AUSTIN, Texas — Ahead of the Austin Pride parade and festival tomorrow, the City of Austin is giving out pride-themed stickers of the Austin logo at City Hall.
A post from the city’s Facebook account drew mixed reactions.
Some Austinites support the gesture.
“I think that they’re awesome. I mean, they’re supporting pride, showing our love for them in the city of Austin, and how unique and how supportive and welcoming we can be,” said Austinite Maya Vasquez-Stagent.
However, others online questioned how much the stickers cost and who paid for them.
“Wow, can’t believe the city spent money on this,” wrote one commenter under the post.
Another person commented, “How much did this cost? Why are tax dollars wasted on this?”
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CBS Austin reached out to the city of Austin to find out.
The City of Austin confirmed to CBS Austin that the money came from the Austin Communications and Engagement promotional materials budget.
Four thousand stickers were produced for a total cost of $1,245, about $0.31 per sticker.
“Man, people need to take a chill pill, you know? ” said Austinite Jason Rudd. “How much can stickers cost? There’s supposed to be support for everybody,” added Austinite Mike Fratus.
But Jonathan Covey, Policy Director of Texas Values, says the issue is not only the dollar amount.
He argues that the City is using public funds to promote a message that not every taxpayer supports.
“I think the bottom line is government needs to serve everyone, right? So it shouldn’t be using taxpayer resources to promote one side of a deeply contested, divisive issue, and, you know, that message can put people feeling like they’re descending on the wrong side of the message, ” Covey said. “So I think just finding that neutral, objective standard is the key.”
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CBS Austin also asked the City of Austin and Austin Pride how many taxpayer dollars go toward the Austin Pride Parade, a city co-sponsored event since 2010.
The city said that the total cost cannot be calculated until after the parade concludes tomorrow, Aug. 21.
Austin Pride provided a statement, explaining that the City contributes to the Pride parade, but not the festival.
“Austin Pride is funded by the community through fundraisers, sponsors, and vendors. The city works with us for the parade, but not for the festival, as it is not included in the city charter for Austin Pride,” wrote Jamal Crier, the Outreach Director for Austin Pride. “Every year, Austin Pride works to put on the festival with very little assistance from the city; it is truly put on by the community for the community.”
The stickers are being handed out as a historical marker was unveiled at the intersection of 4th and Colorado streets, memorializing the area as significant to the LGBTQ history and community in Austin.
Ahead of the Austin Pride parade and festival tomorrow, the City of Austin is giving out pride-themed stickers of the Austin logo at City Hall. (Photo: CBS Austin)
“My understanding is that the plaque—the cost for the plaque—does not come out of the general fund. It came out of the hotel occupancy tax,” said Garry Brown, Commissioner on the City of Austin’s LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission.
A 2024 document detailing options for the historical marker during the project’s planning phases provided cost ranges for various marker types.
The document estimated that a City of Austin marker, the type unveiled today, would cost between $3,000 and $5,000 for research, $1,900 to $3,500 for the marker itself, and an “additional cost for [a] special pedestal.”
“I want them to know that who they are and how they live is a God-given right. And they should be proud of who they are,” said Brown about the people who attended the unveiling ceremony. “We should always be looking forward. It’s important to know where we came from, and that’s why this plaque was erected here today.”