AUSTIN, Texas — With a November election just on the horizon, Austin residents will soon decide whether or not to approve a tax rate increase to address other needs in the city.
According to the City of Austin, Proposition Q would increase the tax rate of $0.574017 per $100 valuation. This is an increase of $.05 per $100 on property tax compared to last year.
So what will the additional funds be used for? The city says they’ll contribute to:
Reducing homelessness and expanding affordable housing
Improving parks and recreation facilities and services
Enhancing public health services and public safety
Ensuring financial stability
General fund maintenance and operation expenditures
According to KUT, a majority of the funds would go towards addressing affordability and homelessness. This includes $35.5 million for permanent supportive housing, rental assistance, case management services and new shelter beds; $11.5 million to continue operating two emergency shelters; and $1.9 million for workforce reentry programs.
About $22.5 million would go towards public safety services, like funding fire crews and expanding the city’s mental health response services.
At least $10 million will help fund the city’s parks, while public health services and community recreation would get about $7.7 million.
Leaders would allocate about $1.3 million to benefits for city employees, including a fund for workers helping during extreme weather.
The tax increase comes to a vote after Austin City Council in August approved a $6.3 billion budget for 2025-26 with a property tax rate higher than what voters previously approved. When this happens, the city is required to hold a tax rate election (TRE) to let voters decide.
Election Day is Nov. 4. Early voting is from Oct. 20-31. The last day for mail-in ballots to be received by a county clerk is Oct. 24.