Austin committee adopts framework to guide potential tax-rate elections; recommends policy to full council

The Audit and Finance Committee unanimously recommended to the full Austin City Council a policy framework and decision tree for pursuing a tax-rate election (TRE).

Council Member Ryan Alter moved to recommend a TRE policy consistent with staff presentation and the committee’s decision tree; Council Member Vela seconded. The committee adopted the motion without objection.

Carrie Lang, director of the Budget and Organizational Excellence Office, presented staff recommendations and the decision tree. Lang said the city’s five-year financial forecast showed a $33,400,000 deficit in fiscal year 2026 and noted a projected voter-approval rate of 57.01 cents per $100 of taxable value as shown in the forecast. Lang also said American Rescue Plan Act funds must be spent by the end of calendar year 2026 and that staff had identified…