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Austin Voters Reject Proposition Q, Forcing $110 Million Budget Rewrite

City leaders now must rewrite the budget to close an estimated $110 million gap created by the vote.

Overview

  • A preliminary 63.5% of voters opposed the tax-rate increase, with the measure failing in 194 of 234 precincts and across Travis, Williamson and Hays counties.
  • The city says it cannot proceed with the adopted FY2025–26 budget, and City Manager T.C. Broadnax will bring amendment recommendations aligned with the voter-approved tax rate in the near future.
  • Broadnax announced an expanded Citywide Efficiency and Optimization process covering technology, shared services, social service contracting and departmental assessments.
  • The rejected revenue had been slated for homelessness programs, EMS positions, fire overtime, parks maintenance and public health initiatives, creating pressure to trim or reprioritize those areas.
  • Even without Prop Q, the typical homeowner is expected to see a smaller property tax increase of about $104.76 this year, and the city estimates roughly $109.5 million less general fund revenue than budgeted.