Audit and Finance Committee reviews tax-rate election options as public urges 8¢ increase for homelessness services

The Audit and Finance Committee of the Austin City Council met July 22 to review options for a possible tax-rate election (TRE) and to hear public comment on proposed increases to the city tax rate.

Public speakers urged the committee to put a higher rate before voters to shore up funding for homelessness, social services and prevention programs. Paulette Soltani, co-director of Vocal Texas, told the committee, "The proposed tax rate at the maximum level is the only option that meets the scale of the moment." Soltani said federal cuts and expiring one-time American Rescue Plan Act funding mean programs that provide shelter beds, case management and rapid rehousing are at risk.

Kathy Mitchell of Equity Action expressed support for the TRE proposals at the 5-cent and higher levels and said she wants to limit additional funding going to the Austin Police Department. "To me, a good first step in straightening out what it is that we think is important in this city in light of the moment that we're now in would be to, to the greatest extent possible, minimize what we are adding to the police budget," Mitchell said.

Savannah Lee, also with Equity Action, urged using any voter-approved increase for health, harm-reduction and…