🗳️ CivicIn7 Austin | Monday, November 3, 2025
Your November 4 Ballot: What Austin & Travis County Voters Need to Know
⚡ Be the most informed neighbor in Austin — in 7 minutes or less.
(Election Eve Special Edition)
🏠 THE BIG LOCAL QUESTION — Austin Proposition Q
Who votes: City of Austin residents (inside city limits)
What it is: A property-tax rate of $0.574017 per $100 valuation — $0.05 higher than the voter-approval tax rate, triggering an election under Texas law (SB 2, 2019).
What that means: Cities may raise property-tax revenue only modestly without an election; Austin’s proposal exceeds that limit, requiring voter approval.
Historic context: Last year’s city rate was $0.4776 per $100. The proposed $0.574017 represents roughly a 20 % increase year-over-year, one of the largest single-year hikes in recent memory.
The backstory: Austin faced a ~$33 million General Fund shortfall from weaker-than-expected sales-tax recovery and rising operational costs. Rather than merely close the gap, City Council built a budget that relies on $109.5 million in additional revenue to both maintain existing services (~$33 M) and expand homelessness, housing, parks, and safety programs (~$76 M). Under SB 2 (2019), exceeding the 3.5 % revenue-cap formula triggers a mandatory voter election — hence Proposition Q.
Note: Other taxing entities are also raising rates. Travis County approved ≈ 9 % (9.12 %) for flood-recovery, and Central Health’s rate rose as well. For a $500 K home, combined 2026 property-tax increases across all jurisdictions could exceed $1,000.
Where the $109.5 million goes (City breakdown):
💰 $35.5 M → Housing affordability & homelessness reduction (more than double last year’s $30.3 M allocation; expanded shelter capacity, rental assistance, Sobering Center partnership with UT, new case-management services)
💰 ≈ $74 M → Parks & recreation improvements, public safety, public health & core city operations (includes new firefighter positions, wildfire equipment, EMS staffing, parks maintenance, and inflationary costs)
If it passes: The new rate becomes Austin’s baseline for future budgets — a permanent increase, not a one-time tax.
If it fails: City Council must rebalance the FY 25-26 budget and identify $109.5 M in cuts — potentially affecting police staffing, park hours, library services, and homelessness programs.
The debate:
💬 Supporters say
Federal funding cuts are real and ongoing
Services are at capacity (city libraries, parks, and public health programs)
Homelessness response requires sustained expansion
Inflation makes status-quo service levels more expensive each year
“If not now, when?” Budget pressures will only grow
Campaign: Love Austin coalition (housing advocates, labor unions, parks supporters)
💬 Critics say
Ballot language is misleading — implies maintenance but funds expansions
City budget growth ( $3.5 B → $6.3 B since 2015 ) outpaces population growth
The math doesn’t add up: $33 M deficit ≠ $109.5 M ask
Funds aren’t earmarked — could shift to other priorities
Adds pressure to affordability amid county and school tax rises
Ballot-language lawsuit was dismissed by the Texas Supreme Court; Justice Evan Young noted “the question is close.”
