Bill Aleshire on the wording of Prop Q
From: Bill Aleshire
Date: September 12, 2025 at 9:44:50 AM CDT
Subject: Supreme Court Preliminary Action on our Challenge to the Ballot Language for the Austin Tax Increase Election
Folks,
We have heard nothing from the Texas Supreme Court on our petition challenging the ballot language for the Austin Tax Rate Election. When the weekly orders came out this morning and we were not on them, I called the Court to inquire about the status. I was told the Court has not made a decision, and it is still pending with the Court.
Regardless of how the Court rules, it is important for voters to be made aware of the how they may be misled by the Prop Q ballot language explaining the purpose of the tax increase (quoted below):
This is not a one-time City tax increase for the “fiscal year 2025-2026 budget” as the ballot says. If approved, this is a Forever Tax Increase because it will stay in the tax bills until and unless Austin experiences the miracle of having a City Council who cuts taxes.
The extra $100 million+ is not required to be spent on any of the “vote bait” language for homelessness, parks, public safety, etc. and those voting for Prop Q because they support those programs can be deceived exactly like voters were on the last Austin Tax Rate Election: Project Connect in 2020. This new tax increase becomes a giant slush fund that this and future City Councils can spend any way they want, including in this next fiscal year.
The vote-bait terms “housing affordability” and “financial stability” are particularly vague and misleading and appear nowhere in the City’s FY 2025-2026 budget. “Affordability” and “stability” for whom is this massive tax increase?
CITY OF AUSTIN PROPOSITION Q
THIS IS A TAX INCREASE
Approving the ad valorem tax rate of $0.574017 per $100 valuation in the City of Austin for the current year, a rate that is $0.05 higher per $100 valuation than the voter- approval tax rate of the City of Austin, 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. Last year, the ad valorem tax rate in the City of Austin was $0.4776 per $100 valuation.
Bill Aleshire