Category Archives: Fiscal

Police Ratio

Posted on August 25, 2015 by JGA

The proposed 2015-2016 City of Austin budget increases the number of sworn police officers per capita.

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Better Budget

Posted on August 20, 2015 by JGA

A budget proposal that lowers new taxes while enhancing affordability and equity.

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Patrolling Police Spending

Posted on August 19, 2015 by JGA

The study justifying substantial increases in Austin’s police staffing doesn’t present any evidence that its recommendations are the most effective way to reduce crime. Public safety has grown dramatically as a share of total City government spending. The shift happened between … Continue reading →

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“Save Our Mansions” exemption fuels inequality

Posted on June 4, 2015 by JGA

The percentage-based homestead exemption is an unfair tax shift that will disproportionately benefit the wealthiest homeowners.  More effective affordability alternatives should be pursued instead.

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Mansion Exemption Alternatives

Posted on May 15, 2015 by JGA

I asked a dozen of the most policy-minded critics of the “mansion exemption” for alternative ways of spending approximately $30 million annually to boost Austin’s affordability. Here are the four main themes that came across in their responses. The 20% … Continue reading →

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Undoing HEx’s spell

Posted on May 13, 2015 by JGA

There are better tools to solve the ‘affordability’ problem than a 20% homestead exemption (HEx). Here’s what progressive, fiscally-responsible Austinites must argue.

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Homestead Exemption Effects

Posted on January 26, 2015 by JGA

Adoption of a 20% homestead exemption (HEx) would shift City taxation away from affluent, low-density Council districts towards the middle-class and Latino neighborhoods.

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Hahn Shoots First

Posted on December 22, 2014 by JGA

Amy Everhart of Hahn Public wrote a fantastic memo on what to expect from the next Austin City Council. Here are three points to add to her mix of high-quality insights.

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The Homestead Exemption debate in 2 minutes

Posted on December 17, 2014 by JGA

A City of Austin 20% homestead exemption is a tax shift policy that is likely to get a lot of attention from the incoming City Council. Here’s what you need to know.

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10 bucks or 10,000 homes

Posted on August 25, 2014 by JGA

A homestead exemption based on a fixed percent of home value is a regressive and ineffective affordability policy. It engenders a permanent loss of much-needed revenue for public investments. Spending directly on policies that promote abundant housing supply is an … Continue reading →

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