Proposed Austin, Travis County tax hikes could cost residents $1,200 extra per year

If you live in Austin and Travis County, your taxes may go up by around $1,200 next year.

The City of Austin's biennial budget, approved today by the City Council, raised the budget by just under a billion dollars ($5.5B to $6.3B) for 2025-26, meanwhile Travis County Commissioners are mulling a $2B budget and an estimated 9.12% tax hike.

If these numbers seem high it's because they are. According to City Council member Marc Duchen, the proposed tax rate election will ask voters to decide on a tax increase of "almost 19%, the biggest hike in 35 years."

How to directly help Travis County flood victims

Aerial view of Sandy Creek (X.com)

The July Fourth flooding event was tragic. That much has been the focus of national news over the weekend and into this week, with now over 100 deaths reported throughout Central Texas. Nothing more about that needs to be repeated here but here is a quick summary, followed by some ways to help.

• The majority of the deaths were along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County and, where numerous campers were evacuated, several died, and a few are still unaccounted for. 14 inches of rainfall on average hit the river basin.
  
  
• The San Gabriel River (including north and south forks) was also hard hit with around 16 inches of rain and the brunt of the infrastructure damage in Georgetown, where a pedestrian bridge was taken out and nearby apartments evacuated. A boil water notice is in effect for areas north of Georgetown.
  
  
• Cow Creek on the Burnet-Travis county line near Lago Vista was also devastated, with many trailer homes taken out and the only bridge between Lago and Marble Falls completely taken out.
  
  
• The heaviest rainfall of the flooding event was along the area known as Sandy Creek, just west of Leander in far northwestern Travis County. Numerous homes were emaciated, with about as many missing person reports in the wake of the flood. At least one teenager is dead, a student from Tom Glen High School in Leander. The only road into a portion of the Sandy Creek Ranches neighborhood is gone, as rescue workers are using kayaks to deliver relief supplies to homes and properties -- some of which are without utilities at the moment.

Lake Travis Dems to polling place voters: Pay no attention to our candidates on the loudspeaker!

Visit any polling place during voting hours in Texas and you'll pass distance markers, legal postings, and the watchful gaze of poll watchers and election staff. If you happen to step on the wrong eggshell then get ready to hear all about it.

That is, if you're not a member of a local Democrat club in a town just west of Austin. Then, according to various complaints, you can get away with not only violating the distance limit but outright mocking the regulations from a loudspeaker in an open-door rally for candidates. You can even illegally campaign for candidates on ballots just feet away, or be one of the candidates yourself. Neither the election judge, or the county sheriff, or even the media will apparently step in to warn you.

“We’re obviously, like, 40 feet away from a polling place? And there's an investigative reporter from the Texas Tribune here. [laughter] ... So that's all I'm gonna to say about that," said Jonathan Bove, a Democrat-endorsed candidate for Lake Travis Independent School District Board of Trustees, Place 4, according to a recording of the meeting (see below). Bove is opposing John Severance, a Republican-backed candidate for Place 4 on the local school board.

'Widest bridge in Texas' to be built in South Austin?

We're taking a closer look at this situation, but thought we'd go ahead and share this email we received soliciting opposing comments on what appears to be plans for a humongous bridge south of Town Lake -- perhaps the widest in Texas. 

As you know, I [Dean Van Landuyt] am a bridge engineer with more than 40 years of design experience.  The ATP (Austin Transportation Partnership) is planning to build the WIDEST bridge in the State of Texas along Riverside Drive.  There is nothing light about the light rail bridge they have in mind.  They’re budgeting for a cheap, heavy highway structure.  The ATP has done a bait-and-switch since the bond vote and now wants to move the tracks from the street level up to a new 1-mile-long highway-type bridge.  At the junction of the South Congress and Riverside lines, the structure balloons from 35’ to approximately 150' wide.  For scale, the current widest bridge in the state is on I-10 in Houston and is 140' wide.

Ironically, at a time when TxDOT is tearing down the twin I35 elevated bridges and depressing the mainlanes downtown to improve the appearance and quality of life in the city, ATP is trying to slip in this monstrosity.  They have not been forthcoming about how massive this is.  They have only shown a few pretty renderings of people ambling next to zippy light rail stations.

