Decibel
What Does Prop Q 'Buy' Rundberg?
Clip | 7m 56sVideo has Closed Captions
What will the proposed tax rate increase bring to Rundberg? And what will it cost?
Austinites are casting their ballots on Prop Q, the tax rate election that could increase property taxes to pay for a host of services. But how will these services help Rundberg, and Austin overall? And what will it cost residents? We get into it.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Decibel is a local public television program presented by Austin PBS
Funding for Decibel is provided in part by Texas Mutual and Roxanne Elder & Scott Borders
Decibel
What Does Prop Q 'Buy' Rundberg?
Clip | 7m 56sVideo has Closed Captions
Austinites are casting their ballots on Prop Q, the tax rate election that could increase property taxes to pay for a host of services. But how will these services help Rundberg, and Austin overall? And what will it cost residents? We get into it.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Decibel
Decibel is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
- Next month, Austin voters will head to the polls.
But we're not picking a candidate, we're voting on our wallets.
(bright music) Voters will decide on a tax rate election or a TRE.
You've probably heard it referred to as Prop Q. It will increase property taxes to help fund a host of city programs.
But what will it potentially buy residents, and what will it cost?
Let's get into it.
(bright music) How much will it cost?
So the TRE will increase property taxes by 5 cents per $100 of property value.
If you have a home worth about $500,000, which is the average in Austin, you're gonna pay about $300 more per year in property taxes.
In Rundberg, property values are a little bit lower, around $350,000 on average.
So residents in Rundberg are gonna pay about $180 more in property taxes per year.
But the average income in Rundberg is lower than in Austin overall and for some families, the financial burden could be more difficult to manage.
If the TRE passes, the city of Austin is gonna collect $110 million in additional revenue.
What if you rent?
You're not entirely off the hook.
Landlords may increase your rent to make up for the new taxes.
- It all just depends on the overall, you know, rental market.
- [Host] The city council member Chito Vela says he's not worried about skyrocketing rents.
- This rental market and in District 4 in particular has softened a lot.
Right now, I don't expect landlords to be able to pass any kind of increase down to their renters on a dollar for dollar basis.
There's just too many good deals out there right now.
- In Texas, landlords can increase your rent by any amount once the lease is up.
You can check your lease for details on rent increases for your apartment.
What does this increase get you?
The big ticket item is homelessness services.
(gentle music) Some funds would go towards operating and maintaining shelters like the Marshalling Yard and the 8th Street shelter.
- How long ago was that?
- Started about a week ago.
- A week ago?
- [Host] It would also let the city hire 12 more homelessness intervention specialists to help with outreach efforts.
Funds would also go to what they call midstream interventions, emergency shelters and short-term housing.
- All right, I'll be around, okay?
I'm gonna go check on some other people.
- [Host] According to Echo's annual point in time count, there are about 125 homeless individuals in District 4, though the actual number may be higher.
The city's Homelessness Intervention Office has already made targeted efforts to help people on Rundberg Lane and close encampments in the area.
- And then this part is for your income part.
So I put your income information right there.
- The last piece would be upstream interventions, meant to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place, like providing funds for utility hookups for emergency bills.
This could have a huge impact on Rundberg residents.
According to 211 call data, 42% of calls from the Rundberg area were people looking for assistance with housing.
And of that, 61% were looking for assistance with rent, fees, and motel costs.
The other big investment is for emergency mental health services.
- Looks like we got a call.
- Since 2021, you could call 911 for a mental health emergency, but specialized responders weren't available all the time.
This budget asks for an additional $3 million to expand that program 24/7.
(gentle music) It's a program that's already had tangible results.
According to one early report, if clinicians went with police to a call, the officer's time on that call was cut in half.
The odds that they would arrest or involuntary detain someone also dropped by about 50%.
Some funds would address people's physical safety as well.
$850,000 would be used to help people dealing with domestic abuse, stalking, or human trafficking.
If funded, this could have a big impact in Rundberg, which deals with high numbers of domestic abuse cases.
What if this TRE doesn't pass?
Your property taxes are still gonna go up, just not as much.
(upbeat music) The city council will pass a new budget at the 3.5% cap.
That's the amount they can raise taxes without triggering an election per state law.
Other costs are going up whether the TRE passes or not.
Utilities are expected to be about $400 higher on average, and Travis County is increasing their tax rate by 8% to pay for flood damage repairs from July.
