AUSTIN, Texas — Early voting has begun in Austin, and Proposition Q is already receiving a lot of attention from voters. As people begin casting their votes, many people at the polls said raising property taxes is not worth the investment into city services or supporting the proposed budget.

“I think that Proposition Q is very bad for our community,” Lauren Pena, an Austin voter, said.

“It’s totally ridiculous,” Stuart Thompson, another Austin voter, added.

“It’s become very expensive to live here in Austin. This is just going to make it worse,” Nicole Tomaszewski continued.

The measure proposes a 20% property tax increase to fund improvements in city services, including public health, safety, and homelessness initiatives. The city currently faces a $33 million budget deficit, and Proposition Q aims to not only cover this shortfall but also provide an additional $109 million.

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Proposition Q would result in a 5-cent increase per $100 of home valuation. For a $300,000 home, this translates to a $150 annual property tax increase, while a $500,000 home would see a $250 increase. Lauren Pena said it’s not worth raising property taxes to address the city’s budget concerns.

“It’s going to tax regular people, working families, small businesses, and people out of the community,” she said.

Despite the opposition, some voters, like Chad Oneal, support the measure.

“Having to increase taxes is not something you want to do, but if it’s for things that Austinites want, and things that we need here, then it’s sort of a necessary thing,” Oneal said.

Proposition Q would result in a 5-cent increase per $100 of home valuation. For a $300,000 home, this translates to a $150 annual property tax increase, while a $500,000 home would see a $250 increase. Lauren Pena said it’s not worth raising property taxes to address the city’s budget concerns. “It’s going to tax regular people, working families, small businesses, and people out of the community.”

Early voting continues until Oct. 31, with voting centers across the city encouraging residents to participate in this important decision.