By Bill Oakey, December 6, 2017
Think of our city as one big extended family. That family has to look out for each of its members. Now, put that into context with your own family. The holiday shopping season is now underway. Your inbox overflows with tempting cyber-this and hyper-that offers. All you have to do is type in your credit card number and click…
But somewhere in the pit of your stomach, you know it’s not quite that simple. Your family has to stay within a budget. You and your spouse, the kids, and the other folks on your shopping list can only have what your family can afford. Unless, that is, you are reckless enough to pile on the debt and t refuse to take it seriously.
In 2014, Austin voters faced a billion dollar bond election for one sliver of a citywide urban rail system. We were told then that it would double the City’s outstanding debt. We voted against those bonds for several reasons, even though many of us support rail in a general transportation plan. So, here we are three years later. The City’s Bond Election Review Task Force really is considering $3 billion in bond-funded projects over the next five years.
Look at the big picture here. Where does that leave Travis County? What about AISD, ACC and Central Health? And where does it keave us as taxpayers? The City Budget is so tight that its share of our property taxes are in danger of doubling in nine years. And with new debt on top of that, it could be even worse.
I was a little rough on AISD in a recent blog posting. When their CFO reached out to me, I softened just a little, and requested a meeting to talk things over. Wish me luck as I try to convince AISD to stay very close to their low estimate on the cost to refurbish their new headquarters building.
Let’s try to end this on a brighter note. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt gets it. In fact, here’s how she painted the picture when we discussed the long list of “needs” that our local governments think they have to have. She said this, “If you load too many ornaments on the Christmas tree, it will topple over.” Then she graciously accepted the challenge to work with the City, starting early next year on a “Go Big” on affordability initiative. I have since received some positive signals from City Council members.
Enjoy the holidays with your family. But don’t click too many of those online offers without remembering your wallet!
Musical Accompaniment for This Blog Piece
1. “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” – Elmo & Patsy
2. “Christmas In Jail” – Asleep at the Wheel
3. “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” – Gayla Peevey
4. “Nuttin’ for Christmas” – Barry Gordon
5. “The Twelve Gifts of Christmas” – Allan Sherman
6. “Monster Holiday” – Lon Chaney
7. “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” – Spike Jones
8. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” – Jimmy Boyd
Austin Affordability 
they spend it like they don’t earn it-
it is so much easier to spend the money of others
Whatever happened to the idea of a year ago or so, to examine overall affordability in regard to taxing entity increases, that all of the entities would meet on a regular basis and discuss their plans for bond elections, etc?????????? That proposed concept should be discussed with Travis County Judge Eckhardt for her Go Big idea. This Christmas Tree is toopling OVER.
Or maybe our Texas Lege will fix this for us.
I will definitely follow up on those group discussions. Thanks!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >
In November 2016, I wanted to vote for bonds for sidewalks and flood mitigation, and remain bitter that I wasn’t given the opportunity. If I were given that opportunity five years in a row, which is probably what it would take for flood mitigation, I would take it.
Thanks Bill for always being a voice of reason. If more is added to already high property taxes I will have to say bye bye to Austin in search of ‘affordability’.