Austin Metric

A budget proposal that lowers new taxes while enhancing affordability and equity.

The "Better Budget" proposal mixes cuts, spending shifts, and new programs to improve public investment outcomes while reducing overall taxation and spending levels relative to the staff-proposed budget.  The specific changes are outlined below.

1. $8.1 million …

The study justifying substantial increases in Austin's police staffing doesn't present any evidence that its recommendations are the most effective way to reduce crime.

Public safety has grown dramatically as a share of total City government spending. The shift happened between 1995-2005. This table is from the 2005 City of …

Solving the involuntary displacement of East Austin's long-term residents requires a new shared prosperity approach. Modernizing Austin's housing development policies and increasing local affordable housing subsidies will ensure Central and West Austin do their fair share to meet regional housing demand.

East Austin is changing.

Census data reveals that "near …

Yesterday, I attended AURA's panel on the proposed Travis County Civil and Family Complex.  This project is commonly referred to as the "new Courthouse".  What follows is my transcription of the panel's discussion.

Susan Somers, an AURA Board member, started the panel discussion by introducing AURA and its history.

Dan …

The percentage-based homestead exemption is an unfair tax shift that will disproportionately benefit the wealthiest homeowners.  More effective affordability alternatives should be pursued instead.

The "Save our Mansions" homestead exemption reduces taxes based on a percentage of a homestead's value.  Therefore, a $2,000,000 homestead value would get ten …