UWSA urges Austin voters to vote YES on Proposition Q to protect key safety net and public health programs. Early voting starts October 20 and ends on Halloween. Election Day is November 4.

Undoing White Supremacy Austin (UWSA) has worked over years to promote equitable city budgets. This year, we endorsed the Community Investment Budget (CIB). We advocated for fully funding the Equity Division (formerly the Equity Office); to resume Undoing Racism trainings; and to preserve and expand the Family Stabilization Grants (a Guaranteed Basic Income program).

UWSA supported Family Stabilization Grants beneficiaries to provide public hearing testimony. Beneficiaries described the differences grant funds made in their lives. Rent made. School books bought. Medicine that became available. They made strong cases for continuing, and increasing, those grants. UWSA organizers also witnessed other CIB groups’ compelling testimony to support harm reduction, violence prevention and other vital support services.

Responding to public testimony and community demands, City Council members changed the City Manager’s proposed budget. They voted to fund many CIB priorities. Undoing Racism training funds, for example, were largely preserved. Unfortunately, at past Council Meetings over the last year or so, City Council also approved a bloated police contract and other debts that tie up funds that could and should be spent to meet essential human needs. 

State and federal policies have also placed extreme constraints on government spending. White supremacy has weakened our social safety net. Racism has undercut broad support for social and public health programs that  benefit all of us. Proposition Q is essential to save lives. The Austin Harm Reduction Alliance, for example, puts naloxone in the hands of people who have and will prevent overdose deaths. To preserve and expand our budget organizing victories, Austin voters must approve Proposition Q.

Austin renters and homeowners would pay the Proposition Q taxes. But the tax increases would be much less than what opponents such as Save Austin Now are saying. A homeowner under age 65, with an average priced Austin home ($500,000), will pay $200 – $300 more each year – or $17 to $25 more each month. If that homeowner is 65 or older, or has a disability, the tax increase would be only $22 a year (yes, a year). Furthermore, if voters approve raising the homestead exemption in November, a proposition expected to pass, the exemptions for seniors will increase from $100,000 to $140,000  and from $100,000 to $192,000 for owners with disabilities. These Texas state government proposed exemptions would reduce tax bills, but also limit funds that could be used for good, such as public education.

UWSA is interested in working with others who share our concern for equity but may have a different view of Proposition Q. If you would like to talk with us about this, or any other issue, please email us at undoingwhitesupremacy@gmail.com.