Voters are weighing:
Rapid property-value growth vs. affordability concerns
A 2019 law that makes Austin seek direct voter approval for larger tax changes
Pressure to fund homelessness services vs. fiscal discipline
Cumulative tax impacts from multiple jurisdictions
Whether doubling homelessness funding will deliver measurable results
📎 More info:
FY 25-26 Adopted Budget →
📋 STATEWIDE — 17 Constitutional Amendments (EVERY TEXAS VOTER)
Texas lawmakers placed 17 constitutional amendments on the ballot — the most since 2003. Here’s what matters most for Austin and Travis County residents:
Top 5 for Austin & Travis County
Prop | What It Does | Why It Matters Here |
|---|---|---|
13 | Increases homestead exemption from $100 K → $140 K for school district taxes | Saves ≈ $140 per year for an average Austin homeowner. Reduces school-district revenue, but state must backfill the difference. |
11 | Expands property-tax exemption for seniors & people with disabilities | Helps fixed-income residents stay in their homes as property values rise. Legislature would set the new exemption amount (currently $10 K for school taxes). |
14 | Creates $3 B Dementia Research Institute of Texas | One-time $3 B transfer from state surplus. Facilities planned near Midland. Could make Texas a research hub for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s treatment. |
2 | Bans state capital gains tax (realized or unrealized) | Prevents a future revenue option the state doesn’t currently use; locks in reliance on sales and property taxes. |
4 | Sends portion of sales-tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund | Addresses drought risk and aging infrastructure. Central Texas faces water-supply pressures; this creates dedicated funding (amount TBD by Legislature). |
Other 12 at a Glance (with expanded context)
💰 Tax & Property Exemptions
Prop 5 — Exempts retail animal feed from property tax (help for ag supply stores)
Prop 6 — Bans securities transaction taxes (prevents future “Wall Street tax”)
Prop 7 — Expands veteran-spouse property-tax breaks (for service-connected deaths)
Prop 8 — Constitutionally bans estate/inheritance tax (already none in Texas)
Prop 9 — Allows exemption for business equipment/inventory (could lower small-business tax burden)
Prop 10 — Temporary relief for fire-damaged homes (exempts added value during rebuild — notable for Hill Country wildfire risk)
Prop 17 — Border-county tax break for security infrastructure (does not apply to Travis County)
🎓 Education & Infrastructure
Prop 1 — Creates $850 M fund for Texas State Technical College System (supports workforce training in high-demand fields)
⚖️ Government & Rights
Prop 3 — Expands judicial authority to deny bail for violent felonies (limits some existing protections)
Prop 12 — Reforms State Commission on Judicial Conduct (adds judges to review panel; stronger sanctions)
Prop 15 — Affirms parents as primary decision-makers for children (potential impact on future education & medical cases)
Prop 16 — Requires voters be U.S. citizens (already law; codifies in constitution)
📎 Full ballot language: Texas Secretary of State →
📍 CHECK YOUR SPECIFIC BALLOT
Depending on your address, you may also see:
School-district bond measures
Special-district elections (water, hospital, utility)
Municipal Utility District (MUD) races
🔗 Find your complete ballot: TravisCountyClerk.org →
(Enter your address to see everything you’ll vote on.)
🗳️ VOTING TIMELINE & INFO
🕖 Early Voting: Oct 20 – Oct 31 (7 AM – 7 PM) → Any Travis County location
🗓️ Election Day: Nov 4 (7 AM – 7 PM) → Vote at your assigned precinct
✅ Bring Photo ID (driver’s license, passport, TX ID, etc.)
🗂️ You may bring a sample ballot or notes inside the booth
📬 Mail Ballots must arrive by 7 PM Nov 4 (not just postmarked)
📞 Questions: Travis County Elections — (512) 238-VOTE (8683)
🔍 Check registration: VoteTexas.gov →
💡 QUICK TIPS
🕐 Typical voting time: 5–15 minutes (Prop Q is the longest read)
🗣️ Poll workers can explain ballot items but cannot suggest how to vote
📎 Keep links handy on your phone or print your research for reference
🧭 WHY THIS ELECTION MATTERS
State amendments become permanent parts of the Texas Constitution — changing them requires another statewide vote.
Many proposals reshape property-tax policy and state spending that affect Austin’s budget flexibility.
Proposition Q directly impacts your 2026 property-tax bill and the city’s ability to fund services.
Local measures influence schools, water systems, and community infrastructure.
📌 THE BOTTOM LINE
All Travis County voters: 17 state amendments
Inside Austin city limits: ✓ Prop Q + ✓ 17 amendments + ✓ Check for local items
Outside city limits: ✓ 17 amendments + ✓ Check for school/special districts
→ Check your ballot now →