I was able to track down some minimal engineering plans and expose what they are really up to.  And wouldn’t you know, a huge bridge is the preferred solution of the developers who recently bought the old American-Statesman and TxDOT buildings on the NE corner of Congress and Riverside Drive.  ...

If you would like to keep the south shore of Lady Bird Lake from turning into a blighted area, I ask that you copy and attach the attached Word file [via Google Docs] and send it to input@atptx.org.

Austin kids' museum staff: give us DEI training!

UPDATE: The Thinkery responded with a statement, not mentioning the DEI demand specifically.

Parents, children, and other visitors were taken aback today when encountering a picket line in front of a popular kids' venue in Austin due to a strike at least partially fueled by DEI.

Formerly the Austin Children's Museum, The Thinkery is funded through a combination of philanthropic gifts, ticket sales ($18/head), and local government funds, such as the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

According to a note being distributed by a group of Thinkery employees and "floor staff," there were numerous safety concerns with the building and a lack of emergency training. A Reddit thread indicated that at least five employees were recently terminated, which may have sparked the dissent. The letter named a lead staff member, demanding her termination.

Among the other items was a rather politically charged demand:

2024 Travis County Voter Guide for the habitually late

Still making up your mind on candidates and propositions? Haven't been able to find a spare moment during a busy October? Or just a little lazy? We won't tell -- we just want to help you decide! 

Early voting ends 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, and picks up again 7 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. Details.

Below are The Travis Tracker's selections on the best choices for conservatives on this year's general election ballot. Most are Republican nominees and endorsees, while others are conservative, conservative-leaning, or liberals who are less likely do do any damage.

We start with local candidates and with federal -- because if we don't prioritize our local candidates who else will? Races with no preferred candidates or positions are not included -- you'll see many unopposed Democrats in judicial positions, for example. And remember: When in doubt, leave it blank! Your ballot will not be thrown out because you left a race empty.

Child care in crisis? What's the real motivation behind Travis County Prop. A?

"One lunch per month," proponents of Travis County's Proposition A claim the final cost will be to taxpayers.

Prop. A, a property tax rate increase of 2.5 cents per $100 valuation to fund child care services and related contractors in the county, would come out to about $10 per month for the average Travis County resident.

This begs the question of why lunch is now $10 to begin with, when you used to get back to the office with a five dollar bill and some change.

We all know the familiar refrain by now: rising taxes and unrestrained spending in Austin and Travis County has led to, among other factors, a decimation of small business vitality and an exodus of working families from the urban core. Will, then, heaping on another small tax increase keep families in the middle from leaving, or bring them back? 

Prop. A bond 'won't fix problems' warn former Austin ISD Trustees

Austin ISD has been on the warpath lately to promote Proposition A, which it says will make up for an unexpected shortfall of funds allocated by the Texas Legislature last session. 

A recent article stated Prop. A would raise $171 million in new revenue, but the district will only keep $41 million of it due to state "Robin Hood" recapture. That remaining $41 million would be used to make good on a teacher pay increase agreement, supporters say, including the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

But Prop. A isn't the ticket, warned a letter from 10 former Austin ISD Trustees. The letter warns Prop. A represents a steep tax hike in exchange for "minimal benefit to students, the district, or public education as a whole." And this despite declining enrollment in Austin public schools.

Below is the letter, obtained from various social media sources.

'Marketing language' on Pflugerville ballot? Taxpayer groups sue to take it off Prop A

The Travis County ESD No. 2 board of directors voted Monday night to approve language that includes an apparent marketing nickname on the November ballot, the Tracker has learned.

Each time ESD No. 2 has been on the ballot previously they have been identified on the ballot as "Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2," without “Pflugerville Fire Department” -- a moniker the taxing entity has often employed informally.

The contested language on the November ballot, as approved by ESD No. 2, now reads, in the form of Proposition A:

Final '24 Runoff Election In Austin Area Turns Ugly After Incumbent Launches Attacks

Reddy Yeduru versus Becki Ross (i)

LEANDER, Texas -- What was being hailed as the most civil election this rapidly growing Austin suburb has seen in recent memory quickly turned contentious in the runoff.

Incumbent Becki Ross faces challenger Pulla Reddy Yeduru in the runoff election for Leander City Council Place 6. Early voting continues through Tuesday, June 11, with runoff election day Saturday, June 15. 

