; improve parks and recreation facilities and services; enhance public health services and public safety; ensure financial stability; and provide for other general fund maintenance and operation expenditures included in the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget as approved or amended by City Council.”
But Bowen doesn’t think the public understands exactly how the city will use that money within those pockets, something that was debated at great length during the budget adoption process.
“The city has a spending problem, and they’ve shown very well that they know how to spend, but sometimes I question the viability of what they’re spending on. Where’s the proof that some of these things are actually working?” Bowen said.
Bill Aleshire, Bowen’s attorney, said the city of Austin was due to respond to that lawsuit Thursday night. Aleshire told KXAN the city’s response was more than 1,000 pages and that he was working to file his reply to that city response by Friday.
We will continue to follow that lawsuit as it makes its way through the court system for you.
“The City of Austin is confident the ballot language is appropriate and meets all legal requirements. We also have confidence in the court system and will respond in that venue,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.
