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Quote of the Day
“Austin has broken plenty of promises before, and City Hall has failed to deliver at the scale people deserve. But a ‘no’ vote isn’t a principled stand — it’s a vote for austerity, for cuts that will fall hardest on people already struggling.”
— Chas Moore, Austin Justice Coalition, from Proposition Q campaigns heat up on both sides
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Proposition Q campaigns heat up on both sides
From Lina Fisher:
In an expensive city like Austin, it’s a tough time to raise property taxes — especially on top of rising gas bills and a county tax hike to fund disaster relief for the July floods. Yet that is what the City is asking the voters to approve this November in order to help make up for the state’s inaction in the face of the federal government’s millions in cuts to grants that fund city services.
Should it pass in November, Proposition Q would increase taxes for the average home valued at $500,000 by about $300 per year. With or without the tax rate increase, that bill will still increase by around $100, in order to pay for city services like trash and water.
In 2019, the Texas State Legislature passed a law prohibiting cities from raising taxes by more than 3.5 percent per year without voter approval. That law, along with the federal cuts and lower than expected sales tax revenue, has led to the current election.
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Station, new station
CapMetro and Brandywine Realty Trust have begun site preparation for the forthcoming North Burnet/Uptown Station, with construction slated to begin in November. The new stop will sit within the 66-acre Uptown ATX development and will become the Red Line’s second-busiest station, replacing nearby Kramer Station once operational.
This effort is tied to the broader Project Connect plan, which is upgrading the Red Line via added double tracking, infill stations and improved commuter service. The transit agency recently approved a revised funding agreement for the project, acknowledging that costs have surged. While Brandywine maintains its original $12 million commitment, CapMetro’s share has expanded to roughly $37.3 million, bringing total project costs to about $49 million.
The station is positioned amidst changing development landscape. North Burnet Road’s zoning and city planning efforts are actively encouraging denser, vertical, mixed-use projects. Uptown ATX has already attracted major tenants, including cybersecurity firm Axonius, which plans to expand its operations in the One Uptown tower.
— Chad Swiatecki
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Elsewhere in the News
Everyone is talking about the big fire that consumed the abandoned Rodeway Inn next to Aster’s restaurant (which is also now empty.) If you missed it, you can check out the story and aftermath here.
The Texas National Guard is being deployed in other states. The Texas Newsroom asks why.
Austin’s Calhoun House nears official historic landmark status.
And KVUE reports on the backlash to AISD’s school closure plan.
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