The total number of voters so far is under 600 -- a low turnout in early voting for the final of three elections in a month's time for the city (local election, primary runoff, and now local runoff) while the nation seems exclusively focused on the November presidential contest.

With a narrow four-vote victory for Mike Herrera over incumbent Esmeralda Mattke Longoria on May 4 in Place 2, the balance of power shifted on the seven-member Council from majority Democrat-favored Council members (see images below) to conservative and Republican-affiliated. A $12,000 recount paid for by Longoria's campaign in late May did not change the final outcome.

Austin stands to lose up to 2 miles of turf if 'ATXit' measures pass

 

While a non-binding secession referendum will not appear on GOP primary ballots this March, the May ballot will offer certain Austin communities a chance to "ATXit."

In a saga going back at least a decade, River Place residents will have the chance to reverse the city of Austin's long-awaited annexation of the remainder of its HOA territory. Lost Creek residents and at least four other Austin-controlled developments will get to vote on disannexation on the May 4 local ballot.

Thanks to HB 3053's passage, authored by West Travis County Rep. Ellen Troxclair, residents of cities with 500,000 residents or greater and areas that were annexed between March 3, 2015 and Dec. 1, 2017 are eligible to disannex themselves. Though not uncommon for cities to disannex territory when adjusting boundaries, putting it on the ballot is something new to Texans.

Sunday's massive Palestinian protest organized by Socialists

Thousands demonstrated outside the Texas Capitol and downtown Austin Sunday afternoon in support of a ceasefire in Gaza and opposing U.S. and Texas foreign aid to Israel.

That last part sounds like more of a Libertarian goal, but the protest did not appear at all like something from the Ron Paul camp. Nor did it look like other anti-Israel rallies held in the past in Central Texas, aside from the usual black-and-white fishnet keffiyeh head scarves and red and green Palestinian separatist flags. 

Smoke bombs, bused-in protesters, and misuse of the term "genocide" were the handiwork that all pointed to collaboration with the opposite side of the political spectrum.

If you guessed Antifa you were correct. Also spotted were Democratic Socialists of America protesters. Despite the fact that a Palestinian state would all but ban the "justice" and sexual expression the radical Left champions, the Palestinian cause fits the bill of the "anti-colonial" push popular with the liberals of late. However, a large number of Democratic public officials strongly support Israeli statehood and its territorial claims as an ally of the U.S.

Round Rock ISD and the astounding, invisible tax hike

Is it a simple calcuation, or the ol' ball and cup trick?

The Round Rock ISD is banking on the fact that statewide tax relief and recent changes to how "Robin Hood" is handled will mask a local tax hike on the ballot Tuesday:

This is according to Don Zimmerman, longtime tax reform advocate, former Austin Council member, and executive director of the Travis County Taxpayers Union (TCTU). The ballot language, he said, is so problematic the organization is preparing to file a lawsuit -- only to find that state courts no longer hear ballot language complaints prior to an election!

Homelessness Inc.'s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week in Austin

Austin's homelessness czar resigned last week and the timing couldn't be any worse for advocates of the city's Housing First approach.

The next day, news broke of eye-popping accounts of multiple overdose deaths, prostitution, drug manufacturing, violence, and under-cooked meals at one of the city's two "bridge shelters," Northbridge, designed as a channel between the homeless camps and more permanent housing arrangements and treatment opportunities. The whistleblower was previously and allegedly fired after bringing attention to these matters.

And on top of that, a plan to raise Austin's current-11% hotel occupancy tax to compensate for a years-long closing/renovation of its convention center and partially fund homeless services was shelved.

The city also postponed a contract extension for rehabbing an old hotel -- the embattled Candlewood Suites, which the city hopes will become the crown jewel of its Permanent Supportive Housing offerings.

Meet the women too hot for Austin's Pride parade (and why 'TERFs' are being de-platformed)

Although there have been some signs lately of better dialogue when it comes to differences over sexuality issues in Austin, a group of women's activists again find themselves persona non grata.

Even as Austin ISD is inviting employees, parents, and students to attend the city's Austin Pride march, and as the city has begun drumming up calls for citizens to report "hate crimes" this week, not all taxpayer voices will be included in this subsidized event.

