The City of Austin intends to increase your property taxes again this year by a percentage so large the voters have to approve the increase through an election. The city will put a Tax Rate Election (“TRE”) on the ballot in November and ask voters to approve another significant property tax increase. I will vote against that increase. I think you should vote “No” also.
The city does not need to raise your taxes again. The city can, and should, live within its means,
An example of over taxation is Project Connect. In 2020 Austinites approved a 24% property tax increase on the average Austin homestead. That tax has been collected since 2021. That tax money went to the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP). ATP has produced nothing but paper with that money. In the proposed ATP budget for 2026, there is nest egg of around half a billion dollars. Money tax payers paid to the city but the city sits on.
Do you think the City of Austin needs more tax revenue? I don’t.
Austinites will be asked to approve more taxes. You must decide whether you want to pay more taxes. Here are some resources that should help:
-The City of Austin’s budget - the budget, the process, how you can engage the city: https://speakupaustin.org/b66067
-Mayor Watson’s “Watson Wire” - how Mayor Watson justifies increasing your taxes: https://mailchi.mp/82dbf4da4b9d/watson-wire-the-budget-taxes-affordability
-Austin Monitor - coverage and analysis of the budget: https://austinmonitor.com/stories/newsletter/austin-city-council-tax-election-zoning/
-The Texas Standard - coverage and analysis: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/austin-project-connect-moodys-rating-false-assumptions-light-rail/
-Austin Free Press - coverage and analysis: https://austinfreepress.org/moodys-blues/
-KUT.org - coverage and analysis: https://www.kut.org/austin/2025-07-23/austin-tx-property-tax-rate-election-budget-city-council