How high can the city go?
And how much will voters accept?
Is Council really gonna go for 7¢?
There are at least six members of Council who are at least hinting they want to ask voters to approve a tax hike that goes 5-7¢ above the 3.5% per-year limit that the city is allowed to collect without voter approval.
Mike Siegel and Zo Qadri are both on record advocating for a 7¢ hike. On Tuesday a message posted on the City Council online forum by Ryan Alter, Vanessa Fuentes, Chito Vela and Jose Velasquez said, "we believe the Council will likely need to look in the upper range (5-7 cents) of the proposed alternative budgets to provide the essential services the public expects and deserves."
And at the budget hearing today Krista Laine signaled support for a TRE of at least 5¢.
So that's seven in favor of a substantial tax hike. All you need is six votes.
This is a challenge for Mayor Kirk Watson, who has pretty clearly telegraphed, in public and private comments, that the Austin electorate is suffering from tax fatigue and may not support such a large tax hike.
