AUSTIN, TX – Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the $3.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2016-2017 adopted yesterday by the Austin City Council. The new budget is up from $3.5 billion in the prior fiscal year. Under the terms of the new city budget, the average Austinite will pay an additional $7.21 per month or $87 per year in new taxes and fees.
“It’s disappointing to see that Austin’s new budget will force higher taxes and fees on already struggling homeowners and businesses,” said Quintero. “Many Austinites are already unable to cope with the skyrocketing property tax bills, and now this situation will only get worse. Instead of passing a bigger budget with higher costs, Austin city council should have done a better job of prioritizing taxpayer money and finding ways to ease the burden of government.”
For more information or to request an interview with Mr. Quintero, please contact Caroline Espinosa at [email protected] or 512-472-2700.
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James Quintero is Director of the Center for Local Governance and Think Local Liberty project at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Registration for the 2017 Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature is now open to media and the public! The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas. |