This has been opponent's biggest problem with the TRE.
They say between rising costs and increasing taxes, Austinites are being asked to pay for too much.
- We strongly oppose the proposed tax rate hike and TRE as it would significantly impact the financial viability of the multifamily properties within NACA in the Austin area.
- Basically, a lot of people in the district and the city as a whole are struggling.
You've heard that, you're gonna keep hearing that all day long.
- It's a scam to tell Austin residents if they want basic social and/or essential services, they need to vote for higher tax rates.
- Why does the city need this money?
So there's two big reasons.
One of them, according to council member Vela, is the law that's triggering this election right now.
- 3.5% property tax cap is just not feasible for a Texas city.
- [Host] In 2019, SB2 capped property tax increases at 3.5%.
Anything above that requires voter approval.
Vela says that has stymied the city's budget.
- So in 2020, 2021, '22, '23, '24, we held to that 3.5% property tax revenue level.
But it's just come to the point that we need additional revenues to just continue to provide the municipal services that Austinites have come to expect.
- [Host] The other problem, Vela says, is a drastic drop in federal funding.
- We're losing very important grants left and right.
The state continues to really just not participate.
- Austin's already lost over $105 million for the I-35 expansion, 32 million for solar energy programs, and 15 million for public health initiatives, just to name a few.
Vela and other city council members have said that because of these cuts, it's up to Austinites to take care of each other now.
- There's not gonna be a federal program that's gonna sweep in and kind of deal with this problem for us.
We have to take care of ourselves.
- Election Day is November 4th and early voting runs through October 31st.
You can find more about polling places at votetravis.gov.
Now PlayingWhat Does Prop Q 'Buy' Rundberg?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 7m 56s | What will the proposed tax rate increase bring to Rundberg? And what will it cost? (7m 56s)
Residents Are Worried About ICE. They’re Celebrating Their Cultura Anyway
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 21s | How one restaurant in Rundberg is celebrating Guatemalan culture in spite of immigration crackdowns. (4m 21s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 19s | How one Rundberg group is keeping people out of jail. (4m 19s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 15m 48s | Does the neighborhood deserve its dangerous reputation? And if so, what can be done about it? (15m 48s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 9s | A Rundberg makerspace builds a new kind of creative community. (5m 9s)
What Even Is The Big Beautiful Bill?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 7m 19s | How will sweeping new legislation impact Rundberg? (7m 19s)
What Is The STAAR Test, And Why Is So Much Riding On It?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 10m 37s | Why does this test dominate so much space in and out of the classroom? (10m 37s)
A district-managed restart for Dobie means a final curtain call for many teachers
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 8m 2s | Dobie teachers find themselves lost in the looking glass under new district-managed restart plan. (8m 2s)
They Started A Newspaper. Then Their School Became The Story.
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 7m 28s | The uncertain future of a middle school, as reported by their newspaper class. (7m 28s)
Making Space For The Future Of Rundberg
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 14s | Nate Koehler is using a few hours at an after school program to build successful futures for kids. (4m 14s)
Why AISD Might Close Dobie To Save The District
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 54s | Rundberg's middle school faces closure to avoid a state takeover of the district. (5m 54s)
How One Group Is Feeding Rundberg While Fasting For Ramadan
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 56s | While fasting for Ramadan, one groups feeds their souls by helping others. (5m 56s)
The Texas Lege Wants To Pass School Vouchers. How Will It Impact Lower-Income Communities?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 7m 52s | What are school vouchers? And if signed into law, what will they look like in Texas? (7m 52s)
How Las Promotoras de Salud are keeping their neighbors healthy
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 6m 36s | Medical complications took her husband’s life. She ensures her neighbors don’t go through it too. (6m 36s)
Growing Community At Garden Storytime
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 32s | See how one librarian is introducing kids to green spaces, one story at a time. (3m 32s)
Tết, Tradition, & Training: How Lion Dancers Are Keeping North Austin Culture Alive
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 45s | One local dance group is helping keep traditions alive and start the year off with a literal bang. (4m 45s)
Touring Rundberg with Jose Carrasco
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 40s | Decibel tours Rundberg with Jose Carrasco. (5m 40s)
What Is 'The Program' And Could Austin Need It Again?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 9m 13s | Will a program meant to get people out of flood zones be needed again in Austin? (9m 13s)
How Is This Local Food Bank Fighting Against High Food Costs And Less Donations?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 36s | Families are struggling with food costs. So are the food banks they’re going to for help. (5m 36s)
