Tag Archives: Austin Proposition Q

How You Can Vastly Increase Voter Turnout To Defeat Prop Q

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By Bill Oakey – November 3, 2025

Tomorrow is Election Day. With a few simple steps, you and I and our friends can drive the final nail into Prop Q’s coffin.

We Just Need to Get People Out to Vote!

We can do that by sending a series of messages, designed to go viral throughout today. Take the sample message show below. Modify the wording if you wish. But keep it short and simple. Next,  copy the message. Then you can easily paste it into a dozen or two emails, addressed to people in your Contacts. And also, please post it to your social media.

Here is a sample message that you could use:

Please be sure to vote tomorrow. Make yourself a note, or put it on your calendar. Vote “No” on City of Austin Proposition Q. Ignore the misleading ballot language. This is an unaffordable 20% property tax increase that will hurt homeowners, renters and small businesses. It will create a fresh $100 million slush fund every year, forever. See more information at AustinAffordability.com. (Be sure to include the sentence below).

Please take the time to post this message to your social media, and email it to as many of your friends as time allows.———————————
Hopefully, this strategy will cause the messages to multiply like a chain.

Musical Accompaniment for This Blog Posting:

“Drivin’ Nails In My Coffin” – Asleep at the Wheel, from their first album in 1973.

Early Voting Is Here – Rally Your Neighbors To Oppose Prop Q!

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By Bill Oakey – October 20, 2025

We Need to Spread the Message

The facts are on our side, but not everyone has heard the message. Each one of us should take some time to alert friends and neighbors. Post links to this blog or similar outreach materials to your social media. Send out emails.Talk to the folks on your block.

Myths Vs. the Facts – Spread the Word

1. Shameful Myth – Public safety, parks and libraries and apple pie will wither away without Prop Q.

Fact – All of the basic services and wishlist items can still be funded in the City Budget if Prop Q fails. As the Chamber of Commerce pointed out, the City Manager produced a balanced budget.

Fact – City officials can adopt the same belt-tightening that your family and others are using in this harsh economy. They can learn from Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.

2. Crazy Myth – Only Republicans and conservatives are against Prop Q.

Fact – The Travis County precinct chairs were evenly split over endorsing Prop Q. The party chairman rolled over and broke the tie. That endorsement is laughably weak.

Fact – The groundswell of taxpayer resistance to Prop Q crosses all party lines. The crazy, partisan tactics in the For Prop Q mailers are a joke. Toss those into the recycle bin!

3. Silly Myth – “This is not about taxes, it’s about our values.”

Fact – Austinites don’t value the prospect of huge rent increases. We don’t value watching our beloved, iconic local businesses closing, because they can’t afford the taxes. And we certainly don’t value anyone losing their home.

Fact – Austin’s spending on the homeless is massively higher than any other major Texas city. The compassionate thing to do is bring the spending under control, and use performance measures for effective results. Just throwing money at the problem hasn’t worked – not even close!

Never Forget That This Is a “Forever Tax”

Over $100 million every single year, into eternity. Remember this image when you go to sleep tonight. Then show it to your friends when you wake up. And don’t forget to vote!

A New Prop Q Poem

Early voting is here, you can now have your say
Don’t let anything stand in your way
The most important thing you can do
Is rally your friends to vote NO on Prop Q!

Beware of false messaging and misleading factors
Prop Q’s big donors are all City contractors
The Budget can be balanced, I’m not pretending
The City just needs to cut wasteful spending

The wishlist of programs that Prop Q is touting
Can still be funded, no need for the shouting
A NO vote would just bring fiscal responsibility
And push City Hall toward affordability

Musical Accompaniment for This Blog Piece

”The Long and Winding Road” – The Beatles

Letter To The Editor

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This was published in the Austin American-Statesman on Sunday, October 12, 2025

No End for Prop Q

I urge you to vote No on Proposition Q on Nov. 4. This Tax Rate Election could unleash one of the biggest property tax increases in Austin history. The city has declared a $33 million budget shortfall, but Prop Q would deliver $100 million to a fiscally irresponsible city government.