According to speakers for the Let Women Speak rally, for their views on gender rights to be celebrated, they will have to host their own event concurrently with the officially sanctioned Austin Pride parade this Saturday at 7 p.m. The location has not yet been announced, organizers say, due to safety precautions.

Finally! Some conservative representation during 'Pride Month'

Although Austin's "Pride Month" is typically recognized in August, the city's CBS affiliate was out in full force this month with its "All in Y'all" televised special. 

Airing on KEYE-TV, Chanel 42, on Tuesday (June 27) following the 6 o'clock news, the special was about as favorable to the liberal-progressive side as one would generally expect in terms of its presentation. But despite the framing of the issues with left-of-center terminology and imagery (e.g. calling bills designed to protect women and minors "anti-LGBTQIA+" and so forth), CBS Austin, in partnership with the Texas Tribune, did a relatively bold thing: 

They provided viewers a balanced room of panelists and audience members during a town hall-style program following the special! No, seriously, they did. No moderate Republicans with social-left sympathies, either -- actual socially conservative Republicans. The town hall aired immediately after a news package on sexuality bills that passed or failed during the recently concluded 88th regular legislative session. 

Here was the lineup:

Cutting through the hype in Austin's Prop A versus Prop B election

When cornered and left without much in the way of reasonable argument on any given ballot issue, radical Progressives in Austin will almost always resort to blaming conservatives.

Such has been the case with Proposition A versus Proposition B, appearing on the May local election ballot starting Monday, April 24, 2023.

The unsubstantiated rumor going around is that those dastardly Republicans, independent conservatives, assorted Libertarians, and any number of right-leaning rabble-rousers are behind Proposition B as a sinister means to derail Proposition A and any attempt to provide oversight of law enforcement and achieve racial justice within the capital city. And how dare they!

Legislators 'aim to disrupt' bloated Austin subway, rail plan

After estimates that a new rail system approved by voters is already 40% over budget, and news continues to surface of how it would destroy businesses and snarl traffic, Texas legislators may soon be stepping in.

As the bill-filing deadline approaches, multiple bills have been submitted related to Project Connect, which would provide for five new rail lines (one of which would be a controversial subway crossing the lake and cutting into pedestrian business corridors), priority signaling for mass transportation, new routes to and from expanded park-and-ride sites, improved payment options, and $300,000 in "anti-displacement" funding.

Not just residents with proverbial back yards but historic businesses have cried foul at how the plan would radically change life in Austin and destroy many amenities. Now reporters are tweeting that several bills filed recently would "disrupt Project Connect" (and this after former Mayor Steve Adler said during one of his final interviews as mayor that his homelessness policies were designed to cause a "disruption" -- keep an ear out for this word).

Second anniversary of Candlewood pushback met with several surprises, announcements

Security fence around the former Candlewood Suites.

Wednesday marked the second year since Pecan Park Boulevard neighbors and business owners first read news of the city of Austin's planned $9-15M conversion of a Candlewood Suites hotel into permanent homeless housing and started banding together to stop it from happening.

MOVE Candlewood, the organization leading the fight now entering their third year, issued a press release and a year-in-review. We include that below. But this week featured quite a bit of other announcements from the homelessness solutions front -- with plenty of that activity on and surrounding the anniversary. Here's the summary:

BREAKING: Elections law violation allegations may trail exiting Austin Mayor

The new year may have originally portended a tan and rested Steve Adler, who did not seek re-election to a third term as Austin mayor. But if elections law violation allegations stick, he might find himself immediately back to work fending off charges.

Local attorney and former Travis County Judge Bill Aleshire took to Twitter early this evening to announce: 

"On behalf of Mackenzie Kelly & Linda Guerrero, I filed a criminal complaint against Steve Adler today because of this press conference using city ATXN staff, equipment & website endorsing [Zo] Qadri & [José] Velásquez https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/190448 Can’t use public funds for political advertising."

Kelly is Council member for Austin's District 6, elected in 2020. Guerrero was recently a runoff candidate for District 9, with Qadri as the victor. Velásquez won the runoff election to District 3 on the Council. The new Council and Mayor are set to be sworn-in Friday.

The Tracker obtained copies of the complaint filings to the Texas Ethics Commission and a copy of Aleshire's correspondence with Democratic Travis County Attorney Delia Garza. View them here. Aleshire also corresponded with the city regarding the complaints.