More Taxes & Spending in New Austin Budget

If you live in Austin, then get ready for more government spending and higher taxes.

Improving Debt Transparency in Bond Elections

Policymakers should be concerned about the size and growth of local government debt in Texas – a contributing factor is that voters do not have enough information provided to them at the ballot box to make an informed decision about new debt issuances. Voters should be provided with basic fiscal facts at the ballot box to better understand how their decisions will affect their community.

Now Hiring in Austin: Social Justice Warrior

Perhaps once the city has hired its Chief Equity Officer it can get started on finding a Chief Efficiency Officer to close bogus programs, eliminate waste, and budget smartly using zero-based budgeting. 

Supermajority Vote Requirement Protects DISD Taxpayers

Property taxes in Texas are some of the nation’s most punishing and that burden continues to grow quickly (see pg. 5). Because of the size and growth of Texas’ property tax problem, state lawmakers passed a series of reforms during the last legislative session to help ease the swell of local tax bills. One of...

Fourth Court of appeals rules against Laredo’s plastic bag ban

In an opinion issued today, the Court found in favor of the Laredo Merchant Association, a group challenging the city of Laredo’s plastic bag ban on the grounds that it is preempted by existing state law—a position supported by the Foundation, then-Attorney General Greg Abbott, and 20 current state lawmakers.

A look back on Austin’s past transportation bonds

Interestingly but not surprisingly, there’s a lot of potential funding for transportation projects not involving roadways. Both the corridor and local mobility components advance an “all of the above” approach which, arguably, encompass a wide range of projects that, arguably, have done very little to meaningfully ease congestion in the past.

Watchdog: Shrinking SAISD wants $450 M in new debt

It’s hard to see how, given these facts and circumstances, the SAISD Board can justify sending voters a massive $450 million bond package in November and expect a positive result.

The audacity of Austin and short-term rentals

Central in this skirmish is Austin’s new ordinance governing short-term rentals, or STRs. The ordinance, which was approved in February by an overwhelming majority of the Austin City Council by a 9-2 vote, is a near-perfect example of the nanny state run amok

The audacity of Austin and short-term rentals

WSJ: Growing number of states passing pre-emption laws

Beginning in earnest last session, state lawmakers began proposing and passing legislation aimed at reining in some of these local excesses, and next session is shaping up to be no different with many high-profile issues in the crosshairs. But Texas is far from alone in trying to rein in local policymaking run amok. 

Local control is a tool, not the rule

During the last legislative session, local government officials and their Austin-based associations were out in force, making the case that the Legislature ought not interfere with “local control.” But, as conservatives countered, the principle was never intended to justify tyrannical policies and, more importantly, “liberty always trumps local control.”

Austin’s Short-term Rental Ordinance is Unconstitutional

Despite Austin’s reputation as one of the most welcoming cities in the world, local officials continue to adopt policies that are hostile to outsiders. Take the city’s onerous new restrictions on short-term rentals (STRs), for instance.