They are completely tone deaf to the hardships we face in this tough economy. Homeowners, small businesses and renters would all be hurt. Let’s join the Austin Chamber of Commerce in opposing Prop Q. The first year of this tax increase is only the beginning. Once a tax rate has been adopted, it becomes the new baseline for the next budget year. Then each year, more new taxes can be piled on top of it.

Please alert your friends and neighbors that Prop Q is a forever tax. I have been closely following affordability issues since 1983. The new budget can be trimmed. The city needs only to look at homeless program spending in other major Texas cities to find big cost savings.

Imagine standing on a hill, looking down on a winding road that vanishes into the sunset. Markers in the road show year after year of $100 million Austin tax increases. Like The Highwaymen used to sing, “The Road Goes On Forever.” But not if you vote No on Prop Q!

Bill Oakey, AustinAffordability.com

Chamber Of Commerce Opposes Prop Q

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By Bill Oakey – October 8, 2025

I am quite happy to share this news! Here is their statement, from this weblink.

Austin Chamber Board of Directors Opposes Proposition Q
City of Austin Tax Rate Election

On November 4th, voters in Austin will head to the polls to consider a tax rate election that would increase property tax rates in the City of Austin by over 16%. Austin has experienced strong economic growth in recent years, but with this success has come significant challenges, chief among them is affordability. Over the past ten years, the typical Austin homeowner’s tax bill has increased by over 65%. This trajectory is unsustainable and at a time of great economic uncertainty, it is imperative that our local governments exercise fiscal restraint. The City Manager’s original budget stayed within the maximum allowed increase without requiring a tax rate election. That budget also fully funded core services including public safety.

Last month, the Austin Chamber wrote to Mayor Watson and Council Members urging Council to minimize property tax increases on residents and businesses. We recognize the challenging circumstances surrounding this year’s budget but were disappointed with the Council’s near unanimous decision to increase property taxes by over 16%. This increase is on top of higher than normal increases in several other taxing jurisdictions including Travis County and Central Health. Austin must remain an attractive destination for economic development and job growth, and this dramatic increase in taxes will likely push people out of Austin and negatively impact our ability to attract new investments in our city. Businesses in Austin experience an outsized share of rising fiscal pressures, and the Austin Chamber remains concerned that further property tax increases will lead to more businesses moving out of our city.

It is for these reasons that the Austin Chamber Board of Directors opposes the City of Austin’s Tax Rate Election on this November’s ballot. If we fail to prioritize affordability today, we risk losing the very people and businesses that have made Austin a thriving community.

Sincerely,
Mark Ramseur
Board Chair
Austin Chamber of Commerce

Letter To The Editor – American-Statesman

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By Bill Oakey – October 13, 2025

This was published on Sunday, October 12, 2025

No End for Prop Q

I urge you to vote No on Proposition Q on Nov. 4. This Tax Rate Election could unleash one of the biggest property tax increases in Austin history. The city has declared a $33 million budget shortfall, but Prop Q would deliver $100 million to a fiscally irresponsible city government.

They are completely tone deaf to the hardships we face in this tough economy. Homeowners, small businesses and renters would all be hurt. Let’s join the Austin Chamber of Commerce in opposing Prop Q. The first year of this tax increase is only the beginning. Once a tax rate has been adopted, it becomes the new baseline for the next budget year. Then each year, more new taxes can be piled on top of it.

Please alert your friends and neighbors that Prop Q is a forever tax. I have been closely following affordability issues since 1983. The new budget can be trimmed. The city needs only to look at homeless program spending in other major Texas cities to find big cost savings.

Imagine standing on a hill, looking down on a winding road that vanishes into the sunset. Markers in the road show year after year of $100 million Austin tax increases. Like The Highwaymen used to sing, “The Road Goes On Forever.” But not if you vote No on Prop Q!

Bill Oakey, AustinAffordability.com