Austin Metric
@austinmetric.bsky.social
Data & discussion about Austin policy, policymakers, & civil society. Posts are written by Julio Gonzalez Altamirano.
Why is Austin facing a TRE? Public safety - especially police - grows general fund share. Sales tax has slowed & property is capped. For now, housing trust fund functionally zeroed out, social services cut, no reserves added, Austin Energy raided more. New APD contract creates further imbalance.
August 11, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Why is Austin facing a TRE? Public safety - especially police - grows general fund share. Sales tax has slowed & property is capped. For now, housing trust fund functionally zeroed out, social services cut, no reserves added, Austin Energy raided more. New APD contract creates further imbalance.
What remains is the issue of ensuring that public safety doesn’t keep growing & eat into these planned future allocations. Proposal’s line item spending isn’t guaranteed after the 1st year. It’s why the ballot language needs to be more prescriptive than a blank check. Sample ballot language: 2/2
August 6, 2025 at 1:49 PM
What remains is the issue of ensuring that public safety doesn’t keep growing & eat into these planned future allocations. Proposal’s line item spending isn’t guaranteed after the 1st year. It’s why the ballot language needs to be more prescriptive than a blank check. Sample ballot language: 2/2
NEW: a 5.75 cent TRE proposal from Laine-Siegel-Ellis-Qadri. Pretty notable that Laine & Ellis back it, as this signals it could get up to 9 votes (Watson wants 3.5 cents & Duchen at no TRE). It’s a bit under 3 cents on housing+homeless 👍🏽.
Seems likely to be near consensus on the dais 1/2
Seems likely to be near consensus on the dais 1/2
August 6, 2025 at 1:47 PM
NEW: a 5.75 cent TRE proposal from Laine-Siegel-Ellis-Qadri. Pretty notable that Laine & Ellis back it, as this signals it could get up to 9 votes (Watson wants 3.5 cents & Duchen at no TRE). It’s a bit under 3 cents on housing+homeless 👍🏽.
Seems likely to be near consensus on the dais 1/2
Seems likely to be near consensus on the dais 1/2
At today’s Council budget work session:
-6 votes for >5 cents (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9).
-Mayor & Ellis more skeptical, likely prefer <5.
-Duchen seems like a firm no.
-Interesting that CM Laine straight up said she’s leaning 5 cents.
Is near-unanimity valuable for campaign optics & fundraising?
-6 votes for >5 cents (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9).
-Mayor & Ellis more skeptical, likely prefer <5.
-Duchen seems like a firm no.
-Interesting that CM Laine straight up said she’s leaning 5 cents.
Is near-unanimity valuable for campaign optics & fundraising?
August 1, 2025 at 3:44 AM
At today’s Council budget work session:
-6 votes for >5 cents (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9).
-Mayor & Ellis more skeptical, likely prefer <5.
-Duchen seems like a firm no.
-Interesting that CM Laine straight up said she’s leaning 5 cents.
Is near-unanimity valuable for campaign optics & fundraising?
-6 votes for >5 cents (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9).
-Mayor & Ellis more skeptical, likely prefer <5.
-Duchen seems like a firm no.
-Interesting that CM Laine straight up said she’s leaning 5 cents.
Is near-unanimity valuable for campaign optics & fundraising?
In new City budget, from ‘23 to ‘26, APD will get ~$100m more. APD’s share of the general fund grows from 35% to 38%. This shift contributes to the zeroing out of the affordable housing trust fund. There will also be less policing/capita because the new police contract explodes cost/policing hour.
July 16, 2025 at 8:08 PM
In new City budget, from ‘23 to ‘26, APD will get ~$100m more. APD’s share of the general fund grows from 35% to 38%. This shift contributes to the zeroing out of the affordable housing trust fund. There will also be less policing/capita because the new police contract explodes cost/policing hour.