By Bill Oakey – September 29, 2025

$100 Million Dollars – Three Times The Amount Of The Budget Shortfall, Every Year, Forever!

The City Tax Rate Election on November 4th is something to tell your friends, neighbors and colleagues about. The City claims to have a $33 million budget shortfall. But, if the voters approve Prop Q, the folks at City Hall will end up with a huge slush fund. This thing would generate over $100 million. The property tax rate accumulates each year, and becomes the new baseline for the following year. So, the $100 million tax windfall would repeat itself until the end of eternity!. It’s a Forever Tax. And, the City can pass annual regular tax increases on top of the Forever Tax. We simply can’t let this happen!

Why Is The City Asking For All That Money?

Please, please, please don’t be fooled by the ballot language on Prop Q. It is worded to make you fear that our parks will crumble into decay, and even fewer police officers will patrol our streets, without the Forever Tax. The language is very broad, generic and vague. You will not see any specific departmental programs or services that will be expanded if Prop Q passes. And City officials have not told us exactly which specific programs or services will be impacted if Prop Q fails.

A Huge Bombshell That No One Is Talking About!

We deserve to see a detailed accounting, showing the items within each department that would be funded, expanded or reduced, depending on the outcome of the election. Well, last Friday night, instead of watching “Superman” on HBO Max, I explored the FY 2026 Approved City Budget. On Page 917, I discovered a set of General Fund Financial Policies for Tax Rate Elections. Here is Policy #3:

“The City shall clearly identify the level of programming or services funded with the additional revenue generated above the voter approved rate, and provide an accounting of the expected level of services should the election fail.”

There is a City Council Resolution that formalized this policy. It began as a recommendation that passed unanimously by the Audit and Finance Committee. Then, on May 22 the City Council unanimously passed it as Resolution No. 20250522-058.

Where Is The Transparency That Was Promised Back In May?

That question will be put to the City Council while you are reading this. In the meantime, here’s a little history lesson about the City Budget. Several years ago, I got a surprise phone call from 1980’s era City Council Member, Max Nofziger. He shared what he had recently learned about the budget. From its earliest days until the year 2000, it went up on a gently inclining slope. From 2000 onward, it has shot up into the sky.

The City Should Manage Its Budget The Way Austin Families Do

If Prop Q fails, the City will still have the maximum tax increase allowed by State law. In this tough economy, many Austin families are struggling. People have to do without what they want, or postpone things until they can afford them. With Prop Q, homeowners and small businesses would suffer. Landlords would pass their costs on to renters. This is the wrong time for a walloping tax increase.

Ax The Tax! Vote No On Prop Q!

For additional info, check out AustinTaxRateElection

Musical Accompaniment For This Blog Piece

1. “One Minute Past Eternity” – Jerry Lee Lewis

2. “Forever” – The Little Dippers (Actually the Anita Kerr Singers)

3. “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” – Connie Francis

4. “Eternally” – Petula Clark

5. “Please Love Me Forever” – Bobby Vinton

6. “Taxman” – The Beatles