They’re Getting Offered Thousands Of Dollars For Their Homes. He Says They Deserve More
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 13s | One Dove Springs resident is making sure his neighbors know how much their homes are really worth. (5m 13s)
“There Needs To Be Some Changes”: Austinites Split On HOME Phase 2
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 33s | The minimum lot size for single family homes drops to 1800 square feet. (5m 33s)
Who's Getting Lower Rents In Austin?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 7m 37s | Rent is falling across the city. But many residents are seeing their rent continue to go up. (7m 37s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 31s | They took the job to help neighbors find housing resources. They're helping with more. (4m 31s)
‘Where Do They Go?’: Voucher Holders Struggle To Find Housin
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 37s | Austin is the second-worst city in the country for housing voucher holders to find a home. (5m 37s)
The Trail that Wrote Texas History
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 6m 36s | Learn about El Camino Real de los Tejas and how it impacted Texans on and off the roads. (6m 36s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 35s | She helps families with any resources they need. Lately they need help leaving. (4m 35s)
‘The Status Quo Is Just Not Sufficient’: Austinites On HOME
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 23s | Will a land code update fix Austin's housing affordability, or make it worse? (5m 23s)
Are There Still Doves In Dove Springs?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 18s | Are the birds that gave Dove Springs its name still in the area? (4m 18s)
Why Does It Flood In Southeast Austin?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 6m 57s | Ever wondered why some areas flood more than others? Learn why in the newest Decibel story (6m 57s)
Artist Paints Memories Of Historic Onion Creek Flood
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 32s | A local artist collaborates with flood survivors on a new Austin mural. (5m 32s)
Clip | 4m 53s | One Dove Springs resident struggles with increasing temperatures and electricity bills. (4m 53s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 7m 12s | Parts of Austin are nearly 8 degrees hotter than others, so who's feeling the heat? (7m 12s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 16s | Shelly Barber wants to help the local transgender community look fabulous and feel loved. (3m 16s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 19s | A new Pflugerville farmer must contend with agricultural challenges. (5m 19s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 10s | Tuan Nguyen brings his family's recipes to Pflugerville residents. (5m 10s)
‘We’re All In It Together’: Community Fights For School Fund
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 27s | Pflugerville community fights for school funding from the state legislature. (4m 27s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 29s | An LGBTQ+ group aims to help their neighbors even in the face of increasing threats. (5m 29s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 7s | Fatema Hirani’s faith asks her to keep the Earth clean. But how do you do that locally? (5m 7s)
Pflugerville ISD Won’t Close Dessau Elementary School
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 1m 41s | PfISD will not be moving forward with a plan that would close Dessau Elementary School. (1m 41s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 37s | Rising costs are shutting the gate on land for a local equine nonprofit (4m 37s)
‘There’s Some Exciting Things Coming’: Mayor Discusses The
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 12s | Pflugerville residents told us what they wanted city leaders to focus on as the city grow (5m 12s)
Pflugerville Residents Pose Questions To Candidates
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 2s | Pflugerville residents share concerns about their growing city. (4m 2s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 21s | One Pflugerville food bank is trying to break bread and stigmas around food assistance. (5m 21s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 59s | Local group tries to preserve historic Black cemetery (4m 59s)
Entrepreneurs Set Up Shop In Pflugerville
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 8s | Owning a business is difficult anywhere, and Pflugerville is no exception. (4m 8s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 2m 42s | Decibel celebrates the end of a year-long project in Del Valle. (2m 42s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 38s | One Del Valle resident is trying to help local kids stay safe while they bike in the area. (4m 38s)
Clip | 4m 36s | La Plaza De Toros R3 owner Jose Hernandez, has struggled to build a business in Del Valle. (4m 36s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 49s | Joseph Vega uses culinary skills to make transformative dishes and change lives. (5m 49s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 7s | A Del Valle family navigating a childhood asthma diagnosis find many health care barriers. (5m 7s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
- News and Public Affairs
Top journalists deliver compelling original analysis of the hour's headlines.
- News and Public Affairs
FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.
Support for PBS provided by:
Decibel is a local public television program presented by Austin PBS
Funding for Decibel is provided in part by Texas Mutual and Roxanne Elder & Scott Borders